Martin Pro On Tour

Depeche Mode have followed their successful album Exciter with a world tour that sees them playing 80 dates around the globe. Lighting designer is Paul Normandale who has masterminded an extraordinary light show that incorporates Martin MAC 2000s and giant video projections by artist Anton Corbijn. Using 19 MAC 2000s, Normandale and his collaborators have created a unique lighting design, with a cleverly-constructed interplay of light, film and Depeche Mode's own unique brand of electronica. Normandale took full advantage of the MAC 2000's hard-edged beams to create a strong visual look that mirrored the moods of the evening's varied repertoire. At times the band was given an almost graphical quality by a silhouetting backlight of MAC 2000 beams. Crew Chief Mike Hosp noted: "The MAC 2000 is a very positive step in the technology of moving lights. It has the brightness that LDs want with the ease of service that road guys need." North American production is by Upstaging and European production is by Lite Alternative.

Meanwhile, ex-Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler has hit the road again, this time in support of his second solo album Sailing To Philadelphia. The tour is his first North American venture in more than a decade. For the 'Sailing' tour, Knopfler wanted to move away from the 'Star Trek' lighting, as he called it, of the Dire Straits days, and towards a more intimate setting. 23 Martin MAC 500s were selected to tour with Knopfler and provide a friendly atmosphere for a varied repertoire that included both new tunes and old Dire Straits numbers. LD David Cox provided a novel approach to background lighting with a cloud drop behind the musicians that was lit by MAC pattern effects. Knopfler was also given a rapturous welcome in South America, where he toured with several members of the MAC range, including the MAC 2000. In all, 50 MAC moving heads supplied by Brazilian rental company Proshop Equipamento.

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