Is 3D a passing fad, or will it become a regular component of the live touring effects arsenal? If you ask ESPN, which launched with much ballyhoo its slate of 3D sports channels in 2010, the most recent answer would be “fad”…but Primus might beg to differ. The trio embraced the concept for both legs of their 2012-2013 U.S. Green Naugahyde tour, which ended in June. Los Angeles-based 3D Live was the 3D technology provider for the shows, whose three-dimensional center screen was flanked by the 2D video screens the band has used before, in some cases with the content from the two overlapping. What made the application of 3D tricky was the need for the audience to wear anaglyphic glasses to get the 3D effect, however. Aaron K. Craig, Primus’ lighting designer, says they band had to carry as many as 30,000 pairs of plastic glasses with them on their tour of 1,500-seat clubs and 3,000-seat theaters.
—From “The Biz” by Dan Daley, PLSN, Aug. 2013
