Lee 'grew up admiring and loving Michael Jackson'

Spike Lee couldn't let people down with his Michael Jackson documentary.

The filmmaker has been working on 'Bad 25' - which examines the making of the late King of Pop's classic 1987 album - and was excited by the challenge of living up to the "pressure" of fans' expectations.

He said: "It's good pressure. You can't let people down. If this had been sub-par I'd have been torn limb from limb."

Spike has admired the 'Thriller' hitmaker - who died of acute Propofol intoxication in June 2009 - all his life and admits his passing left him "messed up" for some time.

Asked why he decided to make the film, he told The Sun newspaper: "I'm a filmmaker, I love what I do and I grew up admiring and loving Michael Jackson.

"I saw him in 1969 on TV. He had a big afro and I wanted to be him.

"Michael's life deeply affected people and they miss him. His death messed me up for a month or two. He touched so many people."

'Bad 25' is released today.