Featuring performances and testimonials from artists and celebrities influenced by the band - including Marilyn Manson, Razorlight Blink 182, AFI and the Deftones the event will be beamed across MTV Europe's Networks of 120 million homes from October 2004.
Blackout's project manager, Kevin Monks, headed the team and collaborated closely with the MTV Networks Europe production management team. Blackout rose to the challenge of designing and supplying a trussing structure in line with the building restrictions imposed by Old Billingsgate's Grade II listed status.
The atmospheric Gothic set designed by Simon Beresford required over eight tonnes of equipment to be flown from the ceiling. Additionally, three giant trees, supplied by Living Props, each weighing 1.5 tonnes were also flown from the truss structure. The Blackout team started the installation following a series of in-depth pre-planning meetings with Billingsgate's structural engineer Ron Dixon of William Attwell Associates. The truss structure was absolutely fundamental to the staging of the event - allowing the transformation of the elegant 19th century structure into a dynamic and exciting live performance environment.
The structure was constructed from Blackout's extensive stock of Thomas Super truss, Slick Minibeam and CM Loadstars. Supporting a myriad of lighting fixtures supplied by Fourth Phase, the truss was also used to lift a two tonne LED video screen, supplied by Creative Technologies, into position. Also flown direct from the building was the DV-Dosc sound system supplied by Brit Row.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
