On June 2nd, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members, ZZ-TOP embarked on WHACK ATTACK, a 6-month North American tour. With a complete lighting package provided by Bandit Lites, lighting designer Chris Stuba is continuing an 11-year tradition lighting ZZ-Top. Four VARI*LITE VL3500™ spot luminaires are included in the complete lighting package.

For the WHACK ATTACK tour, Stuba was looking for a retro garage feel, as there is diamond plating on the set which is partially made up of amplifier cases and led tubes. The amplifiers also have electro-luminescent rope for piping, which outlines the amps when electricity is applied. With an active set and lighting design, it became necessary to dedicate three specific spot luminaires to highlight the band members.

To accomplish this specific task, Stuba chose VARI*LITE VL3500™ spot luminaires to stay on the band members and off the rest of the set. Three VL3500 act as Stuba’s main key lights, top lighting lead guitarist Billy Gibbons and bass player Dusty Hill and front lighting drummer Frank Beard.

"I was looking for a light to replace some 10 degrees I had used in the past," says Stuba. "The zoom track is what I was looking for. The field on the VL3500™ spot is so even and the shutters are proving to be invaluable in keeping the lights on Frank and off the drums."

"The color-mixing and the field is a perfect combination on the VL3500™ spot. The fixtures do exactly what they are programmed to do. The recall, even on the shutters, is phenomenal," explains Stuba. "With the framing shutters, the band really noticed the lights and what they are doing."

The 2005 WHACK ATTACK North American Tour will highlight material from ZZ-TOP’s most recent RCA album Mescalero. The 2005 WHACK ATTACK North American Tour began on June 2nd in Jackson, CA, with the conclusion date still to be announced.

Touring personnel for the WHACK ATTACK Tour includes Pablo Gamboa - Tour Manager, Donny Stuart - Production Manager, Jeff Archibeque - Assistant Light Director, Bobby Dominguez - Lighting Technician, and Mark "Smokey" Kohorn Tour Rigger.