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AVO: How did you meet with the band?
Brandon: Post 2007 OzzFest in the states I was finishing an album
cycle with Static-X when we were invited to be main support for
Megadeth on their Australian tour. During that run Dave Mustaine and
James Lomenzo had taken notice of my work with Static-x and arranged
a dinner meeting with me in the back of an old Italian restaurant
(it was very Scorsese). The rest is history. I have been with them
for the last 16 months
AVO: When did you start using Avo products?
Brandon: I have been using the line since 1993 on the Rolacue
Sapphire in its analog configuration. Even then the speed that you
could put looks together and have a show come together was
impressive. After that I had moved through the line owning a few
Pearls and as the shows grew the natural progression was to end up
with the Diamond 4 Vision.
AVO: Why choosing AVO?
Brandon: I am a very tactile operator. I like having my stage laid
out in front of me. I have not found myself ever in the mindset that
I didn’t want a fader for most every fixture in my design. The D4 is
the best of all worlds when it comes to that and you can still
easily recall groups and fixtures.
AVO: What is your favorite feature?
Brandon: My favorite part of this band is their flexibility on
stage.
It’s a bit cliché to note that Megadeth and Dave Mustaine are one of
the more notable names in rock music. That being said it is great to
be around and be apart of such accomplishment. But the real
satisfaction comes in the performance they give. When it is all
working like a machine the set list is merely a suggestion. It is
not out of the ordinary to change drop or add songs to the list or
launch into a montage on the fly. The Band members pick up on each
others so well that is appears fluid. My choice of console (the D4)
is based on this. I am expected to keep up with the guys as if I am
the 5th member of the band and I really enjoy that. The fluid nature
of how the console controls light and its immediate ability to
structure complex changes quickly to match up the show makes it the
perfect tool for the job.
AVO: What’s your most challenging lighting
project to date?
Brandon: No doubt the 2008 Gigantour world tour with Megadeth has
been my most rewarding experience to date. I have worked with a lot
of talent and generally there are considerable outside influences
that seem to cloud the design process.
Megadeth (Dave Mustaine) and I spent quite a bit of time alone
bouncing ideas off each others and finally once we reached our
common ground he just handed me the keys and said do it how you want
to. This was nerve racking because to date last year’s tour was the
largest production to date. All in all it was a great tour and
flattering that Gigantour was nominated for a Parnelli for
Production of the year.
AVO: What do you like best about your work?
Brandon: The people no doubt… The ones I work with are the most
creative and energetic people anyone could hope to cross paths with
and the ones that come to our shows give me the immediate
gratification of seeing them come in well dressed and leave sweaty
with no voices, and I get to say I had a part in that…
AVO: How does it feel to work with one of the
biggest Heavy Metal Bands?
Brandon: Gratifying to say the least. It is a privilege to be around
and work with such great musicians. And for me to be a part of a
band that has shaped the sound of rock music in so many ways has
been great. I have been working on projects with Dave at home in
California opening the new rehearsal facility and recording studio (vic’s
garage) for the band to produce their next album so the sense of
ownership and pride I take in what we are doing runs deep these
days.
AVO: Can you tell us a bit more on Dave,
James, Shawn and Chris?
Brandon: Dave needs little introduction… A family guy and a good
friend. I have become quite impressed with his ability to process
information while on stage. I can make a one second color change and
without fail he will make mention of it (so why blue tonight and not
aqua) all while he is ripping a classic song in front of a few
thousand people.
James Lomenzo has been in the scene with Black Label society,
Whitelion, David Lee Roth and the like, so again I find myself
amidst greatness and always learning something new from him.
Shawn Drover is without a doubt the most fun musician to light thus
far. He gives me complete freedom to do what I want to him. He in
fact, is the one who pushes me to use more and more on his kit. He
is the perfect complement to lighting a rock show in his abilities
and he never complains when there is a wall of moles behind him with
smoke, strobes and leds underneath him.
Chris Broderick and I came to Megadeth at the same time so I find
some common ground with him. The show is nothing short of a
choreographed explosion and there have been moments where we both
have felt like dogs on a leash just trying to keep up with the pace.
But he is able to bring his own unique flair to the performance
regardless. Outside of the rock world his classical guitar is none
short of mind blowing. I have known musicians that were great on
stage and couldn’t read sheet music to save their life so he is a
breath of fresh air to see the Metal one minute and Mozart the next.
AVO: Anything unusual happened while you were
touring with Megadeth?
Brandon: My son, Reese started pre-school he is three (see picture).
AVO: What advice would you would give to an
aspiring young Brandon Webster?
Brandon: Stick with the craft. Success is sometimes bittersweet in
this business. To be successful in this you have to sacrifice.
Missed birthdays, holidays, first of many kinds if you are going to
have a family but… On the other hand if you love what you are doing
stay focused and learn. Knowledge is the key. The technology is
moving so fast that you either stay up on it or be left behind.
Knowing the equipment you are using inside and out is as important
as how to program a chase. The days of arena tours where people from
a company are taking care of all the tech time and making sure that
rig works every day are in your future and mine too. And as a
designer / director etc. it is my job to be able to clearly
articulate what I want or the problems I am having.
You have to learn to pull a cable before you can push a fader!
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| Contact Details: |
Lighting Designer: Brandon Webster
Mobile: +1 760 703 5503
Email:
brandonwebsterld@gmail.com |
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Pictures by: Tracy Wiedeman |
For more press information on Avolites, please contact Isa Sapin
Email:
isa.sapin@avolites.com
For more product and general info, or to contact Avolites direct, call +44
(0)208 965 8522 |
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