MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Some may call 2007 the comeback year for a number of bands. This year alone, Pyrotek Special Effects and sister company Laser Design Productions have worked with the likes of Motley Crue, Meatloaf and Spice Girls to name a few. More recently, the tour that some anticipated would never occur has flourished. Just as fans were ready to forget, Van Halen has returned.
“It’s not everyday that you have a chance to work with one of the worlds most influential Rock Bands,” commented Doug Adams, president and designer of Laser Design Productions. “Most people, myself included, thought this tour would never happen. It’s been a dream come true for so many to see David, Eddie and Alex on stage playing together again.”
Vice President Lorenzo Cornacchia demoed the lasers to the band at Center Staging in Burbank California. A preempted David Lee Roth arrived at the laser demo with a ghetto blaster in hand, playing some upbeat music. Hesitant about having liner straight beams, which he referenced as being similar to that of a Star Wars look; Roth called for the lasers to produce slow, groovy atmospheric effects.
At that point Adams was called upon to fulfill the design of the laser effects to specific songs. Working along side with Lighting Designer Butch Allen, the two focused on layering and texturing between the lighting and the lasers.
“It’s crucial that we’re always on the same page in order to bring the best out of each others designs,” Adams explained. Touring Laser Operator Al Domanski was involved in bringing the designs to fruition. The laser equipment used for the laser designs are two 40 Watt air cooled Yags, two remote scanners, along with two LDP10 projectors.
The laser effects of each song include a different look in which the effects are intended to sync with the altitude of the guitar riffs. The set list, which consists of 25 songs, use the laser effects during Romeo Delight, where atmospheric scans zoom out on the guitar swells. For Mean Street, Remote scans produce a look of rolling waves that cross-fade during guitar riffs throughout the middle of the song.
During the pre chorus of Cradle Will Rock, a staccato laser blade is pixilated to the chunky rhythm and a combination of atmospheric organic effects flow with Eddie Van Halen’s volume fade-ins and echoing harmonics.
It is definitely the comeback year for Van Halen; The year began with the ban being announced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and will conclude with the band completing their scheduled North American tour.
Fans are beside themselves to have a chance to attend one more Van Halen performance. Roth still brings an enthusiastic and entertaining presence to the stage and Eddie’s playing as well as he ever did.
Adams commented, “It’s a great feeling knowing that Van Halen fans have another chance to see one of the best rock bands on stage together again; what we’re trying to do is enhance the adrenaline of the show!”
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For information, please visit www.pyrotekfx.com/.
