Lighting Designers Roland Greil & Patrick Woodroffe of Woodroffe Bassett Design specified over 100 Chroma-Q Color Force II LED battens to provide spectacular effects lighting for Rammstein’s European Stadium Tour 2019.
One of the most technically ambitious concert productions this decade, the legendary German industrial metal band’s first-ever stadium tour – which sees them play 31 European dates this Summer to promote their number one self-titled studio album – further ups the ante on their explosive and ground-breaking live shows.
Working in collaboration with production designer, Florian Wieder; production director Nicolai Sabottka; lighting directors Faren Matern & Marc Brunkhardt; and set designer, Cuno Hahn, Woodroffe Bassett Design created a distinctive lighting concept which works hand in hand with the overall production design.
Adopting a theatrical approach, the contrasting scenes range from bold industrial looks fitting Rammstein’s aesthetics, to more contemporary looks.
With the massive stadium shows requiring production values to match, Woodroffe Basset Design were looking for powerful, versatile and tour-proof LED lighting solutions which could be supplied in large quantities to achieve their artistic vision.
They found them with Chroma-Q’s Color Force II fixtures after seeing a demo at the tour’s lighting vendor, Neg Earth Lights, who supplied 86 Color Force II 72 and 18 Color Force II 48 LED battens, as well as 28 Color One 100/100X LED PARs.
Arranged in vertical strips upstage and on PA towers, plus horizontally upstage on the floor, the Color Force II fixtures deliver eye-catching strobe, blinder and chase effects which perfectly complement the band’s theatrical performances and trademark pyrotechnics.
The lighting design follows a strict dramaturgy and storyline. As the show gets bigger and more energetic through the set, the Color Force IIs deliver strong, powerful looks on their own during some songs, as well as forming part of big overall stage looks. The fixtures have perfectly delivered the creative team’s lighting vision, and continue to do so out on the road during this tour.
Other tour production credits include LX programmer: Marc Brunkhardt; video programmer: Tim Hornung; camera director: Sven Offen; live visuals: Haegar De & David Gesellbauer; technical consultant: Jeremy Lloyd – Wonderworks; and video by Solotech.
Due to an overwhelmingly positive reception to the tour and high demand for additional shows, Rammstein has already announced dates for a returning European Stadium Tour in Summer 2020.