Marr, a respected LD for many years, is also currently studying Interactive Media at The Arts Institute, Bournemouth, and this was his first substantial tour since starting the course. Marr produced all video content for the Tiles as part of his coursework. The tour's standard generic and moving light rig was supplied by Siyan. Marr wanted something special to differentiate Maximo's highly energetic set, and he wanted it to be video-based to tie in with his college work about using LED as a lightsource.
It was the first time he's used VersaTILEs. He originally experimented with LED screen panels back in 1999 on a Texas tour, when he realised the medium had huge potential for use as a lightsource as well as a video effect.
He's been working for Maximo for the last two years. When the NME tour was confirmed, he assessed the available products, and VersaTILES came up as the best low-resolution option for what he wanted to achieve: "Nothing else had the right attributes," he explains, adding that the large pixels of the Tiles give a uniform colour and exactly the 'blocky' effect he wanted for the band.
Central to his imaginative philosophy is the belief that restrictions make people more creative, so the whole low-resolution concept was of huge creative benefit to the show. "The effects have to be simple, and the imagery doesn't detract from the band - as video sometimes does - because it's abstract". Using the Tiles in this was effectively a style statement rather than a content one. Each song had its own content comprised from about three clips.
Projected Image Digital helped source the Tiles for the tour, and the Catalyst digital media server on which his content is stored. Marr also visited their West London office for product training before taking the Tiles on the road, and pre-programmed his WholeHog II console and Catalyst system there. The project was co-ordinated for PID by David March.
(Lee Baldock)
