The legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Def Leppard performed 12 sold-out shows at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, accompanied by a spectacular visual and lighting design created by Montreal-based Canadian studio Luz Studio.
Luz Studio’s lighting design featured several standout Robe products, including the IP-rated WTF! LED fixtures combining strobe, wash and blinder functions; Tarrantula wash beams; and four RoboSpot systems operating with 18 BMFL FollowSpot fixtures. All equipment was supplied by Christie Lites and coordinated through its UK office.
Luz Studio was brought in to create an entirely new environment for the band’s live performances, developing a comprehensive visual package that included stage design and striking video content. The integration of these visual elements delivered remarkable harmony and aesthetic balance, an approach that was highly appreciated by fans.
One of the centrepieces of the stage design was a giant LED screen measuring 33.5 metres wide by 12.2 metres high, positioned at the rear of the stage. In front of it stood a triangular double-layer riser structure, flanked by two diagonal staircases and two angled floor-level trusses on each side.
The band made its entrance via the venue’s large stage lift. The show began with the musicians rising onto the stage and initially framed by an automated triangular truss that moved during the opening song, completing the final segment of a Union Jack-shaped structure facing the audience in tribute to the band’s British roots in Sheffield in the late 1970s.
As the design evolved, creative director Matt Larivee knew from the outset that he wanted to use WTF! fixtures and RoboSpot systems. Larivee had first seen the WTF! fixtures during a visit to the Robe factory in the Czech Republic at the end of 2025.
They looked fantastic, so I thought they would be ideal for this residency, especially to stand out against the huge video wall. I needed fixtures with plenty of power and versatility.
The four angled floor-level trusses ran across the stage at a height of approximately 2.5 metres, two on each side, and the 18 WTF! fixtures were mounted on them.
The setlist combined classic Def Leppard anthems, iconic moments and greatest hits spanning nearly five decades, alongside newer and heavier material. Larivee therefore needed a lighting system with enough flexibility and dynamism to reflect every era of the band’s musical journey.
Among the designer’s favourite features were the zoom, pan movement and strobe capabilities of the WTF! fixtures, although the decisive factor was their warm-white LED zone. This allowed him to recreate the classic retro blinder effect, essential for achieving the large-scale rock looks that integrated seamlessly with the video content.
The 24 Tarrantula wash beams were divided into two groups of 12 units. One group was installed on the front truss to illuminate the band and the centre stage area. They were selected for their intensity and relatively controlled beam directionality, which helped prevent light spill onto the diagonal set pieces at the rear of the stage.
The remaining 12 fixtures were positioned at floor level on either side of the stage, projecting light from a lower angle while using the beam’s precision to avoid unwanted illumination on the venue’s side walls.
A total of 18 BMFL FollowSpot fixtures were operated via four RoboSpot systems. Each system tracked the four mobile band members using three BMFL fixtures from the front and one of two available fixtures from the rear. All operators worked remotely from offstage positions.
Although Larivee would have preferred to use FORTE fixtures, he was satisfied with the BMFLs: “They are reliable fixtures and products I know well, having used them in many of my previous designs”. In addition to the enormous flexibility offered by RoboSpot in any performance environment, Larivee highlighted the system’s ease of use and the availability of skilled operators.
The ability to develop lighting, video and 3D scenic elements together resulted in a fluid and coherent visual experience. For a production of this scale, and particularly for a Las Vegas residency, both production standards and audience expectations were exceptionally high.
Everyone — the band, the management team and ourselves — wanted the show to have a narrative arc. We carefully selected songs and moments where we could build memorable, bold and powerful scenes without overcomplicating them, ensuring they connected with the audience, explained Matt.
These moments reinforced the narrative of the songs while adding an extra layer of rhythm, structure and drama through the combination of lighting and video. Among the most striking elements was a giant virtual leopard that appeared ready to leap from the screen onto the stage at any moment during the nearly two-hour rock spectacle.
Many of the video environments also incorporated virtual lighting that interacted and contrasted with the real stage lighting, creating a striking visual synergy based on optical effects that helped maintain the show’s momentum.
The Luz Studio team worked with Cole MacDonald, Def Leppard’s long-time lighting director, who travelled to Montreal for previsualisation sessions and later joined the production at the Colosseum to operate the lighting during the performances. Lighting programming was led by Luz Studio’s Pierre-Luc Bedard, together with Philippe Marquis and Cole MacDonald. The new stage presentation was enthusiastically received by both the band and the audience.
Def Leppard enjoys a loyal multi-generational fan base, many of whom attend multiple shows during each touring cycle. According to numerous audience comments, this third Las Vegas residency represented a whole new level and, for many fans, the best live show the band has ever delivered.
Photos: courtesy of Luz Studio
