Michael Jackson 1958-2009
Michael Jackson Remembered
How the child superstar grew into an icon beloved by the world – and the eccentricities that later defined him
Credit: Bettmann/Corbis
Updated: Thursday Jun 24, 2010 | 06:20 AM EDT By: Serena Kappes, Aaron Parsley, Brian Orloff and Cara Shultz
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KING OF POP:
DANGER ON SET
It was a close call: While filming a pyrotechnic-heavy commercial for Pepsi at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium in 1984, Jackson's hair was accidentally set on fire as he performed "Billie Jean." The singer was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was treated for a third-degree burn and a palm-sized second-degree burn on the crown on his head. At the hospital, a flood of messages poured in from fans and friends, including a telegram from a girl that said, "I heard you were hot, Michael, but this is ridiculous."
