Thread of pain ran through Jackson's career (AP)

Los Angeles in 1984, and the only hiccup had been an argument between Michael Jackson and an ad executive over whether the young superstar would take off his sunglasses.

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"Then," as the executive later wrote, "we set his hair on fire." Jackson was descending a staircase in an extravagant, pyrotechnic opening sequence, dancing to " Billie Jean ," when a spark landed on his head. Jackson cried out. People nearby leapt on him to put out the fire, but Jackson was hospitalized for days with a burned scalp. Thus began a thread of pain that ran through a remarkable career — and made painkillers all too accessible.

Full Story: Thread of pain ran through Jackson's career (AP)