Just to clear this lighting rig stuff up. The original crown was made up from a re purposed octagonal lighting rig initially used for Robin Trower. At that time RT wasn't filling halls and we downsized to a two truss arched truss affair with two on stage spot light towers. The octagon (Joe Travato was by the way the lighting designer for both Trower and Queen) was repurposed with multiple gin poles carrying fabric to simulate the crown points as well as a circular curtain track which would hide band gear before it flew. This rig was first rehearsed in the Music Hall Theater in Boston, home to TFA at that time. I know this because I was there. I don't thing either John Mcgrath or John Miles (M2) were involved at that time. The rig was never sold to ELO, remained in the TFA inventory as later I took the rig reconfigured yet again to square truss rig with Tom Petty's first arena tour.
splicksplack · Member since
Thanks TFAroadie. I've always been fascinated by the theatrics of Queen's performances and lighting rigs in general. Did you guys see the original Crown that was used in Earl's Court London in 1977 and use it as a model? That too had a curtain track. (I was in the front row).
Also did you then work on the pizza oven at the end of 1978 into 79. I have some setting-up pics of that if you're interested (from Liverpool '79).
Do you have any pics of your work with Queen? What may be rubbish to you will be gold dust to me. (I mean I even treasure a burnt-out green gel from the pizza oven that a bemused roadie gave me).
BTW, nice connection with Tom Petty. I saw him in New York in May.
Vocal harmony · Member since
TFA roadie, thanks for your input. I think any one who saw the two rig in use and has a clear memory of the ELO rig would remember that the ELO rig was much wider than the Queen rig as it was built to encompass the whole stage where as the Crown was built to hang above the stage and was about 50ft from side to side.
The other point that a lot of people don't seem to understand is that the system required for lifting the crown wasn't some huge hydraulic device but was in fact four ( i believe ) chain motors which are used to raise trusses weather or not they form a mobile lighting rig like the crown. The same things are used to fly PA systems too.
dysan · Member since
Great thread. Thanks everyone!
TFAroadie · Member since
Never went out with Queen. Happened to be in the shop off the road for a short time when the rig was assembled so spent some time shuttling parts and pieces back and forth from the shop to rehearsals. You are correct the trusses flew off (4) 2 ton CM chain motors.
joemichaels · Member since
I believe you may be confusing the "crown" rig with the "panel" version used on later tours. Queen used the crown rig during its News of the World tour (1977). Dragon Attack, etc., were from The Game (1979-1980).
Martin Packer · Member since
Oh by "panel" you mean the "fly swatters". :-)
Very nice to be reminded of them by a segment in the longer of the two Let Me In Your Heart Again videos.
