The brief from designers Roy Bennett and Peter Aquinde was for a heavy metal 'iron foundry' look which would incorporate the main stage into the array of lighting pods, collapsing tower blocks and the vast quantity of pyrotechnics which even includes a shower of exploding dolls.
Brilliant Stages collaborated with Perry Scenic on this venture and employed project manager, Nick Evans, to work alongside Rammstein's production manager, Nicolai Sabottka, and Perry Scenic's project manager, Tony Guest, in delivering this taxing piece of set.
The staging mainly consists of tiered band platforms surmounting the main stage, with four collapsible towers forming the industrial backdrop of the set.
Initially, Brilliant Stages designed and built a hydraulic ramp which was set into the centre of the Stageco (Germany) mainstage, downstage of the drum riser. This manually controlled ramp allows lead singer, ex-Olympic swimmer Till Lindemann, to access the stage from beneath the riser through the Brilliant Stages-built sliding louver doors and also to access the main stage from the top of the drum riser.
Band platforms were then constructed to sit on top of the main stage using Brilliant Stages' custom staging system of aluminium NEACO 'NI' bars for the decks which allow the full pyrotechnic and lighting effects to penetrate through the grill.
Upstage, the band risers are surmounted by an industrial pipework handrail, inset with the Rammstein logo constructed from LED light boxes.
For the top of the show both Brilliant Stages and Perry Scenic supplied the band reveal which involves the two guitarists smashing their way through a disposable composite panel, with a powerful Falcon Cannon punching beams of white through the ever-enlarging hole. "The central panel was originally conceived as a sheet of steel that Till Lindemann would burn through with a plasma torch," explains Brilliant Stages' Tony Bowern, "but the initial concept was refined to the final existing effect which is that of a burning ring of pyro around an oval panel which is kicked out by Till to reveal him in blood stained attire."
"Brilliant Stages produced some excellent engineering during the construction and have provided great tour support," says Nicolai Sabottka. "Tony and his team were always there when we needed them."
(Jim Evans)
