Pete Cappadocia has played with fire, smoke and other special effects for four decades.
Known as “Pyro Pete,” the pyrotechnics expert has spent many nights lighting up the stage for some of the biggest rock ‘n’ roll bands in the world, including AC/DC, which is set to play Acrisure Stadium on Thursday night.
An employee of New Castle-based Pyrotecnico, his first show with AC/DC was in the early 1980s.
“I was lucky to get this cool job,” said Cappadocia, a Long Island native who lives in Las Vegas. “Working with AC/DC is cool. They don’t yell and scream if something doesn’t go right. They are just guys happy to be in a band, and they are pros. They appreciate what we do and understand the work that goes into it.”
This tour marks the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band’s first United States tour in nine years and AC/DC’s first Pittsburgh stop since 2009 when they played at Mellon Arena.
The Pretty Reckless, the band led by Taylor Momsen (who played Jenny Humphrey in the teen drama “Gossip Girl”) will open the show.
For many years, Cappadocia has been part of a crew responsible for “hitting the button” for smoke, fire or whatever is needed to launch the special effects.
His journey with AC/DC began in 1981 when he was working for Lunatec, which built two custom cannons used on the For Those About to Rock tour — cannons that would go on to become an essential part of AC/DC’s live shows. He was brought on board to help troubleshoot and make sure the cannons worked reliably.
“It was an experience like no other,” Cappadocia said.
Pyrotecnico’s Casey Lake, who lives near Atlanta, has been with AC/DC for 16 years.
“Shooting the cannons, to be part of that select group, is pretty much at the top when it comes to pyro experiences,” Lake said in a news release.
These days, Cappadocia is more of a behind-the-scenes guy, helping with the planning of the shows.
When the musicians are on stage, those overseeing the pyrotechnics are positioned not far away so they can see what’s happening, he said.
Usually, the song “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” is last because of all the smoke that the special effects produce.
“Safety is our main concern,” Cappadocia said. “You can get hurt. But it is all about how you approach it and what you do to keep it as safe as possible.”
One of his favorite Pittsburgh venues was the former Civic Arena because of its retractable roof and its location Downtown. On days off, he would tour the city, where he found the rivers and bridges “cool.”
After all these years, he said, each show is unique — because it is live every night.
“There is no time code,” Cappadocia said. “This isn’t ballet. This is rock ‘n’ roll.”
The May 8 AC/DC show starts at 7 p.m.Tickets are available starting at $91 here.