Guns ‘n’ Roses ‘Not In This Lifetime’ tour continues to steam its way around the world and, for the first time in the history of Guns N’ Roses, the international rock icons will perform one show only in South Africa at the world-renowned FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 29 November 2018. The show promises a classic rock lighting and visual design using contemporary technology created by Phil Ealy.

Ealy’s work with the iconic American hard rockers dates back over 30 years- ever since they first hit stardom with their debut ‘Appetite for Destruction’ album released in 1987. Ron Schilling is out on the road as lighting director for this one which is the first time that three original members Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan have performed together since 1993. The style of the set design had its roots in the original “Use Your Illusion” tour, a famous snapshot of rock ‘n roll history from 1991 – 1993, renowned for being one of the longest ever rock tours.

Phil chose Robe moving lights to play a major role in the lighting scheme with the stadium version of the rig featuring 74 BMFL WashBeams – five used as truss follow spots, 32  BMFL Spots, three BMFL Blades and ten Pointes.

The BMFLs are rigged in the various trusses over the stage. The tour’s ‘universal’ lighting rig also includes nine custom-made lighting pods and a floor package.

The BMFL Spots are generally used to light the stage and the audience in a wide variety of gobos and colours, with the WashBeams being the true workhorses of the rig. They are programmed into a number of distinctive groups, so they are not all doing the same thing at the same time, which adds “texture, depth and versatility to the show” explained Ron, who thinks Phil and programmer Rob Koenig came up with a unique concept for this grouping of luminaires. The BMFL Blades are used as primary key lighting for the drummer and keyboardists, where the shutters are perfect for fine-focusing the output. A grandMA2 platform is used for lighting control, and their consoles are also part of the universal lighting rig that travels worldwide.

The tour’s universal lighting rig has been adapted for several legs including the most recent European section, and it has seen a number of permutations in other parts of the world, all in keeping with the same vintage big-rock-show styling.

‘Not In This Lifetime’ is currently the fourth largest grossing tour ever, based on Billboard’s Boxscore archives and Phil Ealy describes it as “the gift that keeps on giving”. Dates are scheduled to continue throughout 2018.

For more information and to book your tickets, visit: http://www.bigconcerts.co.za/events/detail/guns-n-roses