Owner Robin Alvis has known band leader Wayne Coyne for several years and was intrigued when Coyne asked him if he had read a news story featuring the band in Rolling Stone? In the article, Coyne had been asked what was in store for the band and he had suggested that for the upcoming tour the band would arrive on stage in a giant UFO, play the gig, get back in and take off! A few days later, the reporter asked Wayne to sketch his concept - which he promptly faxed over and was published.
Alvis explains: "I hadn't seen the sketches until Wayne showed them to me! We discussed some ideas of how we could construct the UFO and decided on a 30ft and 2-9ft Thomas circle trusses interlocked with softrails and 12 x 12 GP truss. Wayne made the balloon and skin himself."
A number of LED fixtures were considered for the UFO but nothing compared to the brightness of a PixelLine 1044. Coyne also loved the effects and working alongside lighting designer Pope, 40 PixelLines were specified amongst a battery of other fixtures including moving lights and strobes. Two Avolites' Pearls control the show - one for the main rig and one for the PixelLines. The show is designed and programmed by Coyne and Pope, who sit together and bounce ideas around until they come up with the most unique creations.
Toucan had to rent in the battens for the tour as they did not have any in their inventory, but since then they have purchased some and they are currently on the Shiny Guns tour with the same LD. Alvis enthuses: "I first saw the PixelLines at the LDI tradeshow and was blown away. They have been a great investment and we get requests for them daily."
(Lee Baldock)
