Lighting designer Willie Bothma once again lit the Kings of Chaos latest tour in South Africa at Sun City in the North West province and Grand West’s Grand Arena in Cape Town. Gearhouse Group’s Cape Town branch supplied the full technical, under the support of Gavin Taylor.
Kings of Chaos featured special guest Steven Tyler alongside Billy Gibbons, Matt Sorum, Gilby Clarke, Duff McKagan, Robin Zander and Nuno Bettencourt, and was brought to South Africa by Andrew Mac of AMP Events. “It was a great show to do,’ says Bothma from Gearhouse who also lit the performance in 2013. “The only request was that the band should be seen at all times and this was achieved without a hitch. At the end of the day it’s about the band and that is why people come to the show.’
The rig and design were the same at both venues. The main challenge was setting up the LED screens which hung off back truss. It took some time and only once they were perfectly lined up could the crew bring in the truss tower and other gear.
Despite the challenge, Bothma worked alongside an amazing team including colleague Charl Smit, branch manager at Gearhouse Group Cape Town.
Bothma programmed on a grandMA2 Light. “My favourite parts were those moments when I got it right, when certain elements happened exactly when they were supposed to happen, on time and in time with the music.’ And there were a bunch of them.
Included in the Robe rig were four of the Robe Robin BMFLs. “It was the second time I had worked them. I think it’s a great fixture and I used them mainly as backlight, texture on the stage and to pick up certain elements. They were the only fixtures I had where I could put in a gobo and not lose intensity. They were quick and fast.’
Lighting rig
4 x Robe BMFL
16 x Robe 700 Wash
8 x MAC 2000 Washes
10 x Mac 2000 Profiles
18 x Robe Spot 700
18 x Robe 600 LED Washes
18 x Robe Pointes
24 x 4light Moles
11 x Atomic Strobes
grandMA 2 Light
