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Slayer Final World Tour

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SLAYER © Steve Jennings. The band performed at SAP Center in San Jose on Aug. 26

Lighting Co

Gemini LSV

Venue

Various (Tour)

Crew

Production Manager & Set Designer: Patrick Dickinson

Lighting Designers: Patrick Dickinson, Brian Lareau

Lighting Director/Programmer: Brian Lareau

Lighting Crew Chief: Collin Record

Lighting Tech: Josh Jenkins

Tour Manager: Mike Latronico

Production Assistant: Sara Parsons

Stage Manager: Royce Lee

Pyro Operator: Rory Jones

Pyro Tech: Paul Cusato

Gemini LSV Account Rep: Jason Cain

Set Fabrication & Staging: Gallagher Staging

Pyro: PyroTek Special Effects/Reid Derne

Backdrops: Grosh/Greg Viera

Kabuki System: Sew What?/Shane Nelson

Trucking: Stage Call/Tory Burns

Gear

2       Avolites Pearl Expert Pro consoles

35     Martin MAC Viper Profiles

36     Martin Quantum Washes

18     Martin Atomic 3000 LED Strobes

12     Martin MAC Auras

18     ProCan 2-Lite blinders

24     Tyler GT truss sections (8’)

12     Antari DarkFX UV Spot 670

4       Antari DarkFX UV Wash 2000

4       Elation ENode 8 Pro Art-Net Node

5       Gemini LSV 48 Way 120/208 power distro rack

1       ETC Sensor 24-channel dimmer

2       High End Systems FQ100 fog machines

2       Base Hazers

 

Slayer – The Final World Tour

For Slayer’s The Final World Tour, lighting director, programmer and co-designer Brian Lareau talked to us about the tour and working with Patrick Dickinson, who is the tour production manager, set designer and co-lighting designer.

Brian Lareau

Lighting Director, Programmer and Co-Designer

“Working with Pat Dickinson on the Slayer tour has been awesome. He brings a ton of experience to the table and the band trusts him to put together a solid production. He’ll discuss an initial set design with the band as well as what kind of pyro effects will be included and that gives us a base to work from. We’ll kick around general lighting ideas and fixture placement, like the raked finger trusses on this tour, and then Pat will put it together where all the production elements have their place. The pyro dictates where we can put fixtures without melting anything, so the final design needs to be really thought out. I’ll add a couple specials in whatever space is leftover, and we’re done. There’s no room for gimmicks. It’s big metal set pieces, immersive backdrops, lights and fire everywhere.

We’ve got pyro for nearly half the songs for this tour, and that’s a lot to compete with. As soon as we get a final set list, Rory Jones, (pyro operator) and I sit down to discuss how we can share the space without stepping on each other. If we both have overlapping cues that we want to hit, we’ll split them up so it’s not overpowering. For example, there are a number of spots in songs like Raining Blood where we go to a dead blackout and he can take over using the fire as its own lighting element. We run a pyro test every afternoon so Paul Cusato, (pyro tech) can dial everything in for maximum impact, and I think that Pat did a really good job balancing the amount of pyro effects with the size of the lighting rig. Even with an all-fire cue, it doesn’t wash out the lighting looks.

I’ve been a Martin fan for a long time, and the Viper has been my go to Profile fixture for years. The Quantum Wash and Atomic LEDs work extremely well together with them and it’s just a really solid no-nonsense rig. We required high output fixtures that also have the reliability to hold up to both inclement weather on our outdoor shows and the additional heat coming from the pyro. The Martin kit was the obvious choice, hands down. Gemini LSV has a ton of Martin gear as well as all the rigging, power distribution, and other equipment we need for the road, so it’s a one stop solution. They’re a fantastic company to work with, and because Jason (Cain) isn’t just our rep, but a Slayer fan and a damn fine LD himself, he really understands the needs of the production and his team knows how to package it perfectly. The relationship between Slayer, Jason, and Gemini predates my employment, and although I’ve heard some stories, they are not mine to tell!

It’s been a great experience touring with Slayer for the past 3 years, and I’m going to miss the hell out of it once the final curtain falls. This band and crew work so well together, that it really is like family. The guys from Gemini, Collin Record, (lighting crew chief) and Josh Jenkins, (lighting tech) get this rig up and running every day. With five bands on the bill, it’s a tight schedule to adhere to, and they make it work. It really is quite incredible to see and be a part of. Check it out and you won’t be disappointed.”

More Slayer 2018 tour photos by Steve Jennings: