Excellent interview and video ... as an LD, GrandMA2 operator (and KISS fan) myself I found this fascinating to watch. I recommend this to anyone wanting to learn how to light a band, and yes guys, just because the fixture can move and produce effects, doesn't mean turn everything on for the first number and retire to the bar!
I remember the good old days,and the good old days with Sean well,as young music loving kids,most of us would be strumming away learning all the riffs and licks off the albums he would put on and introduce us to,but I specifically remember him saying. “ one day guys I’m gonna be big in the music business,we all laughed and said “ come on man you can’t play a note” his reply...” no man I’m gonna be the guy doing the lighting and effects” Well he certainly made that dream come true...Congrats and thanks for everything you’ve done for music lovers world wide Sean...still living the dream🤘
Im so happy to hear how other people would draw their own kiss sets also. My mom has a whole notebook from me drawing my own. Also crazy to see that a few of the ones ive created actually became some of the future stages they used!
Nice to hear a L D talking and knowing what hes doing .. I never did meet this guy . We operate and have the same ideas. I was touring with David Bowie in 1983 ,, I enjoyed his talk .. Good size production ,, Showlite International..10 out of 10 to this man,
Thanks for an amazing show. The Alive 2 gatefold has always been my favourite Kiss shot. Apart from actually being in Kiss this guy has the best job in rock!
When I was a young kid in the 70’s, I too use to design my own KISS stage..... I used Lincoln Logs with LEGOs. I made a big Peter Criss drum set with bottle caps and copper painted buttons. Mic stands made out of black painted tooth pics. My lighting was from my disco record player setup behind my KISS stage. I would put on KISS Alive album, then I would lay down in front of my stage and imagine KISS performing on my stage. Thanks for reading my comments from a young kid at heart.
i recently had the honor (as a local crew) working for this gentleman at a cat stevens gig "yusuf muslim" at rod laver arena. he is such an easy going and decent person. great video Motley!!
I know this post is a few years old but as an aspiring young techie in Melbourne I was wondering how you get into those sorts of gigs? Were you with a company like prg or micro hire or were you there as an individual hired in another way? Thanks!
Nicely done. Good work Sean and a great interview. Not full of yourself, great attitude and workflow. Good on ya. I love what you are saying and esp "just because it can move you dont have to move it all the time" THIS. Its all about making the right picture for the right moment.
Very cool video. It's awesome to know that an awful lot of the lighting I see at a kiss concert is done old school. I would never have guessed. Markus HAS to know the songs, and he has to be on point - No falling asleep, no breaks! He is one of several on the KISS crew who deserves the spotlight (pun intended)for all the work he does. Thank you Markus for helping make the shows I've seen you run spectacular!
Using the same boards I love his use of old school lightiing . In the past I worked with Kiss on some videos and the band liked the acl and odd coloring that still holds today . Great work my friend .
"Keep It SImple, Stupid," yet that is one of the most complicated concepts, especialy in this age of intelligent lighting. Motley has the exact same philosophy about lighting that I have. The guy is a genius!!! Thanks for this interview.
He is right about the presentation of the band thru the decades. When I got Alive and Alive2 it was like wow! This band was setting the level to match or at least to adapt some or part.
This was great your ideas and views are what I believed in when I was Lighting my bands. My shows were all me no chases, no triggers on an old LMI 36 channel 2 scene board. I used a lot of accents ,blackouts not flashing all the time cause when you had a accent or drum roll it would have been lost I used the Motto people listen with their eyes.You are my New Hero, I grew up on KISS also Saw about 12 times.If you click on my name I have some of my old lightshows
This guy knows what he's talking about. Modern LDs can't stop moving shit around for no reason. Especially EDM shows now, they're are nothing but flash and trash.
Carver I think you could make the argument that that's sort of the nature of EDM lighting. IMHO, the bigger issue is that the flashy move-y nature of EDM might work its way into traditional Rock 'n Roll. Those two genres really need to stay separate. Edit: also, yes this man is a brilliant LD and artist.
A couple of months ago I ran lights for a small concert type thing. The first band I tried going all out, making a lot of changes and stuff, and as I was going I realized that what I was putting out didn't look good at all. By the time the second band came out I refocused, and made a lot more static looks and tried to match the music, and the lights looked like what they should have been from the start. Knowing not to get carried away with the "it can do this so I'm going to do it" versus the simplicity and elegance is a crucial role for any LD. Now if only I actually knew any of the songs that the bands were going to play and could have planned better to make a decent show...
flash and trash and lots of movement is fine, it works well for EDM, not as much for rock on roll, and thats not saying it never does, an intelligent LD understands that there is a time and a place for everything, even flash and trash, design with an open mind, not a closed one.
Yes I once was at a show where it was just too much flashing lights and there was no structure and synchronisation with the sound. I nearly got an epileptic attack.
...and in the 70s they didn't have RGBAW+UV LED Pars, so you needed a 5 Pars One with red gel, green, etc. With modern LED and intelligent lights we as LD can do more with less.
When I was a teenager I was a big Kiss fan. Then, in the 1990s, during their no-make up stage, I had the chance to see them live in Mexico city. The show was not exactly what I had expected. I loved Eric Singer's drumming, and the music was good, but there were just a few lights, no special effects and a big KISS logo at the back of the stage, which was not working properly. Paul Stanley apologised in the show and explained that there was very little equipment because they would be playing in Argentina soon after that show. Then it was infered that the equipment was in Argentina. I wondered why Mexico didn't deserve to see the show as it was meant to be. Quite disappointing, to be honest.
Really the best comment was the you don’t have to use all the possibilities of the moving light. Just try to make a nice picture and you alright with it…otherwise it turns in to MUD
Habe die Show in Dortmund gesehen und kann vom Licht-Design leider nur schlechtes berichten... Das Konzept ist grundsätzlich cool (gerade die LED Walls über der Bühne), wenn auch die Schwenk-Arme von Mötley Crüe geklaut waren.. Den Laser Kram hätte man sich komplett sparen können, da effektiv die ganze Zeit zwei gleiche Bilder liefen.. Viel, viel, viel zu wenig Pyro (kleiner Vergleich: Das was Mötley Crüe im ersten Titel verschossen hat, wurde hier mit Mühe im gesamten Set verschossen....) Zum Design: Auch hier effektiv 3-4 feste Bühnenbilder !komplett! ohne Bewegung benutzt und lediglich die Farbpaletten verändert.. Zusätzlich diverse Programmier-Fehler und nen extrem überladenes Rig mit viel zu viel unnötigen Gedöns... Wurde nachm fünften Titel natürlich langweilig.. Lob: Video war fett... Extrem gut live geschnitten und gefilmt, mit sehr aufwändig gerenderten, aber geilen Animationen und Effekten gespickt. Von Kiss hätte ich deutlich besseres erwartet.. Schade
Hartley was better.. lighting during the revenge tour was years ahead.. then again must be hard to work for gene simmons.. ive heard from bryan that hes a real dictator when it comes to colour saturation
WOW !!!!! THE POWER OF SUPER KISS !!!!
Excellent interview and video ... as an LD, GrandMA2 operator (and KISS fan) myself I found this fascinating to watch. I recommend this to anyone wanting to learn how to light a band, and yes guys, just because the fixture can move and produce effects, doesn't mean turn everything on for the first number and retire to the bar!
I remember the good old days,and the good old days with Sean well,as young music loving kids,most of us would be strumming away learning all the riffs and licks off the albums he would put on and introduce us to,but I specifically remember him saying. “ one day guys I’m gonna be big in the music business,we all laughed and said “ come on man you can’t play a note” his reply...” no man I’m gonna be the guy doing the lighting and effects” Well he certainly made that dream come true...Congrats and thanks for everything you’ve done for music lovers world wide Sean...still living the dream🤘
Im so happy to hear how other people would draw their own kiss sets also. My mom has a whole notebook from me drawing my own. Also crazy to see that a few of the ones ive created actually became some of the future stages they used!
Nice to hear a L D talking and knowing what hes doing .. I never did meet this guy . We operate and have the same ideas. I was touring with David Bowie in 1983 ,, I enjoyed his talk .. Good size production ,, Showlite International..10 out of 10 to this man,
Thanks for an amazing show. The Alive 2 gatefold has always been my favourite Kiss shot. Apart from actually being in Kiss this guy has the best job in rock!
When I was a young kid in the 70’s, I too use to design my own KISS stage.....
I used Lincoln Logs with LEGOs. I made a big Peter Criss drum set with bottle caps and copper painted buttons. Mic stands made out of black painted tooth pics.
My lighting was from my disco record player setup behind my KISS stage. I would put on KISS Alive album, then I would lay down in front of my stage and imagine KISS performing on my stage.
Thanks for reading my comments from a young kid at heart.
Wow, that is great, thanks for sharing. So cool.
Cool!
Great vid! Thanks again Motley!! You knock it out of the park! Great working with you in Australia
i recently had the honor (as a local crew) working for this gentleman at a cat stevens gig "yusuf muslim" at rod laver arena. he is such an easy going and decent person. great video Motley!!
I know this post is a few years old but as an aspiring young techie in Melbourne I was wondering how you get into those sorts of gigs? Were you with a company like prg or micro hire or were you there as an individual hired in another way? Thanks!
@@callumgigliotti5391 aeydo88 message me on Instagram
Amazing!!! Thanks for uploading this!!
Nicely done. Good work Sean and a great interview. Not full of yourself, great attitude and workflow. Good on ya. I love what you are saying and esp "just because it can move you dont have to move it all the time"
THIS.
Its all about making the right picture for the right moment.
This was an amazing tutorial from this awesome guy and iconic band!! I wonder what the new tour looks like?!!
The first time I opened the gate fold sleeve on Alive2...wow!!!! Alive 1 front is also awesome.
Very cool video. It's awesome to know that an awful lot of the lighting I see at a kiss concert is done old school. I would never have guessed. Markus HAS to know the songs, and he has to be on point - No falling asleep, no breaks! He is one of several on the KISS crew who deserves the spotlight (pun intended)for all the work he does. Thank you Markus for helping make the shows I've seen you run spectacular!
Using the same boards I love his use of old school lightiing . In the past I worked with Kiss on some videos and the band liked the acl and odd coloring that still holds today . Great work my friend .
This gentleman's explanation of his lights & equipment is incomprehensible to me, but he knows what he's about :)
He's got an Amazing job like being a fan since he was a teenager now he's part of kiss crew
now this is the type of shit I like to see, thanks friend!
Sounds like a fellow aussie, great video, good to see behind the concert stuff on how things are work and are done. 10/10
"Keep It SImple, Stupid," yet that is one of the most complicated concepts, especialy in this age of intelligent lighting. Motley has the exact same philosophy about lighting that I have. The guy is a genius!!! Thanks for this interview.
Love the #ACL360Bar on the rig.
I like his way of lighting the Show ;)
He is right about the presentation of the band thru the decades. When I got Alive and Alive2 it was like wow! This band was setting the level to match or at least to adapt some or part.
that is Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! never seen how it's done, GREAT demo.
Very informative interview!!
This is very cool to watch
What an absolute legend. He knows what it's about
I was in the 4th row in 2010. Now I want to be sitting in the lighting pit. This was damn interesting.
I want to work with your company🙏
Bloody brilliant work there Motley mate. Great interview too. Remember the JPS days. 👍🤘 Tman 😉😎
Well Done Shaun, come a long since those pub band days all those years ago, good onya 🤟
I really dug this.
Pretty cool!!!
I really love such work...i have even made mini stage using bamboo sticks and cardboard it on my page and I would love work with your company.
cooles Video :) richtig interessant. Danke :)
This was great your ideas and views are what I believed in when I was Lighting my bands. My shows were all me no chases, no triggers on an old LMI 36 channel 2 scene board. I used a lot of accents ,blackouts not flashing all the time cause when you had a accent or drum roll it would have been lost I used the Motto people listen with their eyes.You are my New Hero, I grew up on KISS also Saw about 12 times.If you click on my name I have some of my old lightshows
Professional work!
It's not that KISS shows in the past looked massive, not to me. KISS just looked COOL, just like NOW!
Old school and simple. Love it!
My kind of lighting guy.
i like the lonely Sharpy sittin above the grandMA
Proud of ya Mot:)
Nice
i use to use leprecon lp 1000 i like manual control better then computer oriented
Sean is cool, he can make shit look awesome
This guy knows what he's talking about. Modern LDs can't stop moving shit around for no reason. Especially EDM shows now, they're are nothing but flash and trash.
Carver I think you could make the argument that that's sort of the nature of EDM lighting. IMHO, the bigger issue is that the flashy move-y nature of EDM might work its way into traditional Rock 'n Roll. Those two genres really need to stay separate.
Edit: also, yes this man is a brilliant LD and artist.
A couple of months ago I ran lights for a small concert type thing. The first band I tried going all out, making a lot of changes and stuff, and as I was going I realized that what I was putting out didn't look good at all. By the time the second band came out I refocused, and made a lot more static looks and tried to match the music, and the lights looked like what they should have been from the start. Knowing not to get carried away with the "it can do this so I'm going to do it" versus the simplicity and elegance is a crucial role for any LD.
Now if only I actually knew any of the songs that the bands were going to play and could have planned better to make a decent show...
flash and trash and lots of movement is fine, it works well for EDM, not as much for rock on roll, and thats not saying it never does, an intelligent LD understands that there is a time and a place for everything, even flash and trash, design with an open mind, not a closed one.
Yes I once was at a show where it was just too much flashing lights and there was no structure and synchronisation with the sound. I nearly got an epileptic attack.
...and in the 70s they didn't have RGBAW+UV LED Pars, so you needed a 5 Pars One with red gel, green, etc. With modern LED and intelligent lights we as LD can do more with less.
'Bout time you get something in English!
HI WO IST DAS
"Kiss Live 2015" steht in den Trennern, ist das Interview nun von 2017 oder von 2015?
Niklas Aumüller Sorry, unser Fehler, ist von 2017.
Kiss 4 guys live. Remember that. Motley crue has prerecorded background vocals. And a pre recorded rythm guitar track.
Great video. I wish more of your stuff was in English! LOL.
You don't get to be the lighting designer for KISS if you don't know what your doing.
The best in the biz cuz.😊👍
Guys...you should consider using a tripod. If I wanted to hurl I’d go on a roller coaster!
It's a requirement to be really efficient, to know the music well, the changes, the choruses, the drum fills etc.
8:00 - Yeah, this is why the guys in the band sweat so much!!
TheMrDavidLangley those are LED lights they produce very minimum heat
When I was a teenager I was a big Kiss fan. Then, in the 1990s, during their no-make up stage, I had the chance to see them live in Mexico city. The show was not exactly what I had expected. I loved Eric Singer's drumming, and the music was good, but there were just a few lights, no special effects and a big KISS logo at the back of the stage, which was not working properly. Paul Stanley apologised in the show and explained that there was very little equipment because they would be playing in Argentina soon after that show. Then it was infered that the equipment was in Argentina. I wondered why Mexico didn't deserve to see the show as it was meant to be. Quite disappointing, to be honest.
He said simple.
Really the best comment was the you don’t have to use all the possibilities of the moving light. Just try to make a nice picture and you alright with it…otherwise it turns in to MUD
DANN
And boy did they need that stage show because without that well do you know
You tell 'em, Ringo...
Nice earring! Are you a real pirate?
"Four guys on stage doing everything live" ....hmm.......
ish
Sir ur number plsss
Habe die Show in Dortmund gesehen und kann vom Licht-Design leider nur schlechtes berichten... Das Konzept ist grundsätzlich cool (gerade die LED Walls über der Bühne), wenn auch die Schwenk-Arme von Mötley Crüe geklaut waren.. Den Laser Kram hätte man sich komplett sparen können, da effektiv die ganze Zeit zwei gleiche Bilder liefen.. Viel, viel, viel zu wenig Pyro (kleiner Vergleich: Das was Mötley Crüe im ersten Titel verschossen hat, wurde hier mit Mühe im gesamten Set verschossen....)
Zum Design: Auch hier effektiv 3-4 feste Bühnenbilder !komplett! ohne Bewegung benutzt und lediglich die Farbpaletten verändert.. Zusätzlich diverse Programmier-Fehler und nen extrem überladenes Rig mit viel zu viel unnötigen Gedöns... Wurde nachm fünften Titel natürlich langweilig..
Lob: Video war fett... Extrem gut live geschnitten und gefilmt, mit sehr aufwändig gerenderten, aber geilen Animationen und Effekten gespickt.
Von Kiss hätte ich deutlich besseres erwartet.. Schade
Is this dude from the United States, don't sound like it. Is he French. Maybe he's from New Orleans?
Australia
Canberra
He was born in England but now lives in Australia.
I am a lighting designer
What's it like?
No backing tracks. Lol.
Yes, but where’s the kitchen sink, mate?
Hartley was better.. lighting during the revenge tour was years ahead.. then again must be hard to work for gene simmons.. ive heard from bryan that hes a real dictator when it comes to colour saturation
i hope you get paid enough
Damn RUclips why am I seeing this today
BY CHOICE
The best thing would be to have no lighting on Paul’s sprayed on 6 pack.
Is this really all you do? You know you'll coming off like a big bitter loser?