TPI_May

CHRONICLE:Lighting Management
Below: The Avolites crew in the 1970s... and an example from the company’s QM Series. connect the 110 volt PAR 64 lamps.
Meanwhile, Avolites was pioneering
technologies of its own. It was the ﬁrst
company to use multipin connectors for signal
inputs and dimming channel outputs in the
industry — at ﬁrst with Harting Electroﬂec
connectors and later Socapex; in fact it
became the ﬁrst UK importer of Socapex.
The original rack designers were Ian Walley,
Paul Ollett and Murray Thomas. And once
Avolites started using this equipment on the
Barclay James Harvest tour, other companies
quickly became aware of its reliability and fast
set-up time — and the demand was rapidly
coming into vogue and at that stage they dictated, two linked together,” says Keith created by word of mouth.
were bread-boarding it,” says Dale. “But in Dale. Avolites then had to face the decision
1981 we were sharing the same premises and The initial 90-channel Gold was soon that confronted many similar outﬁts in the
it just made sense to merge into EFS-Celco.” complemented by a ‘special edition’ 60- pioneering days of rock’n’roll production:
Gamma became the third generation desk channel version, and in 1987 supply couldn’t whether it could cease being a touring
for Deakin and Richardson (after the Alderham keep up with demand. But by then Avolites production company and concentrate
and 240A). But while they knew they were on had been ﬁrmly on the map for several years. exclusively on manufacture.
to a technological winner, Keith Dale never The ﬁrm grasped the nettle and introduced
really liked the colour or the style; in fact FROM WEST LONDON... its ﬁrst fully-modular 19” rack design, based
Supermick’s laconic Irishman, Peter Clarke, TO THE WORLD on eight-channel modules and supplied to
likened it to a Chad Valley creation. The roots of Avolites Production Company Kadek Vision at Shepperton Studios.
Cerebrum Lighting was appointed as Ltd can be traced back to February 1976 By early 1984, Avolites was in full ﬂight,
exclusive distributor and John Lethbridge when Ian Walley started trading in a railway producing the 8100 series 84-channel pin
threw the company’s full weight behind a arch in Hammersmith. Some 18 months matrix analogue console, with ﬂash buttons
proper marketing campaign. later he moved to Shepherds Bush and on every channel, which toured with the
Then, in 1983-84, Zero 88 came out then Broomﬁeld Road, Ealing, where full Rolling Stones.
with the modular Eclipse which had one manufacturing commenced in 1978. Fired by this success, the following year
important advantage over the Gamma in Walley was known as ‘Avo’, because of the Avo turned to process-controlled desks with
that the memory could be modiﬁed (it had old Model 8 Avometer he carried round with the QM500, the company’s ﬁrst single-
to be replotted on the Gamma). And while it him, and that’s how the company name came processor memory console, notably used on
wasn’t marketed into rock’n’roll applications it into being. The other major inﬂuence was The Jacksons’ 1984 Victory tour.
noticeably started to impact on Gamma sales. Paul Ollett, who was initially backgrounded Rugged and physical, it was perceived by
So in 1984 Celco responded with the in TFA Electrosound, and carried on working those who hadn’t dived headlong down the
Series II, in which the memories could be with TFA while engaged on the initial Avolites microprocessor route as the original industry
modiﬁed — with a row of rotary knobs for projects. Ollett later joined full time as a standard rock’n’roll touring board. The
output limits. The potentiometer on the ﬁnal director, alongside fellow board members, Rolacue 30 and 60 would soon follow.
output was the result of Playlight asking Celco Clive Standley and Murray Thomas. In the mid-’80s, most LDs were faced
to make this mod for the BBC — which it then During 1974 and 1975, Walley was with two very contrasting options: Celco’s
incorporated into the standard design. working on the road for Scope International powerful, electronic console in basic
Aesthetically, the Series II was more lighting equipment hire as an electrician, a packaging, or Avo’s liveried QM500, a rugged
rock’n’roll-friendly, with padded armrests, an rigger and also as lighting designer for Barclay and classic piece of furniture. Though lacking
illuminating perspex strip down the middle, James Harvest, Caravan and others. He quickly the same degree of intelligence as the Celco,
electro-illuminescent panels and Schadow became frustrated with almost daily having it indirectly provided the route map to their
ﬂash buttons. But though Celco moved the to repair the antiquated lighting equipment next destination, the sophisticated control
spec and styling up it still didn’t appeal to the typically in use on the road at that time. desk for Peter Stringfellow’s Hippodrome
rock sensibilities in the way that Avolites did. He was quite sure that he could design and venue — the subject of a forthcoming
In fact, Tasco’s Joe Browne once summed manufacture a more reliable system and was chapter.
it up most eloquently when he remarked, with convinced that the lighting rig of the future Though both Celco and Avolites were later
disarming candour: “Your consoles look like had to be not only totally reliable but also, subject to respective corporate takeovers,
shit.” Celco’s response to the ﬂat-bed Series II importantly, much faster to set up. which temporarily put their brakes on their
this time was to rake it, add a leather armrest During discussions with Barclay James rate of progress, back in 1985 you paid your
and wood ﬁnish, and increase the retail price. Harvest’s management, Walley secured an money and you took your chance.
In 1986, Celco also took back its marketing assurance that if he created his own lighting TPi
from Cerebrum, created a new image and business and a completely new lighting Acknowledgements:
launched the Gold which at last gave the system, the band would use his own company Paul Pelletier’s Lighting Console Gallery at
brand the rock’n’roll standard it had been — Avolites — for their future tours; thus the www.pbase.com/paulpelletier; Bob Simpson;
seeking. Using more metallic paint, and with a company’s immediate income was secured, Mats Karlson; Zero 88; Keith Dale; TheWho.net;
keyboard in the drawer, Gold helped Celco to with its promise of system reliability and speed Strand Archive; Avolites.com; ‘Concert Lighting:
dominate the rock’n’roll market for a time. of set-up. Techniques, Art and Business’ by James L. Moody.
“I can’t think of many tours from 1986 Walley’s ﬁrst rig comprised two trusses
onwards — from the Stones, Prince, Bowie — a 40’ and a 30’ — manufactured by the NEXT MONTH:
and Madonna, to Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, aforementioned Richard Hartman, and their Chronicle continues with an extensive
Frank Sinatra and Siouxsie & The Banshees own Dematrix console and dimming rack look at how big-screen video began to
— that didn’t have one Gold or, as fashion — plus a multipinned ‘Twofer’ box to series penetrate the world of concert touring.
48 • TPiMAY 09
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