27 Years Ago Today: Michael Jackson Goes Up In Flames

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson stood at the top of a staircase in front of around 5,000 fans surrounded by television lights, cameras and very dangerous pyrotechnics. As he descended the steps to a stage occupied by his brothers, sparks from the setup landed in his hair and set his scalp ablaze.

The next several moments were spent frantically extinguishing the flames by almost everyone close enough to do it.

This dramatic scene took place 27 years ago today in the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on the set of a pioneering Pepsi commercial starring Jackson and his brothers. MJ, just 25 years of age at the time was rushed to the hospital where it was revealed that he'd suffered second and third degree burns to his scalp. Once news of his very dangerous accident spread across the world, the music industry and millions of fans held their collective breaths as tears fell and prayers flowed.

What made the event particularly horrific was Jackson's status in the entertainment industry at the time. He was less than two months removed from the release of his iconic "Thriller" music video and two weeks past his grand showing at the 1984 American Music Awards. That was the ceremony that garnered Michael a record 8 trophies for the Thriller album including a special Award of Merit and a host of gushing, fawning accolades and superlatives from his music industry brethren.

In other words, Michael was at the very apex of his historic career and was the planet's most popular, celebrated and omnipotent  megastar by a wide margin at the time. It was a classic tragedy in the making to almost everyone in the U.S. Thankfully, he recovered, donated the $1.5 million he settled with Pepsi for to burn victims, then dominated the Grammy Awards just a month later.

That part was NO accident.