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Thursday, July 1, 2010

Sound Check Confessions of a Pyromaniac

Posted by on Thu, Jul 1, 2010 at 1:45 PM

Glenn Exploded Insects in His Past
  • Glenn Exploded Insects in His Past
Glenn Messner is a pyrotechnic officer currently touring with Bon Jovi. In celebration of July 4th, I made multiple calls and spoke with him. We, I believe, as humans, have a special relationship with fire and explosions. Some of us have a special relationship with fire and explosions when listening to songs like “Living on a Prayer.” The earliest controlled use of fire by hominids dates back about 1,420,000 years ago. Not until 7000 BC did Neolithic man acquire reliable fire-making techniques. And not until 1986 AD did Bon Jovi acquire the ability to play “You Give Love a Bad Name” with flash pots firing off.


What do you do?
Glenn: I am in charge of all pyrotechnics and proximate pyrotechnics for the band Bon Jovi. Basically, I make sure anything onstage involving explosive or flame is safe.

So you like to blow shit up?
I’ve never actually blown shit up. Exploding feces would be messy, and it wouldn’t get me very far.

I don’t know. I think if you exploded feces on Jon Bon Jovi while he was singing that song “Have a Nice Day”, it would be amazing.
Is this really what you wanted to talk about?

What’s the best Bon Jovi song for pyro?
“Wanted Dead or Alive” has some flame effects, shooting flames, and smoke generation. I’m partial to hazers. Although that’s not so much pryo. It’s a water-based solution that puts out continuous and evenly diffused fields of haze. It makes the lights cut through and appear more effective. Nothing beats a good ol flash pot though.

Did you explode cockroaches with firecrackers when you were a kid?
You can joke, but I take my job very seriously.

Are you a pyromaniac?
I’m a specialist. And if this is all this is going to be about, I’m hanging up.

You're telling me not once, have you ever exploded a small animal or insect with a firecracker?
What’s your deal with cockroaches?

They’re not such a bad species, people shouldn’t hate on them so much.
I never said I hate cockroaches.

You just blow them up.
I’ve never blown up a cockroach. Are we done?

You’re Living on a Prayer.
I’m hanging up.

I’ll miss you.
—

 

Comments (14) RSS

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lordbison 1
Definitely one of your best interviews, Trent. ("I never said I hate cockroaches.")
Posted by lordbison http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/author/lb/ on July 1, 2010 at 2:03 PM
Trent Moorman 2
It definitely felt like he hated cockroaches.
Posted by Trent Moorman on July 1, 2010 at 2:10 PM
Pat Boone 3
Pat believes cockroaches are running this country!
Posted by Pat Boone on July 1, 2010 at 2:16 PM
Pat Boone 4
Pat believes cockroaches are running this country!
Posted by Pat Boone on July 1, 2010 at 2:18 PM
Pat Boone 5
More importantly, Pat loves fire. His real life birthday is the 4th of July. There have been some mishaps
Posted by Pat Boone on July 1, 2010 at 2:20 PM
More, I Say! 6
You can joke, he just can't take a joke.
Posted by More, I Say! on July 1, 2010 at 2:34 PM
Pat Boone 7
Yeah, it's not like Glenn is too busy to have a laugh with our dear Trent because he's out defending his country, or hunting all those extra deer runnin' around... then he'd have an excuse to be so serious. Maybe he just gets paid a lot
Posted by Pat Boone on July 1, 2010 at 3:04 PM
8
This guy totally exploaded insects as a child.
Posted by Franz on July 1, 2010 at 4:03 PM
9
Clearly, Glenn was into blowing up small animals and cockroaches.

Some of your finest work, Trent.
Posted by Samanthal on July 1, 2010 at 4:34 PM
10
Trent Moorman Gets Nardwuar on Hizz Azz!

WOW. love.
Posted by Kelly O on July 1, 2010 at 4:47 PM
11
HA!
Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on July 1, 2010 at 4:52 PM
12
Way to waste an opportunity Moonman. You suck.
Posted by Real Men Ask Real Questions on July 2, 2010 at 11:31 AM
13
Firecrackers are made for roaches.
Posted by Trust Me on July 3, 2010 at 6:22 AM
14
I think I'd have to know Trent for this to be funny. Oh well.
Posted by RL is so fucking lazy on July 5, 2010 at 3:55 PM

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