Currently, Ronnie James Dio is on tour as a hologram. this is the first concert tour in the United States that I know of that featured a hologram as the lead performer. If it isn't the first it's already going to be the most successful. Why do you believe Dio was the first?

I know Michael Jackson and Tupac had holograms, I’m 90% sure the MJ one was the leading act as someone on the old PW went to one of the shows.

May 14, 2019 13:22:46 GMT System said:

I know Michael Jackson and Tupac had holograms, I’m 90% sure the MJ one was the leading act as someone on the old PW went to one of the shows.

But were they multiple city tours or one offs?

Michael Jackson's hologram appeared at a Billboard Music Awards show and Tito was apparently planning a Jackson 5 reunion tour featuring a hologram of Michael but it never happened.

Pretty sure the Tupac one was at Coachella a few years ago or something like that.

I don't know how I feel about the hologram thing. On one hand, I find it gimmicky and insensitive, and I don't think I'd enjoy a live show. But on the other, if I could go watch Led Zepplin perform live with tons of lasers and crazy hologram visuals accompanying the band...I'd seriously consider going.

I am considering going. I just why Dio gets over on it versus anyone else. Aside for him being short and maybe cheaper to do. But then again Prince is a dwarf too.

When I first saw this thread, I also thought, "Why Dio?" Obviously he's a heavy metal icon, but metal is a niche genre and you'd think that someone with more name recognition would get the first ever hologram tour. Michael Jackson or Elvis or Bowie.

I lean towards RT's point of view that it's gimmicky and insensitive. I wouldn't go, unless it was literally in my city, then I might consider it.

I'm with RT and Emperor. I won't even go to a concert if I can't properly see who's playing. I'm sure as hell not paying to see a hologram unless it was someone iconic to me I missed like Prince and even then.

I see some footage from some of the festivals where there's a disgusting amount of people (Rock over Volga)and I think 'what's the fucking point'? If you have to watch it up on a screen is it worth it? I can watch it on screen without getting kicked in the head and pushed around and I can see them close up. *shrugs*

Part of me thinks metal fans are more committed to see their acts live than other music genre fans.

May 15, 2019 3:36:01 GMT theend said:

Part of me thinks metal fans are more committed to see their acts live than other music genre fans.

Yes. Probably true. But even if a greater proportion of metal fans would turn out, the numbers would favour the pop icon because pop is so much more popular.

Looks like Whitney will be the next U.S. hologram tour. I wonder how long this trend will go on.

Hatsune Miku opened for Gaga and perhaps was the biggest use of it on a tour. Surprised no one made a Hatsune Miku for the US. Seems perfect for the pop industry, a star that never ages, never complains, works for free and can work multiple shows in one night.

May 15, 2019 3:36:01 GMT theend said:

Part of me thinks metal fans are more committed to see their acts live than other music genre fans.

Hardcore fans more.  Hardcore is pretty much a live a genre and half of the time the discs sound nothing like the band live.  Given in most areas with a hardcore scene you have weekly concerts or not multiple concerts a week there will be hard press to find a genre most focused on live music.  

Metal fans can be pretty devoit but the death of major US mega tours stifled the scene a bit.  Concerts that used to give 30 bands for 30 bucks with at least one mega band are now in the hundreds for cost.

May 21, 2019 13:14:31 GMT c said:

May 15, 2019 3:36:01 GMT theend said:

Part of me thinks metal fans are more committed to see their acts live than other music genre fans.

Hardcore fans more.  Hardcore is pretty much a live a genre and half of the time the discs sound nothing like the band live.  Given in most areas with a hardcore scene you have weekly concerts or not multiple concerts a week there will be hard press to find a genre most focused on live music.  

Metal fans can be pretty devoit but the death of major US mega tours stifled the scene a bit.  Concerts that used to give 30 bands for 30 bucks with at least one mega band are now in the hundreds for cost.

It seems the metal nerds in my circles are more passionate in a geek way than other types of music fans.  Like, my metal fans will know every band member and the other two bands each band was in.  

I don't get that with other genres as much.