Designer Watch

For the first time in 15 years, John Denver returns to the concert stage. Not in physical form, but in an evening of music and memories in John Denver: A Rocky Mountain High Concert. The John Denver estate has created a touring tribute to the late singer/songwriter, performing in U.S. theaters Feb. 1-23. The basic idea is that archival video footage of Denver will accompany live performances by his former band members.

For many of the moodier moments during Jackson Browne’s acoustic tour around the U.S. this year, LD Steve Comer may chose a deep shade of blue, but whatever the palette, the fixtures accompanying the singer/songwriter’s shows are 100 percent “green.” These days — actually, for years — Browne’s shows have been lit by carbon footprint-reducing LED fixtures.

The Rolling Stones celebrate their years in the industry with their 50 & Counting tour in November and December. The last time Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood performed together as a band was in 2007 at London’s O2 Arena. This production also brings together longtime collaborators set designer Mark Fisher of Stufish and LD Patrick Woodroffe.

It’s hours before showtime at Def Leppard’s Rock of Ages tour. They will soon take the stage with “Photograph,” “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “Armageddon It” and other hits — with the bands Poison and Lita Ford opening. Hanging in catering with production manager Phay MacMahon, one catches up with MacMahon’s evolution in the industry.

When the lights go down in the venue, and Journey takes the stage, LD Kevin “Deuce” Christopher is ready to rock with their hits and ballads on their North American tour, which runs to December. The hit TV show Glee and the new film Rock of Ages have fueled the fire of interest in the band, with songs “Don’t Stop Believin’” and more bringing in fans of all ages to the shows. Deuce has worked with Journey on seven tours now since 2004.

PLSN Designer Watch by Debi Moen –
Boston is bringing back memories in concert this summer on their U.S./Canada tour with “More Than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” “Long Time,” “Amanda” and other classic. Though one song advises “Don’t Look Back,” LD Gregg Maltby can’t help but do so. He’s been with the band since 1995, and this is his sixth tour with them.

PLSN DESIGNER Watch – by Debi Moen –
Back in 1976, when Cosmo Wilson saw his first Aerosmith show, the shiny silver PAR Cans and the power of the music burned in his brain. It looked like rock. It screamed rock. He saw them every chance he got. So when Aerosmith summoned Wilson to present designs for their Global Warming 2012 tour, Wilson reeled through the years and went retro in his design.

LD Robert W. “Bob” Peterson and lighting director Chris Stuba are shining the lights on the 50th anniversary world tour of The Beach Boys. To call this tour “long awaited” would be an understatement — it’s been 45 years since the surviving founding members of the Beach Boys last toured together.

Prince’s Revolution Reunites for a Night

It was déjà vu all over again for LD Leroy Bennett. He reprised a role he played back in 1984 by returning to the First Avenue in Minneapolis to light the stage again for Prince’s backing band, The Revolution. The iconic club had set the scene for the film and soundtrack album, Purple Rain. Now the band was coming together for one night this past February to celebrate drummer “Bobby Z” Rivkin, who survived a near-fatal heart attack a year ago. Funds raised were donated to mypurpleheart.org and the American Heart Association.

A “Super Simple” Petty Set

Jim Lenahan, longtime LD for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, describes the 2012 tour as a “super simple scaled-down look this year. We’re basically turning arenas into a proscenium theatre look with classic red velour swags, legs and travelers.”

An LD with Heart

On Feb. 19, Dale Doucette was just days away from the start of Heart’s 2012 tour as their lighting and set designer. But he had his own event to run. On this night, he was in charge of a separate benefit concert that he conceptualized and organized to benefit Vermont’s Wilmington Memorial Hall, damaged in the floods of Tropical Storm Irene last August.