Adlib won the contract after working with Bowie's FOH engineer Pete Keppler on the Eels this summer. Keppler specified a VerTec system for the tour after using it for the first time at last year's inaugural 'Move' festival in Manchester, which was headlined by Bowie.
Adlib was the first UK hire company to invest in JBL's renowned line array system back in 2001 soon after its launch. Since then, it's been in constant use on a myriad of tours and events around the world. The latest deal, co-ordinated by Arbiter's Karl Bates, sees Adlib supplying 32 VT4889 full-size enclosures, 32 VT4880 subs, 32 4888 medium-sized VerTecs and 12 4887 'Baby' VerTec elements, increasing their existing VerTec stock by a factor of six.
The deal will be finalized at PLASA 2003. During the show, Adlib will also be providing a VerTec System for a live interactive show with Bowie to launch the 'Reality' album. This will be recorded by the BBC at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith - in widescreen and with surround sound - and beamed to more than 20 cinemas around Europe by live satellite. Due to time differences, it'll be received the next day in Asia, Japan and Australia, and screened in North and South America and Canada on 15 September.
(Ruth Rossington)
