Watch the unseen footage of Michael Jackson's hair on fire in Pepsi advert that left him with painkiller addiction
Unseen footage has emerged of the moment Michael Jackson's hair was engulfed in flames when a stunt went badly wrong as he filmed an advert for drinks company Pepsi in 1984.
The distressing images show the moment a pyrotechnic stunt caused Jackson's hair to set alight, and the singer continue dancing with his hair on fire as he failed to realise that anything was wrong.
As a result Jackson's scalp was left severely burnt and he was prescribed painkillers to treat his agonising injuries - leading to an addiction it is alleged he never managed to kick.
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Stunt gone bad: Michael Jackson is seen here for the first time in the 1984 Pepsi advert filmed in Los Angeles which went horrifically wrong after his hair was set on fire by the theatrical pyrotechnics
The footage, which surfaced on the website of Us magazine in the U.S., was filmed in Los Angeles on January 27, 1984.
Three thousand fans watched as a firework display erupted behind the superstar, showering him in sparks and setting light to his hair.
It shows Jackson's afro catch alight on the sixth take of the video in Los Angeles. At first, unaware of the danger, Jackson continues to dance as he sings Billie Jean.
Some studio audience members said he was so calm, they thought the incident was part of the act.
But seconds later dozens of assistants and stage hands reach him, and he disappeared inside the crowd as they battle to put out the flames.
The show must go on: A completely unaware Jackson continued to dance down the stage set of stairs in his trademark sequinned jacket, and socks with the fire rapidly taking hold in his afro hair
Engulfed: Jackson's head was swamped by the flames. At the time he wore a popular 'wet-look' hairstyle which was kept moist with the help of hair sprays which would have acted as an accelerant to the fire
Keep on moving: Jackson kept on dancing doing his trademark turns which actually helped to put out the fire before production staff realised what was happening and rushed to his aid
But by then the damage is done, and when Jackson raises his head a large bald patch, with the skin badly scorched, can be seen.
When he received the burns 25 years ago Jackson was at the height of his career, but the accident had disastrous consequences.
To relieve the second and third-degree burns on his scalp and body, and later to help him tolerate multiple surgeries on the scorched spot on his head, Jackson was prescribed several medications.
Jackson's lawyer, Brian Oxman, recently told Channel 4 news: 'He has been on medication for a great long time. If you will remember back to the time when he burnt his hair at the Pepsi commercial - he started using pain killers then'.
By the time he died last month it was claimed that the star was spending up to £30,000 a month on prescription drugs.
The website TMZ, which broke the news of Jackson's death, reports that the initial police investigation pinpointed the anesthesic Propofol as the primary cause of death.
Helping hands: Jackson is swamped by worried assistants who realised too late that the singer was in danger
Distressed: The singer instinctively reached to touch his head where a patch of his afro hair has been burnt off leaving the singer's scalp exposed. He suffered second and third degree burns
Trauma: Onlookers said Jackson was surprisingly calm despite the high drama and it looked as if the incident was part of the advert
Vials of Propofol were found in Jackson's home after he died.
The website also revealed that the 50-year-old's death is now being treated as homicide by LA police.
'Law enforcement sources say there is already "plenty of powerful evidence" linking Dr Conrad Murray as the person who administered the drug to 50-year-old Jackson,' it reported.
'The evidence includes various items found in Jackson's house, including the Propofol, an IV stand and oxygen tank.'
Dr Murray's lawyer would neither confirm nor deny if his client administered the Propofol.
The website also reports that the LAPD has had 'multiple conversations' with the L.A. County District Attorney's office, although the case has not been formally presented to the D.A.
Paramedics wheel Michael Jackson into hospital after the accident
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