The King of Pop and the World's Greatest Womanizer have more in common than you might think. Michael Jackson's death last month, like that of Howard Hughes in 1976, revealed the hidden side of a famously reclusive figure, one that involved elaborate schemes to obtain prescription drugs. Both men began a regiment of painkillers after an accident: Hughes' plane crash in 1946 and Jackson's burn on the set of a Pepsi commercial in 1984. Over time, each developed a tolerance for narcotics that enabled them to consume otherwise lethal doses. What followed the death of Hughes, like many others ... Read More
Songs and Ads: Ten Infamous Examples
November 3, 2008 • By • Leave a Comment
Related interview: Bethany Klein on pop music and Madison Avenue 1. In January 1984, during the sixth take of an ad that would become infamous, pop superstar Michael Jackson's hair caught fire when a fireworks display malfunctioned, showering him in sparks. Jackson was rushed to a hospital, where he was treated for second degree burns to his head. "He is in discomfort," his plastic surgeon told the press. "It will take a few weeks to determine the hair loss." The ad itself would be remembered for turning the hit song "Billie Jean" into a Pepsi pitch. Watch it here: 2. In 1987, Nike ... Read More
