This was really interesting. Thanks for doing it. I've always said, the Genesis tour from 1984 is why I'm a lighting designer. Got the tour poster in my office

@mrtrudeau23

3 жыл бұрын

Likewise, the 1994 Pink Floyd PULSE tour amazed me when I first saw it when they released the DVD. I still get chills watching it.

@67philipo

3 жыл бұрын

IMHO that was the best light show in concert history

@AlxM88

2 жыл бұрын

Agree!!

OMG - a detailed breakdown of the history of Vari*Lites, by Tom Litrell no less, who operated what I believe was the best lighting rig in concert history, with the Genesis 1984 Mama Tour. Fantastic insights and I learned so much!!!

First witnessed vari lites during the Genesis gig in Edinburgh, September 25th 1982. An amazing night, band on huge form, but I think we applauded the lights almost as much as the band. Huge credit to Showco, and belated thanks from a Scotsman who was blown away.

52:07 Looks like Genesis. Love those laser effect lights and the multibeam lights too. I used to work for Thorn Lighting / GE Lighting in the UK, in materials tech but it was the Genesis lightshow in 1981 that got me fascinated with lighting, plus the amazing 1977 laser cone shown on the Seconds Out live album sleeve.

My wife thinks I should write a book on the history of moving lights. Now I don't have to because you nailed it, Tom! Great trip down memory lane - especially since you worked in Tristan und Isolde on which I was the programmer. I especially liked the pre-Vari*Lite history - that is as important as the lunch at Solly's

@Butlinsgvn6

Жыл бұрын

you should write it anyway!

38:41 Actually that's an absolutely beautiful, drop dead gorgeous photograph. It's Afterglow and it's Genesis and it's those fantastic lights, even if there were sometimes a couple missing! Noone would have known.😊🤗🤫😉 I wish I had this 30" x 20" or bigger.

38:40 Beautiful colours all the same!

Very interesting! For me Genesis' stage lights were best of the best! 🎚️

Nothing beats the texture of a VLZ-1 light, especially in 1981 to 1984, but still hasn't been beat to me. Beyond Genesis, the Police and Prince had a few shots on MTV videos that blew my mind.

This was fascinating

Having worked for Jands Australia with our Vari-lite department back in the 90s. I got most of the history from one of the smartest guys I'd ever met there Raph. This fills in a lot of the blanks I'd forgotten about.

29:40 "Outside the cage".....😎😊 Awesome.

Excellent Presentation. One should not forget the innovation pioneered by the "light shows" of the 60's and 70's which pioneered moving lights and effects largely using slide projectors, overhead projectors and other sources frequently using reflection to move the light. Lights were rigged with color wheels of various types and control was usually mechanical but cues were possible. It was a short lived period but great experimentation occurred in some ways paving audience and performer interest in a more complex light environment.

Seeing the videos of old Genesis, Pink Floyd and ELP shows is why I got into working lighting and audio. Thanks for clarifying the history of moving lights, I too had always thought Varilight invented moving lights, my technical theatre professor even said that!

I'm so glad I found this! Abacab tour 1981 on the Three Sides Live video. It had to be Genesis. Then the 1983/4 system, amazing, used again in 1986/7. I'm not sure if they changed it between 83/4 and 86/7. Both were amazing. In later tours, I missed the dominating effect of these lights and their shapes.

@mupwuppie

2 жыл бұрын

You need to see the new Genesis show ; the Last Domino. With a design of Patrick Woodroffe the nice effect of moving lights is back.

I recently watched "Pure country" and the only thing i could really focus on during the film was the Varilite VL4s

Anyone remember Genesis outdoors at CNE Grandstand in Toronto ... Aug 28, 1982 ?? Rolling stage ...8' high. Vari-Lite console blew off the stage early afternoon and hit the ground. It was so cold it actually snowed a little (it's Canada ... LoL). As we lifted the fuzzy lid off the console... a seagull promptly shat on Mr. Owen. Fun times ....

1:36:22 Are additive colour mixing systems intrinsically more energy efficient?

Doing great

Really nice to watch. I spoke to Alan Owen in the beginning of Vari*Lite and started working with and for Vari*Lite for 20 years. I am still waiting for the next step, a moving light with a "video screen" instead of colors and gobo`s and all kinds of mechanical effects. Then we enter the next step where our creativity becomes the limit of what is possible. Thank you for this video Tom.

@croissantproductions

2 жыл бұрын

Those have existed for years.

Here's a bit from 1981. kzread.info/dash/bejne/fIlmxaeEqJu5nZM.htmlm15s Geoff callingham on the Prophet-10 then the VARI*LITE.😊

Great dokument but shame 4 microphones…

30:15

Vari*Lites nowadays ignore the important role of Genesis, which is very sad!