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| The American Hard Rock Band ‘Extreme’ released
their much anticipated new album ‘Saudades de Rock’ after 13 years. Their tour, designed and choreographed by Lighting Designer Martin Favorite, gives them the opportunity to return to the stage, doing over 60 acclaimed live gigs in USA, Europe and Asia for thousands of fans. The Avolites Pearl Expert Console was the preferred desk for the ‘Take us Alive tour’ thanks to Bandit Lites in Europe and Lighting Big1 in Asia. Martin Favorite had the challenging task to work with many
different lights by using the lighting from the different venues and countries
they toured in: |
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| It is in the famous Astoria venue in London,
on a wintery Monday night that the Avolites Team went to interview Martin
Favorite: Avolites: Why did you choose an Avolites console? Martin Favorite: I have used Avo consoles as my controller of choice for more than 20 years. Unlike many tours these days I still use a significant amount of conventional par lighting along with moving lights. There is no better console made to control a mix of conventional and moving fixtures. If I can’t reach up and hit a fader in the space of half a second that moment is gone and I have unhappy band members. Other than that the logistic support I get from Avo America and London is a huge factor. In fact it is downright fantastic. *** Avolites: Did you enjoy touring with the band? Martin Favorite: Very much so. I have worked with Extreme and the guitar player Nuno Bettencourt on his solo projects for many years. We have always done some very cool shows, but this year was especially gratifying. As well as having the Pearl Expert, we were carrying production that included Mac2k Profiles and VL3500 wash lights. It was amazing to have such powerful, cutting edge technology to design my shows with. As an artist I had the opportunity this year to do my finest work in almost 30 years of designing and operating lightshows. Extreme allows me almost total freedom in designing and choreographing our show and that level of trust allows me to bring to life any vision I have for their music. But the personal relationship I have with Nuno, Gary, Pat and Kevin and so many years of history makes us a great team and we love working with each other. |
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| Avolites: Was it hard for the band to
come back after 13years? Martin Favorite: Not really. This year Extreme released their first new album in 13 years and it has done well. Many of the markets we played in we had not been to for years, and the fans went away loving what they saw and clamoring for more. I expect next year we will be out again for at least as many shows and possibly many more! *** Avolites: Have you had any memorable moments during the tour? Martin Favorite: Lots of them. But the coolest thing ¬was when Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones came to see our show in London, and then Lisa Loeb came to one of our Tokyo shows and was raving to the band after the show about my lights. *** Avolites: Anything you wish to add? Martin Favorite: Avo gives me everything I need in a console and support in a combination that blows away the rest! You guys rule and the rest can only wish they were as good. The multi platinum band are now on their way to Seoul and Jakarta where they will be ending their Take us Alive Tour 2008. But our Favorite Lighting Designer Martin and the Extreme will not stay apart for long and will be reunited after the end of the year’s festivities to shoot multiple videos. |
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| More Pictures
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