BOSTON – Public Image Ltd. (PiL), the post-punk band that includes John Lyman, a.k.a. Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, is in the middle of a six-week tour of the U.S. PiL LD Stephen Abbiss is using an Avolites Pearl Expert supplied by Theatrical Media Services (TMS) of Omaha, Neb. for control. "I've used plenty of lighting desks, and the Pearl Expert has the best power-to-size ratio," Abbiss said. "It bridges a traditional ‘feel' with high-tech functionality, in a compact package. We use a lot of local spots and washes on this tour."
Abbiss credited the console's Fixture Exchange feature. "Swapping or increasing fixtures is no problem with the Expert," he said. He also downloaded his programmed show on the Avolites Tiger Touch for the tour – another new console that features Avolites' new Titan software.
"The new Titan software represents a real leap forward for Avo," said TMS vice-president, Mark Huber. "PiL needed a desk with plenty of horsepower yet compact and reliable. The Pearl Expert fits the bill perfectly.
"Our new Pearl came from TMB, a supplier of ours since the early days," added Huber, who, like TMB's other principals, have worked in entertainment production since the 1980s. (TMB is the exclusive distributor of Avolites products in the U.S.)
"Once people get their hands on an Avo desk, they become loyal fans," Huber added. "The new software is icing on the cake – it really brings Avo into the 21st Century, while retaining that familiar Avo feel."
The six-week PiL North American tour began in Los Angeles in early April and winds up with a performance in New York on May 19. Richard "Wez" Wearing is serving as production designer.
For more information, please visit www.tmb.com/products/avolites .
