USA - Creed are back on tour for the first time since 2012. The multi-platinum, Grammy- and American Music Award-winning rock band embarked on a 40-show tour that boasted sold-out performance after sold-out performance while their Greatest Hits returned to four Billboard charts. Lighting designer Mathias Kuhn worked with Bandit Lites to supply a lighting system worthy of the sound that has elevated fans for decades.
Having previously worked with members of the band and management on Alter Bridge, Kuhn was trusted to deliver a design that centred around the direction: a big circle with lights. And while the truss appears to hover over the band, two dozen Bandit Lites-supplied Tyler Ladder Towers act like a drapery of lights between video screens.
“Mathias and I began working on this tour in October of 2023,” said Bandit Lites client representative Mark Scherer. “His goal was to pick fixtures that would provide the punch and beams that were desired, ultimately landing on Robe Mega Pointe and Claypaky Mythos 2.”
In addition to the massive circular truss and two dozen Tyler Ladder Towers, Bandit supplied more than 250 lighting fixtures including Chauvet Strike M, Chauvet R2X Wash, Chauvet Strike Array 2, Claypaky Midi-B FX, Claypaky Mythos 2, Elation Paladin Panel, ACME Gemini, Robe BMFL FS, Robe BMFL Spots, Robe Mega Pointes, Robe Footsie 2 as well as a Robe RoboSpot system and a Chamsys MagicQ MQ500 Stadium Console for control.
Bandit did not simply stop at supplying the gear, but also implemented an efficient system that knocked the count of 20+ fixture cases down to a mere five Bandit FlexRax to carry all the lights for the circle trusses. Additionally, the Tyler Ladder System each loaded with two Claypaky Mythos and two Chauvet Strike Array 2 two light blinders remained hung on the ladder, allowing them to simply roll in and out of the truck: no case needed.
“I always start by thinking about what I need on what position of the rig,” said Kuhn. “For example, on the floor and on the ladders, I need a beam fixture, that can also do big gobos and all that with a relatively small head. For the other flown spots, I need punchy sharp beams and big gobos.”
“I put a lot of thoughts into what fixture on what position to get the band the bang for the buck,” he said. “The Midi-B FX are amazingly beautiful, especially in photos or on the I-Mag. The Footsies help me a lot too on the I-Mag and pictures; they light up the band perfectly together with the RoboSpot Follows.”
