Jackson's Hair Horror 'Sparked Pill Addiction'

A harrowing accident that happened while Michael Jackson was filming a commercial may have fuelled his addiction to painkillers, it has been claimed. Skip related content

Shocking new video footage has revealed the star was severely injured when his hair caught fire from a special effects explosion.

The singer was filming a TV ad for Pepsi in the Los Angeles Auditorium in January 27, 1984 when disaster struck.

Usmagazine.com's clip shows Jackson dancing on stage in a glittering suit while pyrotechnic displays explode around him, as planned.

But during the sixth take the stunt goes horribly wrong - the fireworks go off too early and Jackson's hair catches on fire.

At first Jackson is apparently unaware his head is on fire and continues dancing for several seconds until the crew descends on him to douse the flames.

Jackson suffered second and third-degree burns on his scalp, face and body for which he had to have surgery.

To relieve his injuries, the star was prescribed several medications, which kicked off his addiction to painkillers and obsession with plastic surgery, Usmagazine.com says.

Sources close to Jackson have claimed he was never the same after the accident, the website adds.

Powerful painkillers were discovered in Jackson's body when he died from a suspected cardiac arrest on June 25, aged 50.

Reports have said Jackson regularly took a cocktail of up to eight painkillers to help him deal with the pain of his surgery and injuries.

The day after his death, Jackson family lawyer Brian Oxman described the King of Pop's use of opiates as "extensive".

LA police do not confirm reported Jackson homicide probe

Los Angeles police on Wednesday said they were investigating pop icon Michael Jackson's death, but would not confirm it was being treated as a homicide investigation, as reported by entertainment website TMZ.com.

"It's a death investigation, still an investigation, ongoing as death investigation, that's the only thing that we can say," LAPD spokesperson Amanda Betat told AFP.

TMZ.com reported the Los Angeles Police Department is treating Michael Jackson's death as a homicide and is focusing on doctor Conrad Murray.

The pop icon's family has spoken of "unanswered questions" concerning Murray's role in the final hours of Jackson's life. Murray's lawyers insist he has been cleared of wrongdoing.

TMZ, citing "multiple" law enforcement sources, said "the evidence points to the anesthesia Propofol as the primary cause of Jackson's death."

Law enforcement sources told TMZ there was already "plenty of powerful evidence" pointing to Murray, 51, as the person who administered the drug, whose brand name is Diprivan, to the "King of Pop."

The evidence, TMZ said, includes items found in Jackson's rented mansion, including Propofol, an IV stand and an oxygen tank.

The report came after the Los Angeles County Coroner's office subpoenaed the superstar's dermatologist Arnold Klein on Tuesday, seeking "additional medical records" from the physician's Beverly Hills office.

Investigators have been scrutinizing the possible role of drugs in the death of Jackson, who died on June 25 aged 50 after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles.

Police treating Jackson's death as homicide: report

AFP - Thursday, July 16

The late pop icon Michael Jackson in London in March. The Los Angeles Police Department is treating Jackson's death as a homicide and is focusing on doctor Conrad Murray, entertainment website TMZ.com has reported.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - - The Los Angeles Police Department is treating Michael Jackson's death as a homicide and is focusing on doctor Conrad Murray, entertainment website TMZ.com reported on Wednesday.

The pop icon's family has spoken of "unanswered questions" concerning Murray's role in the final hours of Jackson's life. Murray's lawyers insist he has been cleared of wrongdoing.

TMZ, citing "multiple" law enforcement sources, said "the evidence points to the anesthesia Propofol as the primary cause of Jackson's death."

Law enforcement sources told TMZ there was already "plenty of powerful evidence" pointing to Murray, 51, as the person who administered the drug, whose brand name is Diprivan, to the "King of Pop."

The evidence, TMZ said, includes items found in Jackson's rented mansion, including Propofol, an IV stand and an oxygen tank.

The drug is used to induce unconsciousness in hospital patients ahead of major surgery and experts say it should only be administered by a trained anesthesiologist.

The LAPD has already had "multiple conversations with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, even though the case has not yet been formally presented to the district attorney, the celebrity website said.

The report came after the Los Angeles County Coroner's office subpoenaed the superstar's dermatologist Arnold Klein on Tuesday, seeking "additional medical records" from the physician's Beverly Hills office.

Investigators have been scrutinizing the possible role of drugs in the death of Jackson, who died on June 25 aged 50 after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles.