Los Angeles - Gossip magazine Us Weekly has released a video of the horrifying 1984 accident in which Michael Jackson's hair was set on fire.

The incident occurred when the late King of Pop, who was then at the height of his popularity, was filming a commercial for Pepsi.

The video shows several takes in which Jackson was filmed dancing near a pyrotechnic display. On the final take, the pyrotechnic fires too early and sets Jackson's hair aflame. Eerily, Jackson doesn't realize he is on fire and keeps dancing for a few seconds before he is smothered by security personnel.

The magazine said that it was while being treated for the burns to his head and face that Jackson became addicted to painkillers.

Jackson died June 25, aged 50, of cardiac arrest. Police believe he died after he was given the hospital anaesthetic, Propofol.(dpa)