As one of Germany's most successful bands, with credits including Germany's first Moonman, MTV VMA for Best New Artist and EMAs in both 2008 and 2009, the Welcome to the Humanoid City tour is the biggest show this multi-award winning band has ever produced.
Brilliant Stages took the set designed by Misty Buckley and turned it into a full on touring show.
"This was the first time I have worked directly with Brilliant Stages and they were absolutely amazing," says Buckley. "Tony Bowern and Mel Welch were so accommodating and understanding of what I was trying to achieve. They were happy to spend time discussing my design and were excellent on delivery. I was also lucky to have Malcolm Birkett to realise my design and help make the transition from design to stage a comfortable one.
"The process of taking my design from sketches to model construction was a very collaborative process in which I could take advantage of Brilliant Stages super-technological abilities. Brilliant Stages meanwhile were very open to any changes that occurred during development and, since Mel Welch and I both speak a common CAD language, we were able to communicate and develop the ideas on this level."
The centre piece of the set is a giant, 6m high, metallic sphere, or Pod, with a crenulated split around its equator. The Pod breaks open around this split to allow the top half to elevate above the stage and reveal the drum riser. The top and bottom halves of the Pod are each formed from 16 facetted panels. Each panel is covered in an aluminium Expamet mesh laid onto a profiled backing, with a slotted detail which allows lighting /video designer, Dave Maxwell, to back light with stunning results.
Seven of the lower panels are hydraulically operated to open out like the segments of an orange, revealing the band as they make their entrance onto stage. In the centre of the Pod is the drummer on the drum riser which can be raised 3.2m into the air by a pair of scissor lifts to the mid point of the Pod. The set was given an urban gothic scenic finish by Perry Scenic.
"The team at Brilliant made every effort to ensure we had exactly what we wanted, and were very amenable to all the last minute small changes that always occur. In the end the set looked exactly like the model. As always it was a pleasure to work with them," says Phil Broad.
"I found the whole experience really fluid," adds Buckley. "Brilliant Stages were very supportive to the creative concept, which is exactly what you want. As a designer one is continually working towards bigger dreams and my experience with Brilliant Stages has inspired me towards better and better things. I've been really lucky to work with them and would do so again at the drop of a hat."
(Jim Evans)
