Michael Jackson, after his hair caught fire during filming of a Pepsi ad

THIS is the horrific moment Michael Jackson’s hair caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi ad – the incident which is said to have sparked his addiction to painkillers.

The shocking clip shows the late King of Pop’s hair in flames after a mis-timed explosive flash goes off next to him.

Unbeknown to Jacko the pyrotechnics had set fire to his hair but, in the video, he continues to dance.

Moments later production staff rush in with fire extinguishers to put the fire out but Jackson is left with a painful bald spot on the top of his head.

Jackson, who died of a heart attack two weeks ago aged 50, suffered severe burns to his scalp in the incident and had to be prescribed painkillers.

It was these pills which are believed to have started his addiction to the prescription drugs that are thought to have contributed to his untimely death.

The accident, witnessed by thousands of stunned fans at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in January 1984, came at the height of Jackson's fame, a year after the release of his best-selling Thriller album.

"I was dancing down this ramp and turning around, spinning, not knowing I was on fire"

Writing about the accident in his autobiography, Moonwalk, Jacko said: "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 burns centre named after him.

The footage emerged as the pop star's brother Tito Jackson went on record to say Jacko was undisputedly the biological father of his three children.

He said the Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year old Prince Michael II, also known as Blanket, all bore a family resemblance.

He told the Daily Mirror: "They are all his children. Blanket is Michael's. I can tell. Those eyes don't lie. Them eyes are Michael over again. I see a lot of Michael in him."

Elsewhere pictures were published showing needle puncture marks on the star's ankles and a large wound on his right shin - thought to have been caused by his injection of drugs.