Preview of Alan Wild feature...

ULTRAVOX - RAGE IN EDEN

Nick Fisher and Jim la Roche of Gaslight Lighting Systems obviously had the foresight to invest and find new clients. Whilst Nick continued to bring in more bands, Jim la Roche had been building a firm relationship with trade shows and conference work producers Caribiner.

I no longer had a band to work with and soon found myself working on trade shows, setting up lights and running special effects.

It was an interesting period. Gaslight had moved into new premises which needed new electrics and work benches etc and we all pitched in. We were doing lots of corporate work which kind of lived off the back of the Gary Numan exposure so some of the productions were huge and adventurous and we had more equipment, so we needed larger premises.

I had heard that ULTRAVOX were going out on tour and there was a whisper that there was possibly a chance of getting a design presented to the band.

Ultravox were always a favourite band of mine, from Hiroshima Mon Amour, Slow Motion and the Ha Ha Ha album, I couldn’t have wished for a better band to work for. I made it my mission to work for Ultravox.

I had an idea to work with but it’s tricky designing for a band, without actually speaking to them, discussing ideas.

I did have an ally in the Ultravox camp. A chap called Dave Hulme, keyboard technician and former Gary Numan crew member. Dave looked after Billy Currie and his gear on the Numan Pleasure Principle UK tour. Dave was able to give me vital information for my lighting design, such as playing positions, equipment details, etc.

It was apparent there would be some sort of set pieces or scenery but to be honest I’d already started working on ideas and was committed to seeing them through. My idea was...