New video shows Jackson’s head catching fire

AFP, New York

A US entertainment magazine has released never-before-seen footage of Michael Jackson's hair catching fire while filming a commercial in 1984, an accident it said led to an addiction to painkillers.
Jackson was filming the advert for Pepsi when fireworks were exploded too early, causing the superstar to suffer severe burns as his hair and scalp were engulfed in flames, according to the video Us Weekly magazine released on its website Wednesday.
The "King of Pop," who died on June 25 from cardiac arrest at the age of 50, at first keeps dancing apparently unaware that his head is on fire. Still images of the accident have already been released but the video had never been shown publicly before. "He was never the same after the accident," Us Weekly said.
"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 -- which kicked off his addiction to painkillers and obsession with plastic surgery," the magazine quoted sources as saying.