He dons the black and silver suit. He straps the sticks on his back. And to the helmet on his head. And everywhere else. And two whirling, lithe dervishes in asbestos eveningwear dance around him, lighting his fire... With flamethrowers. While the lady sings:
I put on my pointed hat
And my black and silver suit
And I check my gunpowder pack
And I strap the stick on my back.
And, dressed as a rocket on Waterloo Bridge--
Nobody seems to see me.
Then, with the fuse in my hand,
And now - shooting into the night
-Kate Bush, "Rocket's Tail"
The Man, the Myth, the Legend
He's the Rocket Man, burning out his fuse, also known as Wally Glenn. Seattle-based pyrotechnic artist and haute couture innovator in fireworks-as-fashion-statement , member of Cirque de Flambe (a one-ring European-style circus in which every act works with fire), and media pyro-darling (Pyro Boy was recently featured in a Nova documentary on fireworks). Former stand-up comedian and member of the Pork Filled Players. Appeared at Burning Man in 1997's Feast of Vulcanalia with flaming Fire Puppets and a neoluddite performance rant.
'Cause I am a rocket
On fire.
Look at me go, with my tail on fire,
With my tail on fire,
On fire.
Hey, look at me go, look at me...
The Pyro Vixens
Ably assisted by The Pyro Vixens, pyrotechnic artists Jeanine Ciulik and Kirsten Lauzon. The vixens are responsible for setting Pyro Boy's amazing firecracker-encrusted suit on fire with flamethrowers. The Pyro Vixens also have an act with the Cirque de Flambe, Red Hot Rhythm Ropes, which includes a Flaming Double-Double Dutch routine.
Other Seattle-based pyrotechnic performance groups:
Hey, wish that was me up there--
It's the biggest rocket I could find,
And it's holding the night in its arms
If only for a moment.
I can't see the look in its eyes,
But I'm sure it must be laughing.
Related sites:
http://www.cirquedeflambe.com
http://www.arfarfarf.com/pyroboy/