Drapes and rigging specialist Blackout was recently appointed by MTV Networks Europe to create an elaborate Gothic set at the recent MTV Icon event–an exclusive live tribute to rock legends The Cure, staged at the Old Billingsgate in London.
Featuring performances and testimonials from artists and celebrities influenced by the band–including Marilyn Manson, Razorlight, Blink 182, AFI, and the Deftones the event will be broadcast to 120 million homes starting in October 2004.
Blackout rose to the challenge of designing and supplying a trussing structure in line with the building restrictions imposed by Old Billingsgate’s Grade II listed status.
The atmospheric gothic set designed by Simon Beresford required over eight tonnes of equipment to be flown from the ceiling. Additionally, three giant trees, supplied by Living Props, each weighing 1.5 tonnes were also flown from the truss structure.
The Blackout team, lead by project manager Kevin Monks, started the installation following a series of in-depth pre-planning meetings with Billingsgate’s structural engineer Ron Dixon of William Attwell Associates. The truss structure was absolutely fundamental to the staging of the event, because it allowed for the transformation of the elegant 19th-century structure into a dynamic and exciting live performance environment.
Supporting a myriad of lighting fixtures supplied by Fourth Phase, the truss was also used to lift a two tonne LED video screen, supplied by Creative Technologies, into position. Also flown direct from the building was the Dv-Dosc sound system supplied by Brit Row. The structure was constructed from Blackout’s extensive stock of Thomas Super truss, Slick Minibeam, and CM Loadstars.