Claypaky Xtylos Hit the Road with Peter Frampton

	Fetto notes that the Xtylos's laser source produces "much more saturated, richer colors, which are truly amazing." Photo: Gregg Maltby

Las Vegas-based independent lighting designer Gregg Maltby is using 15 Claypaky Xtylos laser-source compact beam moving lights on Peter Frampton's Never Say Never Tour.

The legendary artist's North American tour kicked off in June in Huber Heights, Ohio and wraps in Sandy, Utah in August. OSA International, Inc. in Nashville, the lighting vendor for the tour, provided the Claypaky Xtylos to longtime customer Maltby.

"When I designed the tour I drew in Claypaky Sharpys, which I use a lot," says Maltby. "Then I went to OSA and [vice president/lighting] Mark Fetto said, take a look at these laser-source lights, and he gave me a demo."

"Gregg has been a big fan of Sharpys, and we convinced him that he'd have a lot of fun with Xtylos," Fetto says. "He's getting colors with Xtylos that he just can't get out of any other fixture."

Maltby concurs. "The colors are really bright since we're dealing with a laser and not a bulb. The red and blue are so pure!" he notes. Since it was his goal to go lamp-less for the tour, the Xtylos met his criterion for no bulb changes. They also ticked the box for versatility in performance.

"We're playing a lot of different venues: a few arenas, big theatres, casinos, amphitheaters. But I made the lighting simple with two trusses, three little floor trusses and some shin kickers so we have an 80-minute load out," he reports.

"I have six Xtylos in the air for air patterns and nine on three 10' floor trusses across the back where they do fans, gobos and point to the ceiling or the sky, if we're outdoors. I probably use them for 70% of the show, and they do something different for every song. They're really cool lights; Peter loves them, and he notices everything."

Fetto notes that the Xtylos's laser source produces "much more saturated, richer colors, which are truly amazing. Once people get over their hesitancy to use a laser source, they'll see the kind of new creative opportunities that the Xtylos gives them."

"I love new things, and the Xtylos is awesome," says Maltby. "I'll definitely use them again.

"I've known Mark for years, starting when I worked with Huey Lewis for 35 years and Boston for 25, and I love that OSA introduced me to the Xtylos. More people need to discover everything the Xtylos can do."

"It's an honor to have the opportunity to help light the performances of a legendary artist like Peter Frampton and I applaud Gregg for embracing the latest laser technology for his show. Designers like him propel us all forward and inspire Claypaky to push the technology further," concludes George Masek, Claypaky strategic marketing manager, North America.