Normandale, whose enviable design credits include: Bjork, Depeche Mode, Shakira, and the Stone Roses, is using the power of Philips Vari-Lite VL3500 Wash FX units to create a e lighting experience "to perfectly complement the band's ultraviolet spectacular".
Coldplay's current world tour promotes the band's Mylo Xyloto album release, which has charted at number one in thirty countries, including the UK and the US.
"We started the tour in festivals," explains Normandale, a long time Coldplay collaborator. "The idea was an evolving design that can scale all the way into stadiums from a core aesthetic. The band wanted a vivid ultraviolet feel, with a sphere of energy that could transform from small to massive."
To create the right look, Normandale is using the Philips Vari-Lite VL3500 Wash FX units, which feature an output that exceeds 50,000 lumens, as well as varied new options for colour and beam control.
"The 3500 allows me to use just one light with where I would normally have to use two," comments Normandale.
The VL3500 Wash luminaire features internal zoomable beam optics with Fresnel options, an interchangeable front lens system and an aperture wheel. The fixture provides CMY colour mixing, variable CTO colour temperature correction, dual five-position colour wheels, a separate dimmer, and an independent dual blade strobe mechanism.
The 3500 fx is the back bone of the festival into arenas and now stadium show, with 34 units inc 12 on the upper concourses of the stadiums. As Normandale says, "Few lights have the power to cut through from so far away."
The band has its own strong vision for its live performances. At each gig, fans are being asked to wear a radio-controlled lighting device wristband that omit either blue, white, pink or yellow on cue to music, turning the entire stadium into a sea of dancing orbs.
Normandale discusses, "Coldplay is all about live audience interaction, the OED wristbands are given free to every member of the crowd and interact with the lighting and performance, basically it is 60,000 people of pixels."
David March, director, European sSales for Philips Vari-Lite says:, "We are thrilled to see Vari-Lite play such an important role on this phenomenal Coldplay live show experience. Thanks to Paul Normandale who continues his 20 plus year association using Vari-Lite luminaires. Again Paul has created a visual feast that is both subtle and powerful whilst perfectly complementing Coldplay who deliver a dynamic live show for their fans."
(Jim Evans)
