Robe iESPRITE LTLs Help Rock Queen Machine Lighting designer Theis Wermuth, who has worked with the Queen tribute band, Queen Machine, since 2012, did its 28-date 2026 summer tour. For the first time, this lighting rig featured Robe iESPRITE LTLs. Twelve units were positioned in a line upstage behind the band risers, which had no fronts, allowing the fixtures to blast through or upwards, creating powerful effects and impact from the rear. The iESPRITE LTLs were built on special wheeled trussing dollies for the tour, fabricated by lighting rental supplier Profox, with two fixtures per piece of truss for quick deployment during changeovers. They were positioned together with an upstage wall of death, also on dollies, comprising specially modified PAR 64 cans, fitted with an LED light source. Four large six-by-five banks of PARs were flown on the rig, two on the upstage truss, and two at the sides, based on Queen's authentic 1980s lighting aesthetic, which Theis has studied extensively. The idea was to present a genuine-looking Queen lighting aesthetic, with some contemporary touches -- e.g., the PARs could change color. The iESPRITE LTLs were used as high-impact, low-level back lighting effects and for fanning out and blasting through the risers, for which they contrasted well with the PARs. It is Theis' first time using iESPRITE LTLs and he noted that they were "super bright" and they "far exceeded" his expectations. The iESPRITE LTLs were part of a batch of 52 new iESPRITES recently acquired by Aalborg-based rental and production firm Profox, together with other IP-rated Robe fixtures to service their busy ongoing schedule. An IP rating is essential to service the Danish summer tour season. The Queen Machine tour additionally used a Robe RoboSpot system, comprising two iFORTE LTX remote controlled followspots, together with one BaseStation. This RoboSpot combination in various scales has become an industry standard in Denmark, for its ability to reproduce accurate flesh tones. Theis is also happy to use iESPRITE LTLs as follow spots in smaller venues. For the Queen Machine show, the followspots were calibrated to bring a vintage followspot look to the stage with hard-edged outline, aligning with the other visual elements. Queen Machine will be playing two large arena shows -- Copenhagen and Herning -- in the autumn to commemorate Queen's iconic 1986 concerts at London's Wembley Stadium. 
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