Brilliant Stages Rate in Pollstar's Top 50 Worldwide Concert Tours 2010 Brilliant Stages, UK-based fabricators of specialist staging, was delighted to discover that its work was internationally represented in three of the top five tours of 2010. According to Pollstar's recent listings of the Top 50 Worldwide Concert Tours, the numbers 2, 3 and 4 slots were occupied by AC/DC, U2 and Lady Gaga respectively, to all of whom Brilliant Stages was a key supplier. AC/DC's Black Ice tour originally kicked off in 2008 and marked the first appearance of the band for eight years. Brilliant Stages designed and manufactured the infrastructure for the spectacular focal point; the rock 'n' roll train. Conceived by Fisher Studio's Jeremy Lloyd and Mark Fisher, the life-size steam train incorporated lighting, pyrotechnics, smoke, C02, headlights, a brass bell and deployable, light-up devil horns, not to mention concealing -- and supporting -- a huge inflatable known as "Rosie." Totaling 13,228lbs, the locomotive could be pushed up and downstage by only two stagehands and took just three people to rotate it to its show position. U2's 360 Degrees Tour caused the biggest stir for many years among audiences and industry professionals alike with the sheer scale of its design and construction. Pivotal to Mark Fisher/Willie Williams' now-famous "Claw" was Brilliant Stages' fabrication of the central spire or pylon. One hundred sixty-four feet high and loaded with 34 PRG Icon 2 Bad Boy moving lights and two 600mm mirror balls, the pylon needed to withstand the rigors of touring yet also be easy to erect and transport. The final design was constructed of nineteen 8' high sections fabricated from high-grade aluminum and high tensile steel to extremely high tolerance for accurate assembly. "We all feel that Brilliant Stages really did do a brilliant job on the pylon," confirmed tour production director Jake Berry. "It is very user-friendly and extremely efficient in the way it goes together, both for fit up and breakdown. We were very happy with the outcome." Finally, in January 2010, Brilliant Stages was approached by LeRoy Bennett and Peter Aquinde to supply part of the staging on an updated Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour. With a delivery deadline of less than six weeks, it tested Brilliant Stages' ability to react to urgent deadlines. Working alongside Andy Edwards of 3D Design, Brilliant Stages produced two telescoping towers and stairwells. Each tower has a footprint 8' x 7' to fit within the main stage and extends on two levels, from 11' to a total raised height of 26'. When extended, the towers are comprised of ground, first and top floors to provide performers with multiple dancing platforms. The tower operation is carried out by manual electronic control to multi-reeved winches mounted within deck levels. "Brilliant Stages managed to successfully meet the demands on time and on budget," says Brilliant Stages' Tony Bowern. For the record, also included in Pollstar's Top 50 Tours 2010 list were Roger Waters (10), Muse (13), Pink (20), Rammstein (24) and Simply Red (50) tours, all of which received the Brilliant Stages treatment. Bowern adds: "It is a testament to Brilliant's work on previous pioneering projects that we are able to work with such high profile and prestigious designers and bands to help create these wonderful shows." 
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