Queen Machine – one of Europe’s best Queen tribute bands – definitely live up to their claim both in terms of performance and production!
Formed in Denmark in 2009, and known for their flawless, high-energy replications of Queen’s legendary music, Queen Machine is hugely popular, and tours extensively across Denmark and Europe, selling out arenas and larger venues. They also regularly collaborate with symphonic ensembles like the Danish Chamber Orchestra, with some tours also dedicated to a specific Queen album concept.
Lighting designer Theis Wermuth has been working with them regularly since 2012 and designed the lighting for their 28-date 2026 summer ‘Greatest Hits’ tour. This lighting rig included – for the first time – Robe iESPRITE LTLs.
Twelve iESPRITE LTLs 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 are built onto 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 are 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 6 x 5 banks of ‘PARs’ are 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 during his time working with the band.
The idea is to present a genuine-looking Queen lighting aesthetic, with some contemporary touches – e.g. the ‘PARS’ can change colour, while they would all have been gelled in one colour in the 1980s – but overall, a “styling inspired by and honouring that classic BIG par can look,” Theis explained.
The iESPRITE LTLs were used for the first time on this tour design 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’s first time using iESPRITE LTLs and he noted that they were “super bright” and while he knew they would be good, 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.
IP is something that is essential to service the thriving Danish summer tour season.
The Queen Machine Tour additionally uses a Robe RoboSpot system, comprising 2 x iFORTE LTX remote controlled follow spots, together with one BaseStation. This RoboSpot combination in various scales has become an industry standard in Denmark for the power and excellent CRI of the iFORTE series, which produces perfect flesh tones.
Theis noted that they are also happy to use iESPRITE LTLs as follow spots in smaller venues.
For the Queen Machine show, the follow spots were calibrated to bring a vintage follow spot look to the stage with hard-edged outline, aligning with the other visual elements.
Theis comments that it’s a “fantastic” tour on which to work with great people. The vibes are enjoyed by all onstage and in the crew as they entertain and enthral hugely enthusiastic Queen fans of all ages, spanning multiple generations.
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.