Andy Copping has revealed how so many bands will get their time in front of a Birmingham crowd during Back To The Beginning
Sharon Osbourne kisses promoter Andy Copping alongside Tony Iommi(Image: Getty Images for Live Nation UK)
One of the biggest questions Black Sabbath fans have had in the run-up to the band’s final Villa Park Stadium gig is how it will all work, logistically, given the sheer size of the line-up.
Not only will Black Sabbath reunite for the first time in 20 years for what is being billed as Ozzy Osbourne’s final live performance, but they’re bringing friends. A LOT of friends.
Giants from the world of rock and metal will be at the gig, with Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Halestorm and many, many more.
Read more: Black Sabbath at Villa Park – line-up, times, set list, tickets and how to get there
Read more: All the Birmingham places heavy metal fans need to visit during Black Sabbath weekend
It left fans wondering how each band would get time in the Villa Park spotlight, with many reflecting on festival gigs with stage change-over times eating up chunks of the day.
The gates to the show open at 11am and curfew is at 10:30pm but even with nearly 12 hours of action, it’s hard to imagine how all bands would get time to play.
Now promoter Andy Copping has revealed to Planet Rock the secret to how they’ll fit everyone in – a rotating stage.
The producer said that as well as planning a few surprises for the Birmingham crowd, they’d be employing a revolving stage to ensure smooth transitions between acts.
He told Planet Rock: “The event itself is going to be very fluid. We’ve got a revolving stage so when somebody is playing, we’re gonna be building up the back line and everything for the act after that.
“It is going to make things run really, really smoothly. We’re hoping for a 10 to 12 minute gap in-between each act, which I think is fair.
“Normally you go to a festival and it could be anything from half-an-hour to 45 minutes or more between acts.
“At this one, it’s going be very fluid. It’s going to be act after act after act. It’s almost like blink and you’ll miss it.
“You’re not gonna have a lot of time and to go off and do anything other than watch this amazing music!”
Rotating stages aren’t a new concept for gigs and in the US, the revolving platform method was used for Warped Tour events where multiple bands played on the same day.
Now there’s a new big consideration for fans planning to attend the Birmingham gig – strategic toilet, food and merch buying breaks!