RENEWED ACQUAINTANCE Out With The Stones, GN’R & Summerslam

STAG E C O US

RENEWED ACQUAINTANCE

Stageco US heads back out on the entertainment highway with the Stones, G N’R and WWE’s SummerSlam

On August 24th 2021, Charlie Watts, the legend known by some as ‘The Wembley Whammer’, sadly passed away at the age of 80, after 58 years as The Rolling Stones’ celebrated drummer. Before his death, Watts insisted to his bandmates that the band continue their No Filter tour in his absence and gave his blessing to long-time associate Steve Jordan as his stand-in.

When the Stones returned to the road a month later to honour 15 sold-out dates across America, each show began with a touching multimedia tribute to Watts that graced the set that Stageco has been building for the band since No Filter kicked off in September 2017. Utilising 21 trailers in total, Stageco US fielded two steel systems, each catering for six cities on the itinerary. A US crew, led by Ryan Barry, and a European team headed by Patrick Martens, were responsible for the construction of each system, with Tom Frederickx occupying the project management role (as he did on the two projects that follow).

To the casual eye, the No Filter set – designed by Stufish’s Ray Winkler – has remained identical from day one, however, the 2021 version contained two minor upgrades. As well as accommodating a ‘family and friends’ viewing platform inside two of the offstage towers, Stageco met a brief to finish the band roof’s aluminium profiles in “devilish red”.

From a crew perspective, it was all very different this time around. “It was like living in a bubble,” said Tom Frederickx, referring to the strict regime imposed on the Stones’ entourage due to the pandemic.

“Each individual had to be tested for the COVID virus every three days. Thankfully, there were extremely few positive results.”

For more details on The Rolling Stones’ No Filter production, check out our original Autumn 2017 feature at: https://www.stageco.com/ newsletters/stageco-news-autumn-2017/10

AXL’S BACK IN TOWN After just two shows, Guns N’Roses’ 2020 Tour hit a brick wall for the same reasons that affected the concert industry worldwide. But by the end of July 2021, the controversial rockers were “F’N Back!”, performing a long run of American stadium and arena shows (above) through to last October, with Stageco US reprising its regular vendor role in Missoula, Las Vegas, Indianapolis and East Rutherford.

Touring one system, Stageco supplied and built a standard 4-Tower structure with crew chief Jesse Winn taking the labour lead.

SLAMMIN’ VEGAS Stageco US renewed its long-time acquaintance with WWE’s SummerSlam last summer, when it was unleashed at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on August 21st, marking the first time the annual event had been held at an NFL stadium.

Streamed live exclusively on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else, SummerSlam (right) saw Stageco crew chief Jim Ramacus supervise a 13-trailer load-in as his workforce set about constructing a SuperRoof in the home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

rollingstones.com gunsnroses.com wwe.com/shows/summerslam