As Jackson danced down the steps to sing his hit Billie Jean fireworks were supposed to explode behind him. But on the sixth take the stunt went wrong and the pyrotechnics went off too early – setting the singer's hair on fire.
Jackson was initially unaware of the flames surrounding his head and continued dancing in his trademark glittering suit for around five seconds before aides rushed on to extinguish the flames.
The accident is said to have started the late King of Pop's dependency on the painkillers that were found flooding his system when he died three weeks ago, aged 50.
Jackson was later photographed in an ambulance with a bandage on his head and his trademark sequinned white glove on his right hand. He required several surgeries and needed skin grafts to treat the injury.
The accident, witnessed by thousands of fans, came at the height of Jackson's fame, about a year after the release of his best-selling "Thriller" album.
In his autobiography, "Moonwalk," he described the cause of the accident as "stupidity, pure and simple," adding: "... bombs went off on either side of my head, and the sparks set my hair on fire.
"I was dancing down this ramp and turning around, spinning, not knowing I was on fire. Suddenly I felt my hands reflexively go to my head in an attempt to smother the flames."
As a result of the accident, Pepsi gave Jackson $1.5 million, which he donated to a burn center named after him.
The incident, which happened while filming at the Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium on January 27, left him with second and third degree burns to his face and scalp.
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This was very hard to watch....
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