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For years, the harrowing accident on a Pepsi commercial shoot which put Michael Jackson in hospital with terrible burns has remained unseen. Somehow now, only weeks after his death, footage of the drama unfolding has leaked, with many pin-pointing this as the moment when the self-styled King of Pop, reaching his absolute peak, was first introduced to pain-killers, an addiction which many claim brought about his recent, unexpected and tragic passing.

The video shows Jackson performing at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 27,1984 before 3,000 understandably very excited fans. Appearing alongside his brothers at a staged gig, all goes well until the sixth take, when he descends from the back of the stage and a battery of pyrotechnics explode prematurely. Michael can be seen bounding down the stairs, the top of his head clearly ablaze, before the crew rush to his aid.



Jacko suffered third-degree burns on his scalp and body in the incident and was rushed to hospital, his iconic glove still in place as paramedics loaded him into an ambulance. Pepsi settled out of court, with the $1.5 million fee going to the Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, CA, which now has a Michael Jackson Burn Center. But money could not heal the damage, as habitual use of prescribed narcotics becoming a frequent aid but one that would seemingly take over his life.

The original, finished Pepsi commercial can be seen here: