Clay Paky with the Scorpions: 50 Years of Rock History on Tour

	Scorpions in concert. Photo: Ralph Larmann

No German band can be compared to the Scorpions in terms of history, success, and international popularity. The group was originally called "Nameless" and was formed in Sarstedt, in 1965, by guitarist Rudolf Schenker and drummer Wolfgang Dziony. The same year they adopted the name they became famous with: "Scorpions." During the decades that followed, the band made history: 18 albums, an almost infinite list of awards and innumerable tours, which have taken the Scorpions all over the world. Today the group has embarked upon its latest world tour.

Roland Beckerle is the tour production manager and Olaf Schröter, the production director. Both are responsible for organizing the tour. They asked Günter Jäckle to design the show's set and Rainer Becker to design the lighting. Manfred Nikitser, associated lighting designer and director, completes the team.

Nikitser chose MA Lighting's grandMA2 equipment, more precisely two grandMA2 full-size desks, one grandMA2 light, two MA VPU plus MK2 video processing units, two MA NPU network processing units, and two MA network switches. The lights used consist of 36 Clay Paky A.leda B-EYE K20s, eight Sharpy Wash 330s, 10 Mythos luminaires, and 20 Stormy CCs.

Nikitser said: "The stage design draws inspiration essentially from the classic rock and roll mix with spotlights, wash lights, strobes, and visuals, without forgetting beam lights and effects. At first glance the video element dominates the set. In my opinion, merging videos with lights is extremely important in the look of a stage. The design consists of a big LED back screen, a set screen, and two IMAG screens. The set is completed with four crossbars and ladders at the sides to close it, but also to make sure that TV cameras, wherever they may be placed, have enough background."

"The 'corrugated' arrangement of the crossbars gives both depth to the stage and looks better to the TV cameras," said Nikitser. "The live video can be moved around thanks to the large number of screens, which make the show even more dynamic to watch. The live cameras are not left unused. Thanks to the effects and masking, they are always integrated into the set, so that everything works harmoniously."

"One special element is undoubtedly the flying platform with drum kit, with the Sharpy Wash lights placed underneath," Nikitser added. "It was natural to choose Sharpy Wash lights: there is no comparable light with the same features: compactness, high output, and speed."

PRG Nocturne provided all the equipment. MANIK Show Lighting/Manfred Nikitser managed the lighting desks and MA VPUs. The visual content was dealt with by Hans-Otto Richter and Nikitser.