Trivia question

Wings most definately used Lasers in 1976 - The movie that documents the tour (Rockshow - currently out of print on home video) shows lasers in the songs "Live and Let Die" and "Soily". This was 1976 - during "Let 'em In" the band used to dress up in Revolutionary war coats and dedicate the song to America's 200 birthday (you can even hear Linda say "Happy Birthday America" at the end of the song on "Wings Over America").

Zeppelin DIDN'T use lasers in '75, the "laser triangle" lighting was used in '77. In the "Song Remains the Same" (from '73), there are no laser lights. I saw Yes in '77 using lasers on the "Relayer" tour (actually - that was the most impressive use of them I ever saw).

Y'know - I think it was The Who, somewhere around '75, but it could have been Rush. It was NOT 1977, however.

 

The first band to use lasers in concert was NEKTAR. NEKTAR had a complete laser show that they were not allowed to use in the US because the technology was not considered safe. However, they used lasers in their shows in Europe, and were using them as early as 1973.

Nektar played Hoffeinz Pavillion at the University of Houston in Houston TX in 1974. The Houston show was advertised as using the lasers, and there were a lot of people at that show who had dropped acid for a laser light show they didn't get to see. I was at the concert (although I wasn't on acid) and remember the disappointment that ran through the crowd when the band announced they would NOT be allowed to use the lasers VERY vividly. A lot of people were upset, including the band. The decision not to let them use the lasers came at the last minute - the equipment was there and had been set up, but the lasers were never turned on. (They had a great 60s/Fillmore-style light show, though.)

 

Isn't there some web site that will give us the correct answer once and for all? Someone here must have an idea where to look.

 

OK, I found an answer, though how do we know for sure? I looked up "first artist to use lasers in concert" on yahoo and was led to the web site uselessknowledge.com. They say it was--drum roll, please--The Who during their 1976 tour.

Anyone convinced?

 

I dunno TTT,

Sounds like dwmann has the goods on this one!

 

Hey dwmann!

Any possibility that you could post one of those advertisements?

I already attempted by checking their, rather somewhat small, homepage, but no mention of any laser ligthing.

 

Too, funny!

I remember that tour...I was in MSG and Moon told us all to stare into the lights!

We did...of course we did!

 

A most interesting and entertaining thread, I must say!

 

No copies of the NEKTAR flier - however, I remember it was printed on plain 81/2x11 paper and devoted two or three paragraphs (almost half a page) to the description of the light show, which even without the lasers was incredible. Also, I was incorrect about the concert being at Hoffeinz Pavillion - it was in the hall next door, which was smaller, and had a more traditional rectangular shape - Hoffeinz is round. However, if I remember correctly, the laser equipment was set up in the four corners of the room, and the light man had a huge console set up in the back that included all the laser controls and projection equipment. They had a TON of projection equipment, and they were also supposed to be able to project psychedelic holographic images above the audience. However, they weren't allowed to use any of this equipment in the USA.

I don't know how the tour was advertised in other cities, but I do remember that Houston was the first date of the US tour, and that the band didn't know they would be unable to use all the light equipment until shortly before the show started. They came out and apologized for it at the begining of the show.

Also, I checked all my old NEKTAR LPs, but couldn't find any pictures of the lasers. However, Mick Brockett (the light man) was considered a part of the band and was listed along with the musicians on all the album credits. I don't know what happened to the band (or the light man), which is a shame - they were a great band and the parts of the light show they WERE allowed to use put Pink Floyd's ANIMALS light show to shame - NEKTAR'S show wasn't as big or as professional, but it wasn't just film, either. Brockett created all the lighting effects live from his consloe, and the lighting was as much of a performance as the music. Which is why I remember all this so vividly so many years later. I've never seen anything like it before or since (even without the lasers) unless you count Jean Michael Jarre's performance here (Houston) where he used the skyline of the city as the backdrop for a laser-light show that cost millions of dollars to produce.

 

Next you're going to tell me it's impossible to stuff three balls in your mouth!

Anyway, I sit corrected, must have been '77 I saw Zep, then. That actually makes more sense, now that I think about it.