Metallica M72 World Tour Lights Up with the Power of Elation Excalibur

Lighting designer Rob Koenig uses over six hundred automated lights, with Proteus Excalibur projectors from Elation Professional as protagonists, for the tour 2023/24 of this legendary American band.

One of the most relevant tours is that of Metallica, that began its world tour M72 World a few months ago in Amsterdam with Rob Koenig again at the forefront as lighting designer both in concerts in Europe and in the United States.

On tour 2023/24 by the American heavy metal band, Koenig designs a unique lighting with more than six hundred automated lights, What includes projectors Proteus Excalibur of Elation Professional, all supplied by the live event specialist Premier Global Production.

Koenig, Big fan of Metallica, Be part of the 'family' of this band since 2008, with which he began as director of lighting under the orders of John Broderick, until he became a touring designer., and that continues currently with the presentation of his eleventh studio album, 72 Seasons, which refers to the number of seasons in the first eighteen years of a person's life and which is evoked in the illumination, with 72 Proteus Excalibur.

Unique design for every concert

On his current tour, Metallica Visit 22 cities around the world and will play two nights in each of them, with a different track list and a different opening act, with the aim of offering a different show every time, but using the same production every night.

In total, 32 Unique shows, with Koenig lighting designs that are combined with 46 songs that alternate in each of them during the tour. "We look for a lot of LUMINAIRES with IP rating for this tour, But most of them failed in the aspect of singularity., we really liked Proteus Excalibur because it offered more than the rest".

Circular stage

The tour M72 Includes a circular stage surrounding the band's iconic 'Snake Nest'. However, A show with this format entails a series of challenges, as the Lack of mount points, What complicates the designer's job.

"You get into the environment of a stadium., so you can't make a magic grid appear above you," Koenig explains., In addition, You have to think about the lines of sight from the ground to the top. How are you going to convey a circular show to a large audience without rigging??"

The solution to achieve this has Eight cylindrical towers topped with video, Public address system and lighting, together with a Suspension grille on stage for near-field public address system. The exterior of the stage is wrapped in lighting and there are other positions further away where the Proteus Excalibur have been installed..

In the sand

Placed in the Corners of the field, on a lifting shelf, are located eight groups of nine Excaliburs each. "We needed a howitzer for that position because we didn't know on a daily basis where exactly they could be placed.. It depended on the place, Size and scalability (or the fire code) -Says- And we had to use something that could get to the ends of the end zone.".

When testing luminaires for that position, Koenig claims Proteus Excalibur was the brightest. "It has a giant piece of glass on the front. (a 10" lens) And it's a really nice light cannon. That's something that's missing in the market right now.", adds Koenig.

With a Issuance of 20.000 Lumens, The Strait 0.8° beam of Excalibur can Expand to 3.5° using an expander lens. "In addition to, The mix of colors is really smooth and has just the right tricks to spice up the whole show.. It's not just a collimated beam. We have become more dependent on them than we had anticipated.; they are worth their weight in gold.", Ensures.

Aerial lighting

Excalibur luminaires are used for Aerial effects throughout the show, providing not only dramatic backlights to the stage, but a stunning curtain that fills the stadium and matches the energy and power of the band's music..

"We also crossed the stage with lighting directly towards the band," says Koenig., It's almost as if they 'attacked' the stage, with an incredible lighting effect".

with More than six hundred devices and a profusion of songs to personalize the two nights of concert in each city, Programming is a heavy task, of which, according to Koenig, were in charge Joe Cabrera and Cat West, Veterans also of Metallica, with Premier Global Production as the band's lighting supplier for twenty years.

Described as "a metal master class in a perfectly executed stadium", the M72 tour, which will last until September 2024, He's garnering praise at every stop, offering a classic show that, according to Koenig, "It's something different from previous tours., with A more theatrical and fluid look that excites the public".

Other articles on Elation, Elation Professional, Metallica, Premier Global Production