The Years 1982 to 1985
On January 24, filming for Pepsi’s first promotional teaser began.
On November 11, 1983, a five-million-dollar contract had been signed between Michael Jackson, the Jacksons group, and the Pepsi-Cola company. With this contract, Pepsi became the sponsor of the «Victory» tour, and the Jackson brothers were also required to appear in two Pepsi television promotional teasers.
[Pepsi promotional teaser]
On January 27, 1984, during the filming of the second Pepsi promotional teaser, due to an explosion of explosive materials that had been placed in the spotlight for performing fireworks, and because the spotlight hit Michael’s head; his hair caught fire and he suffered second- and third-degree burns.
[The accident]
Miko Brando [the son of Marlon Brando and Michael’s personal secretary] was the first person who reached Michael and put out the flames with his hands. Michael was quickly taken to Cedars-Sinai Clinic and then transferred to Bratman Memorial Hospital, where he was placed under care.
The next day, on January 28, Michael was released from the hospital.
After this incident, Michael received one and a half million dollars in compensation for this accident from Pepsi, which he immediately donated to the «Michael Jackson Burn Center».
On February 27, 1984, MTV aired both Pepsi one-minute promotional teasers without receiving any payment.
The next day, on February 28, during the broadcast of the 26th annual Grammy Awards ceremony on television, two Pepsi promotional teasers featuring the Jackson brothers were shown. These two teasers are among the most successful and popular promotional teasers that have ever been made. And they are also the first and only ones whose broadcast schedule was printed in the TV Guide weekly magazine’s list of television programs.
[At the Grammys]
But most importantly, the top picks at the 26th annual Grammy Awards ceremony were chosen. On February 28, 1984, Michael Jackson won eight out of ten Grammy Awards.