Rock ‘n’ Roll Fireworks Show Scheduled at Universal

Burbank, Toluca Lake, Universal City and North Hollywood will be front-row seats for “Skyblast ‘89,” a 20-minute rock ‘n’ roll fireworks show that will be simulcast over KPWR-FM (105.9) at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

About 2,500 shells will be electrically triggered to explode 1,000 feet above Universal Studios in time to hits by such performers as Madonna, Janet Jackson and New Kids on the Block.

For the opening number, “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones, “chrysanthemums” are the firework of choice.

“Mums work with a rock ‘n’ roll back beat,” said Rick Leibert, director of the National Fireworks Ensemble, which is putting on the show. “With a punchy song we start by using punchy mums. So it will be red ones booomm! . . . silver ones booomm! Sort of an opening overture to the different kind of mums that we have.”

Jay Thomas and Monica Brooks will provide continuity for the score of pop songs Wyatt has compiled to cue the explosives. The show will climax with a 1,000-mortar finale to accompany “Wild Thing” by Tone Loc and Prince’s “1999.”

“Skyblast ‘89” is the warm-up to “Powerhouse VIII,” a dance party that KPWR is throwing at Universal. The party is limited to the 3,000 ticket-holders who bought or won invitations to the event, but the fireworks show is open to anyone with a radio and a clear view of the sky over Universal.

Event organizers estimate that between 200,000 and 350,000 people in the San Fernando Valley will be able to see the “pyrotechnic ballet.” They recommend nearby parks and parking lots as prime viewing spots.