Shocking footage of Michael Jackson's hair on fire

Never before seen footage has been released of the moment Michael Jackson's hair caught fire while filming a Pepsi advert more than 25 years ago. The star was shooting the commercial in front of thousands of fans at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 27, 1984. The horrific accident occured when a pyrotechnic explosion went off too early, accidentally setting Jackson's hair on fire and leaving him with second and third degree burns to his face and scalp. It is claimed that this was the period he started taking painkillers to which he later became addicted and some say was the cause of his sudden death last month.

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ITN | July 16, 2009

Tags:. .released. .painkillers. .pyrotechnic. .scalp. .horrific