Iron Maiden - Rob's Rig

Lighting guru Rob Coleman shows us his toys...

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[ivareskesner]

There are heavy metal bands and then there is _Iron Maiden._ In a league of their own. They really do need their own genre to do the depth of their music justice.

[herbertwest]

I remember the lightshow and the enormous rigs they had hanging over their heads during the "World Piece Tour 83" and the "World Slavery Tour 84/85". Maiden had the best lightshow I've ever seen live. The intensity of the colours, the power (and unavoidable heat) of the light and the patterns of lightbeams were something that blew me away when I first saw them live. Today everything is digitally operated and much easier to handle for the lighting guys, but back then it must have been quite a technical wonder. With all respect for the crew and the engineers today, but the very first impression of Maiden's lightshow in 1983 is something I will never forget. It was like a journey into another world. The original video for "The Trooper" shows that gigantic "spider" of light rigs in its full glory and potency. Up the Irons!

[Confused]

Here's a young fan from Czech Republic! I just got the El Dorado t-shirt and I really like it. Up the Irons! 🇨🇿🤟🏻

[gdr]

I appreciate these videos. Always good to see how these impressive shows are constructed. So many people pulling together to make it happen 🎉

[vukjovanovicofficial]

Absolutely the best band to ever walk the Earth. Period.

[davidmarch]

Loving your work Rob - Great show, as always!! So great that Iron Maiden acknowledge their crew!!

[Stephen_Lafferty]

It's great to see all of the tech and the thoughts behind the lighting design from the experts! Thank you for showing us just what it takes to create an Iron Maiden show!

[ghastlynavigator]

Thanks for taking the time to show us around Rob! UP THE IRONS 🤘

[mikaellofgren]

Love the lightshow on this tour so retro looking and magnificent futuristic for the Somewhere In Time era!! Well done! UP THE IRONS!

[shayneoneill]

Back in the 80s I remember looking at VHS recordings of maiden concerts just awestruck by the lighting and resolved that it was what I wanted to do when I grew up. Ended up working for 4-5 years as a stage lighting guy before conceeding I was far too timid of heights (After one of my workmates fell off a lighting rig and broke his back, put the fear into me) to go far as you *really* need to be fearless with climbing to do that job. Still, I'm still in love with stage lighting, I think its fucken marvelous stuff, and its great to see after the massive downturn in big show lighting in the 90s bands like Maiden are keeping the ART FORM alive (And it *IS* art). I *do* recomend this job to kids wanting to get into the roadhog life. Just pay attention to safety stuff. My understanding is the industry is a lot more regulated and safer these days, so the cowboy bullshit we put up with in the 90s probably isnt a problem anymore (chain motors for the win! Also leds means much lower currents so thats a big safety win right there). Cos while computers have kinda gutted audio engineering as a career, stage lighting is always gonna require humans, as those big rigs dont build themselves.

[jaythompson]

Amazing how these are all put together, no more clinging onto swinging ladders and operating lights by hand. God I feel old. But thanks Maiden for making me feel young again.

[ahmettahsinertas]

if they dont release a blue ray dvd of thiss tour ı will punish Iron Maiden by lowering my daily listening hours

[toddmorrissey]

I miss the par can bonanza that the 7th Son tour evolved into. And Maiden always used the moving trusses, which is awesome.

[Bayan]

I remember when I was a kid riding around with my stepfather when he used to haul audio and lighting equipment for Broadway and off Broadway shows, conventions, etc. and the effort that took to unload, set up, test, test again, check and then the show, and stuff wasn't one tenth of the stuff Iron Maiden used then and now. The amount of effort that goes into putting on one of their shows is incredible from all the smallest details to the band, etc. The dedication they have to the fans and providing them with the best show is one of the reasons Iron Maiden is so popular besides the music.

[abdelouahabdebaba]

I'm always fascinated about the preps of live shows, especially for bands like Iron Maiden that give all what they got for the fans and for good shows.
🎤Up😈 🎸The 🤘 🥁Irons🔱

[Rfk]

Thanks for the behind the scenes episode. Most of us take for granted how much work goes into the production of an IM show

[RealBHS]

As a fan since the beginning of Maiden who will never get to see them live, I really appreciate these videos.

[mcdrumlessons]

Besides their legendary songwriting, their authenticity is very rarely found in other bands, that’s why they kept their diehard fans and kept doing new one after all these years.

[miahwolfwolden]

Ansiosa para a tour no Brasil 🇧🇷 feliz dia do Rock

[johnstitt]

Janick Gers rig breakdown please....and bit of Janick himself being interviewed would be groovy....his influences...etc✌️🎸✌️🎸