Gothed-out magician Criss Angel to chain himself to an imploding Clearwater building

In case you've ever wondered just how crazy gothed-out magic dude Criss Angel really is, now you've got more proof besides his brief flirtation with Britney Spears.

A&E today announced that Angel will chain himself to the historic Spyglass Resort in Clearwater on July 30, escaping from beams inside the 9-story building just as it is being demolished to make room for condominiums (for his next magic trick, Angel should try selling those units).

It's the first-ever live broadcast of “Criss Angel Mindfreak,” a show developed by Angel, who comes on like a gothed-out David Blaine, performing magic tricks and physical stunts. Airing at 10 PM  on July 30, the one-hour episode is titled “Building Implosion Escape” and will be hosted by Access Hollywood's Tim Vincent . The series' fourth season premieres Wednesday, July 23 at 10 PM ET/PT.

Why does Florida get all the, um, unique artists?

Here's a quote by Angel from the press release: “Every time I do a demonstration I try to take it up a level or two from what I have done in the past, from Cement Block in Times Square to my Double Straight Escape in front of over 10,000 fans in New Orleans,” said Criss Angel. “I can assure you that this demonstration will blow your mind and be above and beyond anything you have ever seen me attempt.”

Click below for the rest of the press release:

On July 30, 2008 at 10 PM ET, Angel will be shackled on the 7th story balcony of Clearwater’s famed 9-story Spyglass Resort located on the Gulf of Mexico waterfront. Tim Vincent will host the special one-hour event and walk viewers at home and spectators on-site through every detail, from Angel’s entrance to when the dust finally settles. In full view of the entire audience, Angel will attempt to escape steel restraints and make it to a hovering helicopter on the roof before the building implodes in front of the crowd, cameras and viewers at home.

The event will be broadcast live on A&E in North America, Latin America and on FOX8 in Australia.  In addition to the linear broadcast, live video feeds will be available on www.aetv.com and www.crissangel.com. No tickets will be sold and the event is open to the public, however all attendees will be required to view from behind a blast zone perimeter for safety reasons. There will be a 9’x12’ JumboTron screen mounted for spectators with a feed of the live show.

Idaho-based Advanced Explosives Demolition Inc (AED) will join forces with Tampa-based Cross Construction Services (CCS) for the implosion of the Spyglass Resort. The Spyglass Resort property will be transformed in to the Kiran Grand Resort and Spa, a partnership between Related Group and Tampa’s Dr. Kiran Patel, which plans for 350 condominium rental suites and 75 permanent residences.

In the implosion, explosives will be strategically placed throughout the interior of the building and detonated causing a vacuum inside with the result of the building collapsing upon itself. AED will use over 100 kilograms of explosives on three floors to reduce the nine-story structure into more than 3,000 tons of debris. CCS will recycle the concrete and metals for future construction use. Eric J Kelly holds multiple world records including the most structures imploded at once and the largest structure to be imploded. AED, owned by Lisa Kelly, is a member of the National Demolition Association and the International Society of Explosives Engineers. More information can be found at www.biggerblast.com.

Tim Vincent has traveled the globe to interview some of the biggest stars in music, film and television. He is best-known to American television audiences as the recent host of the NBC series “Phenomenon,” which featured Angel as a judge. He is the United Kingdom correspondent for “Access Hollywood” and hosts two primetime shows on the BBC in the UK, “Kitchen Criminals” and “Saturday Night National Lottery.”  Vincent also co-hosted the Miss World pageant in 2005 and 2006, as well as the Miss USA 2007 pageant.

Voted the “Best City Beach” on the Gulf Coast by Conde Nast Traveler and a “Top 10 Beach” in America by readers at usatoday.com, Clearwater, Florida, is in the midst of nearly $1 billion in new development and redevelopment on Clearwater Beach, including the $30 million Beach Walk project. Designed to revitalize the community that surrounds the city’s popular south beach destination, The Beach Walk project was dedicated on Saturday, July 19, 2008.

Once again stretching the boundaries of reality and belief, the fourth season of “Criss Angel Mindfreak” features three one-hour specials and 15 all-new half hour episodes every Wednesday at 10 PM ET/PT. The season kicks off with the one-hour series premiere “Walk on Lake” on Wednesday, July 23 at 10 PM in which Criss attempts to walk on the world’s largest manmade lake, Lake Mead in Nevada amidst spectators and boaters. Upcoming episodes feature incredible illusions, death defying escapes, fearless demonstrations and astonishing physical feats including Criss being cremated alive, walking through steel and inviting skeptics to be part of a deadly challenge where one wrong move will cost him his life.

Comments

[brydeballs]

Have quite a history with this place
wired a new salescenter there 2 years ago the building was fucked bums had been pissing in it and such.
good friend charlie hendricks painted the baloon with his dad many many years ago

[Eric Deggans]

Florida doesn't know how to amintain its old buildings, i'm afraid...

[Patrick]

Man, I once had a hell of a party at that hotel. It's a shame.

[Tony Wright]

I am a photographer with the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts and would like to know if I would be able to have access to a clear view of the Spyglass implosion in order to shoot still photographs of the event.
Thanks,
Tony