Chapter 3: Pepsi Commercial and the Heights On January 27, 1984, Michael and the Jacksons filmed a Pepsi Cola commercial but the pyrotechnics accidentally set Michael's hair on fire, and he suffered second-degree burns to his scalp. He underwent treatment to hide the scars on his scalp, and Pepsi settled out of court. Of the incident, Michael said, "I had no idea what was happening. Suddenly my head felt hot but I had no idea my hair was on fire. The problem was all the chemicals in my hair, especially all the hair spray. Until that happened, the filming was going really well, but then I realized my hair was on fire. I will never forget the smell of burning hair and flesh - it's unforgettable. Thank God for the quick-thinking people who came to help me. The pain was indescribable. They told me my hair would grow back but there were problems and I had to wear hairpieces to cover up certain areas. I lived my whole life with the pain of my scalp and my back - constant pain. I was taken straight to the burn unit."

"Pepsi Commercial and the Heights" is excerpted from
"I Can See Clearly Now" by Lary Glen Anderson.

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