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Mac Viper Air FX Hybrid Lights pay tribute to classic Queen shows

Legendary British rock band Queen have worked with several vocalists since the death of front man Freddie Mercury in 1991. On the most recent world tour, original band members Roger Taylor and Brian May recruited American Idol’s Adam Lambert, whose flashy onstage presence was complemented by Martin Professional Mac Viper AirFX lighting fixtures.

Lighting Designer Rob Sinclair was approached in 2012 and asked to do lighting for the Queen Extravaganza, the official Queen tribute band. His work caught Queen + Adam Lambert’s attention and they asked him to come and work for them on the upcoming tour. “It was a case of being at the right place at the right time,” said Sinclair. The lighting design process for the world tour started back in the fall of 2013, when Sinclair, the band and Set Designer Ric Lipson first met and came up with the idea of a Q-shaped stage. Lipson and Sinclair continued developing the concept over the next few months and everything fell into place during rehearsals.

Central to Sinclair’s design are 97 Mac Viper Air FXs. The previous leg of the tour featured Mac Viper Profiles, but Sinclair jumped at the chance to work with the Air FXs when UK rental company Neg Earth had them in stock. He first got acquainted with the Air FX last year at a demonstration in Las Vegas and was impressed with their output and efficiency that he took 120 on the Kylie Minogue Kiss me Once tour.

He needed something bright enough to compete with an enormous LED screen, spotlights and the many other stage elements. The Air FX, which is known for its versatility, addresses Sinclair’s main concern but also does much more. It is the original hybrid fixture, allowing hard edges, mid-air effects and washes all in one fixture without compromising on output or color. While the Queen + Adam Lambert shows included many hard-edged looks, Sinclair often relies on wash looks for other events, such as the recent Florence + The Machine shows.

Sinclair’s considered approach to his work has led him to work with a diverse range of musicians including Kylie Minogue, Peter Gabriel, Adele, Pet Shop Boys, Miley Cyrus and Vampire Weekend. “I study the artist and immerse myself in their music,” said Sinclair. “Once I have done that I am able to do my job and help them tell their stories and present them in the best way possible.” Sinclair’s methodology does include a few fairly steadfast rules. He never mixes fixture types on the same positions and he likes big blocks of color. His first priority, however, is always to ensure that everything is appropriate and tailored for the artists and their music. “I’m very aware of Queen’s long history of dramatic rock show productions,” said Sinclair. “I envisioned the show as bright, powerful and modern, but with a distinct nod to the past.”

Photos: Ralph Larmann
Rental: NEG Earth
Set Design: Ric Lipson, Stufish
Lighting Design: Rob Sinclair
Lighting Crew Chief: Seth Conlin
Crew (European leg): Mark ‘Ethnic’ Cooper, Kenny Rutkowski, Robin Sheridan, Jim Mills, Blaine Dracup, Danny Wiserman

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