Difference between revisions of "The Drones World Tour 2015/16"

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The [[Drones (album)|Drones]] World Tour officially began on November 17th, 2015 in  Palacio de Los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico. Prior to the first concert, Muse have also released an official trailer for the Drones World Tour which can be seen [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGJWBBzZgHM here].
[[File:MPDLDVGMX2.jpg|thumb|right|Promotional poster for the first two dates of the tour in Mexico]]
A headlining tour in support of [[Drones (album)|Drones]], '''The Drones World Tour 2015/16''' or the '''Drones 360 Tour''', as it's sometimes called, officially began on November 17th, 2015 with two sold out gigs at Palacio de Los Deportes in Mexico City. Prior to the first concert, Muse have also released an official trailer for the Drones World Tour which can be seen [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGJWBBzZgHM here]. The tour ended in [[Moscow Olimpiski 2016 (gig)|2016]].


{{GigNav
{{GigNav
| Previous = [[Drones Tour|Drones Festivals Tour 2015]]
| Previous = [[Drones Festivals Tour 2015]]
| Current = [[The Drones World Tour 2015/16]]
| Current = [[The Drones World Tour 2015/16]]
| Next = [[Drones Festivals Tour 2016]]
| Next = [[Drones Festivals Tour 2016]]
Line 8: Line 9:


== Information ==
== Information ==
The official beginning of the tour was on November 17th in Mexico City, and the tour will last until summer of 2016.
[[File:DWT360StageDesign.jpg|thumb|right|Stage design]]
[[File:SmallDrones.jpg|thumb|right|Smaller drones]]
[[File:ReaperDrones.jpg|thumb|rightw|The big drone]]
[[File:RevoltRiotPolice.jpg|thumb|right|The ''Revolt'' Police]]
This was an indoor arena exclusive headlining tour, due to drones being used, the outdoor use of which was forbidden by the health and safety restrictions. The official beginning of the tour was on November 17th 2015 in Mexico City, and the tour lasted until summer of 2016.


This is also the first time the band are performing in the middle of the arena on a 360 stage, with the audience surrounding them, giving them a 360 degree audio/visual experience.
This was the first time the band were performing in the middle of the arena on a 360 stage, with the audience surrounding them, giving them a 360 degree audio/visual experience.


According to Matt, this is their version of the famous [[Pink Floyd]]'s ''The Wall''.
According to Matt, this was their version of the famous [[Pink Floyd]]'s ''The Wall''.
 
== Warm Up Gigs ==
 
The tour's warm up gigs took place on a short tour across Asia and South America in Autumn of 2015, including their first performance in mainland China. The warm up gigs' setlists had some basis for the main tour sets, with Psycho and Reapers as show openers and Voodoo Child being the main intro to SMBH. Warm up gigs also included [[Unsustainable (song)|Unsustainable]], which wasn't played on the main tour.
 
The first warm up gig was in [[Beijing MasterCard Center 2015 (gig)|Beijing, China]] and the last one was in [[Bogotá Parque Deportivo 222 2015 (gig)|Bogotá, Columbia]].
 
The stage design was the same as with the [[Drones Festivals Tour 2015]]. Opening acts included [[The Ruse]] for most of the Asian shows, [[Utopians]] for most of the South American shows and [[TELEBIT]] for the last show in Bogotá.


== Stage/Production Design ==
== Stage/Production Design ==
The stage consists of a round circle in the middle of the arena with two runways, spanning across the entire arena, each one with a bigger hammerhead stage on the end. The stage and the runways are low, , so the band can get intimate with the crowd, while the two hammerheads are at stage-level. Located underneath the two hammerheads are  the tech bunkers. These smaller b-stages are also equipped with one raiser each (one for Chris and one for Matt and his piano). This is also the first Muse stage to feature no drum raiser, and [[Morgan Nichols|Morgan]]'s equipment is placed in a bunker/hole lowered into the stage, facing the other direction.
The stage consisted of a round circle in the middle of the arena with two runways, spanning across the entire arena, each one with a bigger hammerhead stage on the end. The stage and the runways are low, , so the band can get intimate with the crowd, while the two hammerheads are at stage-level. Located underneath the two hammerheads are  the tech bunkers. These smaller b-stages are also equipped with one raiser each (one for Chris and one for Matt and his piano). This is also the first Muse stage to feature no drum raiser, and [[Morgan Nichols|Morgan]]'s equipment is placed in a bunker/hole lowered into the stage, facing the other direction.


Above the main circle is a tube-shaped LCD screen, displaying some visuals, while other visuals can also be projected on transparent curtains, placed above the runways, which can lower or raise at any time during the concert. The visual aspects of the tour are held by Moment Factory, a Montreal-based new media and entertainment studio, which have worked on tours of various musical artists such as Bon Jovi, Madonna, [[Imagine Dragons]] and [[Nine Inch Nails]] as well as held their own visual art installations across the world.
Above the main circle is a tube-shaped LCD screen, displaying some visuals, while other visuals can also be projected on transparent curtains, placed above the runways, which can lower or raise at any time during the concert. The visual aspects of the tour are held by Moment Factory, a Montreal-based new media and entertainment studio, which have worked on tours of various musical artists such as Bon Jovi, Madonna, [[Imagine Dragons]] and [[Nine Inch Nails]] as well as held their own visual art installations across the world.


The tour also includes 16 custom made self-controlled drones, made in partnership with a Dutch company. These drones are controlled by a custom written computer programs and sensors which help control them are placed around the venues. These drones are, when not in use, "parked" on trusses above the stage. Alongside these 16 drones is a bigger inflatable drone shaped like a military aircraft/drone, hovering above the audience during certain parts of songs such as the middle part of The Globalist. On the 5th night in Paris, two of the bigger drones were used. This was also the only time so far that they've used two instead of one.
The tour also includes 16 custom made self-controlled drones, or ''HFO''s (High Flying Objects), as the crew call them, made in partnership with a Dutch company Path65. These drones are controlled by a custom written computer programs. Sensors, which help control them, are placed around the venues and were callibrated for each venue. These drones were, when not in use, "parked" on trusses above the stage. Alongside these 16 drones was a bigger inflatable drone, shaped like a military aircraft/drone, hovering above the audience during certain parts of songs such as the middle part of The Globalist. On the 5th night in Paris, two of the bigger drones, called "Reapers" were used. This was also the only time that they've used two instead of one. The big drone was sometimes refered to by fans as "The Dildrone".
 
According to Bellamy, they originally wanted each drone to have it's own projection on it (hence the matte-white drones they only used during the opening Mexico gigs in 2015), however that was technically impossible. They did however simulate how that would look using After Effects in the Drones World Tour movie.


During Mercy, confetti, shaped like "Drones" stick figures are deployed above the audience.
During Mercy, confetti, shaped like "Drones" stick figures are deployed above the audience.


When the band enters the arena, they're escorted into the arena by the "Revolt" police.
When the band enters the arena, they're secretly escorted into the arena as part of the "Revolt" police (several "actors" dressed as riot police from the Revolt music video with illuminating goggles).


Unlike previous tours, no CO2 streamers are used during or at the end of the show.
Unlike previous tours, no CO2 streamers are used during or at the end of the show. The production also didn't allow Matt's feedback amp to be present on the stage, making this the first tour with no amps on stage.


During their stay in Brussels, instead of the usual place on the hovering construction above the stage, Drone stations had to be placed on the floor due to the height restrictions of the venue.
During their stay in Brussels, instead of the usual place on the hovering construction above the stage, Drone stations had to be placed on the floor due to the height restrictions of the venue.
== The 'Drones' Enchanced Experience Package ==
[[File:MUSEumDrones.jpg|thumb|right|Part of the Drones World Tour MUSEum]]
The Enchanced Experience Package was a special VIP package containing one premium VIP ticket, early access to the venue, admission to the MUSEum, invitation to the pre-show party at the so called ''Starlight Lounge'', one limited edition tour poster designed exclusively for the Enchanced Experience guests, one souvenir laminate and private merch shopping.
=== The MUSEum ===
The MUSEum was a travelling exhibition which was, as mentioned above, available to visit by buying the Enchanced Experience Package. This was the first tour to include the MUSEum.
The exhibition includes various memorabilia from Muse's previous tours, such as musical gearm costumes and VIP/crew passes.
The MUSEum was included again at the [[North American Summer Amphitheatre Tour 2017|North American Summer Amphitheatre Tour]] in 2017.
== Drones World Tour (Live Film) ==
The Drones World Tour movie was released on July 12th 2018 in cinemas all around the world. The movie was directed by Tom Kirk and Jan Willem Schram with additional direction and production by Hans-Peter Van Velthoven. It was produced by Corrino Studios. The movie is comprised of footage shot at four European shows in 2016, in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
More on the film [[Drones World Tour (live)|here]].


== Average setlist ==
== Average setlist ==
*Drones (choir track)
*[[Drones (song)|Drones]] ''(choir track)''
*Psycho
*[[Psycho (song)|Psycho]] / [[Reapers (song)|Reapers]]
*Dead Inside
*[[Dead Inside (song)|Dead Inside]]
*Hysteria (w/ Interlude)
*[[Interlude (song)|Interlude]] + [[Hysteria (song)|Hysteria]]
*Plug in Baby / Bliss / Citizen Erased
*[[Plug in Baby (song)|Plug in Baby]] ''(extended outro)'' / [[Bliss (song)|Bliss]] ''(extended outro)'' / [[Citizen Erased (song)|Citizen Erased]]
*Isolated System (Shortened)
*[[Isolated System (song)|Isolated System]]
*The Handler
*[[The Handler (song)|The Handler]]
*Map of the Problematique / Resistance
*[[Map of the Problematique (song)|Map of the Problematique]] / [[Resistance (song)|Resistance]]
*Supermassive Black Hole
*[[Supermassive Black Hole (song)|Supermassive Black Hole]]
*Starlight (w/ Prelude)
*[[Prelude (song)|Prelude]] + [[Starlight (song)|Starlight]]
*United States of Eurasia / Apocalypse Please / Feeling Good
*[[United States of Eurasia (song)|United States of Eurasia]] / [[Apocalypse Please (song)|Apocalypse Please]] / [[Feeling Good (song)|Feeling Good]]
*Munich Jam
*[[Riffs_and_jams#Munich_Jam|Munich Jam]] ''(fast ending)''
*Madness
*[[Madness (song)|Madness]]
*Undisclosed Desires / Resistance (if not played earlier)
*[[Undisclosed Desires (song)|Undisclosed Desires]] / [[Resistance (song)|Resistance]] ''(if not played earlier)''
*Reapers / Revolt / Stockholm Syndrome / Hysteria (w/Interlude) (If not played earlier) (w/ JFK)
*[[JFK (song)|JFK]] + [[Reapers (song)|Reapers]] ''(if not played earlier)'' / [[Revolt (song)|Revolt]] / [[Stockholm Syndrome (song)|Stockholm Syndrome]] / [[Interlude (song)|Interlude]] + [[Hysteria (song)|Hysteria]] ''(if not played earlier)''
*Time is Running Out
*[[Time Is Running Out (song)|Time Is Running Out]]
*Uprising
*[[Uprising (song)|Uprising]] ''(extended outro)''
*The Globalist
*[[The Globalist (song)|The Globalist]]
*Drones (Reprise)
*[[Drones (song)|Drones]] ''(reprise)''
{{encore}}
{{encore}}
*Take a Bow  
*[[Take a Bow (song)|Take a Bow]]
*Mercy
*[[Mercy (song)|Mercy]]
*Knights of Cydonia (w/ Man with a Harmonica)
*{{Man with a Harmonica}} + [[Knights of Cydonia (song)|Knights of Cydonia]]


Note: Several minor setlist changes were made during the first couple of gigs (such as Reapers opening and Psycho being the second track) of the tour, allthough the setlist have became consistent throughout the US and Canadian tours.
=== Notes ===
 
* Several minor setlist changes were made during the first couple of gigs (such as Reapers opening and Psycho being the second track) of the tour, allthough the setlist have became consistent throughout the tour.
 
* [[Drill Sergeant (song)|Drill Sergeant]] sometimes replaced Drones at the beginning at gigs where HFOs weren't used.


== Gigs ==
== Gigs ==
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! Date || Venue || Location
! Date || Venue || Location
|-
|-
| 2016-06-21 || [[Moscow Olimpiski 2016 (gig) | Olimpiski]] || Moscow, Russia
| 2016-06-21 || [[Moscow Olimpiyskiy 2016 (gig) | Olimpiyskiy]] || Moscow, Russia
|-
|-
| 2016-06-17 || [[Kaunas Žalgirio Arena 2016 (gig) | Žalgirio Arena]] || Kaunas, Lithuania
| 2016-06-17 || [[Kaunas Žalgirio Arena 2016 (gig) | Žalgirio Arena]] || Kaunas, Lithuania
|-
|-
| 2016-06-16 || [[Riga Riga Arena 2016 (gig) | Riga Arena]] || Riga, Latvia
| 2016-06-16 || [[Riga Arena Riga 2016 (gig) | Riga Arena]] || Riga, Latvia
|-
|-
| 2016-06-14 || [[Helsinki Hartwall Arena 2016 (gig) | Hartwall Arena]] || Helsinki, Finland
| 2016-06-14 || [[Helsinki Hartwall Arena 2016 (gig) | Hartwall Arena]] || Helsinki, Finland
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| 2016-06-12 || [[Oslo Telenor Arena 2016 (gig) | Telenor Arena]] || Oslo, Norway
| 2016-06-12 || [[Oslo Telenor Arena 2016 (gig) | Telenor Arena]] || Oslo, Norway
|-
|-
| 2016-06-11 || [[Stockholm Ericsson Dome 2016 (gig) | Ericsson Dome]] || Stockholm, Sweden
| 2016-06-11 || [[Stockholm Ericsson Globe 2016 (gig) | Ericsson Globe]] || Stockholm, Sweden
|-
|-
| 2016-06-09 || [[Copenhagen Forum 2016 - 9th (gig) | Forum]] || Copenhagen, Denmark
| 2016-06-09 || [[Copenhagen Forum 2016 - 9th (gig) | Forum]] || Copenhagen, Denmark
Line 104: Line 141:
| 2016-05-05 || [[Madrid Barclaycard Center 2016 - 5th (gig) | Barclaycard Center]] || Madrid, Spain
| 2016-05-05 || [[Madrid Barclaycard Center 2016 - 5th (gig) | Barclaycard Center]] || Madrid, Spain
|-
|-
| 2016-05-03 || [[Lisbon MEO Arena 2016 (gig) | MEO Arena]] || Lisbon, Portugal
| 2016-05-03 || [[Lisbon MEO Arena 2016 - 3rd (gig) | MEO Arena]] || Lisbon, Portugal
|-
|-
| 2016-05-02 || [[Lisbon MEO Arena 2016 (gig) | MEO Arena]] || Lisbon, Portugal
| 2016-05-02 || [[Lisbon MEO Arena 2016 - 2nd (gig) | MEO Arena]] || Lisbon, Portugal
|-
|-
| 2016-04-18 || [[Glasgow SSE Hydro - 18th 2016 (gig) | SSE Hydro]] || Glasgow, Scotland
| 2016-04-18 || [[Glasgow SSE Hydro 2016 - 18th (gig) | SSE Hydro]] || Glasgow, Scotland
|-
|-
| 2016-04-17 || [[Glasgow SSE Hydro 2016 (gig) | SSE Hydro]] || Glasgow, Scotland
| 2016-04-17 || [[Glasgow SSE Hydro 2016 - 17th (gig) | SSE Hydro]] || Glasgow, Scotland
|-
|-
| 2016-04-15 || [[London O2 Arena - 15th 2016 (gig) | O2 Arena]] || London, England
| 2016-04-15 || [[London O2 Arena 2016 - 15th (gig) | O2 Arena]] || London, England
|-
|-
| 2016-04-14 || [[London O2 Arena - 14th 2016 (gig) | O2 Arena]] || London, England
| 2016-04-14 || [[London O2 Arena 2016 - 14th (gig) | O2 Arena]] || London, England
|-
|-
| 2016-04-12 || [[London O2 Arena - 12th 2016 (gig) | O2 Arena]] || London, England
| 2016-04-12 || [[London O2 Arena 2016 - 12th (gig) | O2 Arena]] || London, England
|-
|-
| 2016-04-11 || [[London O2 Arena - 11th 2016 (gig) | O2 Arena]] || London, England
| 2016-04-11 || [[London O2 Arena 2016 - 11th (gig) | O2 Arena]] || London, England
|-
|-
| 2016-04-09 || [[Manchester Arena - 9th 2016 (gig) | Manchester Arena]] || Manchester, England
| 2016-04-09 || [[Manchester Manchester Arena 2016 - 9th (gig) | Manchester Arena]] || Manchester, England
|-
|-
| 2016-04-08 || [[Manchester Arena 2016 (gig) | Manchester Arena]] || Manchester, England
| 2016-04-08 || [[Manchester Manchester Arena 2016 - 8th (gig) | Manchester Arena]] || Manchester, England
|-
|-
| 2016-04-06 || [[Belfast SSE Arena 2016 (gig) | The SSE Arena]] || Belfast, Northern Ireland
| 2016-04-06 || [[Belfast SSE Arena 2016 (gig) | The SSE Arena]] || Belfast, Northern Ireland
Line 128: Line 165:
| 2016-04-05 || [[Dublin 3Arena 2016 (gig) | 3Arena]] || Dublin, Ireland
| 2016-04-05 || [[Dublin 3Arena 2016 (gig) | 3Arena]] || Dublin, Ireland
|-
|-
| 2016-04-03 || [[London O2 Arena - April - 3rd 2016 (gig) | O2 Arena]] || London, England
| 2016-04-03 || [[London O2 Arena 2016 - 3rd (gig) | O2 Arena]] || London, England
|-
|-
| 2016-04-02 || [[Brimingham Barclaycard Arena 2016 (gig) | Barclayard Arena]] || Birmingham, England
| 2016-04-02 || [[Birmingham Barclaycard Arena 2016 (gig) | Barclayard Arena]] || Birmingham, England
|-
|-
| 2016-03-31 || [[Munich Olympiahalle 2016 (gig) | Olympiahalle]] || Munich, Germany
| 2016-03-31 || [[Munich Olympiahalle 2016 (gig) | Olympiahalle]] || Munich, Germany
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| 2016-03-13 || [[Brussels Palais 12 2016 - 13th (gig) | Palais 12]] || Brussels, Belgium
| 2016-03-13 || [[Brussels Palais 12 2016 - 13th (gig) | Palais 12]] || Brussels, Belgium
|-
|-
| 2016-03-12 || [[Brussels Palais 12 2016 (gig) | Palais 12]] || Brussels, Belgium
| 2016-03-12 || [[Brussels Palais 12 2016 - 12th (gig) | Palais 12]] || Brussels, Belgium
|-
|-
| 2016-03-10 || [[Amsterdam Ziggo Dome 2016 - 10th (gig) | Ziggo Dome]] || Amsterdam, Netherlands
| 2016-03-10 || [[Amsterdam Ziggo Dome 2016 - 10th (gig) | Ziggo Dome]] || Amsterdam, Netherlands
Line 150: Line 187:
| 2016-03-06 || [[Cologne Lanxess Arena 2016 (gig) | Lanxess Arena]] || Cologne, Germany
| 2016-03-06 || [[Cologne Lanxess Arena 2016 (gig) | Lanxess Arena]] || Cologne, Germany
|-
|-
| 2016-03-04 || [[Paris Bercy Arena - March 2016 - 4th (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
| 2016-03-04 || [[Paris Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy 2016 - 4th (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
|-
|-
| 2016-03-03 || [[Paris Bercy Arena - March - 3rd 2016 (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
| 2016-03-03 || [[Paris Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy 2016 - 3rd (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
|-
|-
| 2016-03-01 || [[Paris Bercy Arena - March - 1st 2016 (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
| 2016-03-01 || [[Paris Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy 2016 - 1st (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
|-
|-
| 2016-02-29 || [[Paris Bercy Arena - February 2016 (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
| 2016-02-29 || [[Paris Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy 2016 - 29th (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
|-
|-
| 2016-02-27 || [[Paris Bercy Arena - February - 27th 2016 (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
| 2016-02-27 || [[Paris Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy 2016 - 27th (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
|-
|-
| 2016-02-26 || [[Paris Bercy Arena - February - 26th 2016 (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
| 2016-02-26 || [[Paris Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy 2016 - 26th (gig) | Bercy Arena]] || Paris, France
|-
|-
| 2016-02-01 || [[Washington Verizon Center 2016 (gig) | Verizon Center]] || Washington, DC, USA
| 2016-02-01 || [[Washington Verizon Center 2016 (gig) | Verizon Center]] || Washington, DC, USA
Line 186: Line 223:
| 2016-01-13 || [[Chicago United Center 2016 (gig) | United Center]] || Chicago, IL, USA
| 2016-01-13 || [[Chicago United Center 2016 (gig) | United Center]] || Chicago, IL, USA
|-
|-
| 2016-01-09 || [[Las Vegas Mandalay Bay 2016 (gig) | Mandalay Bay]] || Las Vegas, NV, USA
| 2016-01-09 || [[Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Events Center 2016 (gig) | Mandalay Bay]] || Las Vegas, NV, USA
|-
|-
| 2016-01-07 || [[San Diego Valley View Casino Center 2016 (gig) | Valley View Casino Center]] || San Diego, CA, USA
| 2016-01-07 || [[San Diego Valley View Casino Center 2016 (gig) | Valley View Casino Center]] || San Diego, CA, USA
Line 204: Line 241:
| 2015-12-10 || [[Vancouver Rogers Arena 2015 (gig) | Rogers Arena]] || Vancouver, BC, Canada
| 2015-12-10 || [[Vancouver Rogers Arena 2015 (gig) | Rogers Arena]] || Vancouver, BC, Canada
|-
|-
| <del>2015-12-06</del> || <del>[[Las Vegas Mandalay Bay 2015 (gig) | Mandalay Bay]]</del> || <del>Las Vegas, NV, USA</del>
| <del>2015-12-06</del> || <del>[[Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Events Center 2015 (gig) | Mandalay Bay]]</del> || <del>Las Vegas, NV, USA</del>
|-
|-
| 2015-12-05 || [[Phoenix Gila River Arena 2015 (gig) | Gila River Arena]] || Phoenix, AZ, USA
| 2015-12-05 || [[Phoenix Gila River Arena 2015 (gig) | Gila River Arena]] || Phoenix, AZ, USA
Line 221: Line 258:
|-
|-
|}
|}
== See Also ==
* [https://plsn.com/articles/designer-insights/muse-drones-world-tour/ Article on The Drones World Tour 2015/16 on PLSN (Projection Lights & Staging News) Magazine]
* [https://www.tpimagazine.com/muse-drones-tour/ Article on The Drones World Tour 2015/16 on TPi Magazine]
* [https://cast-soft.com/blog/2016/03/blacktrax-flies-high-muse-drones-worldwide-arena-concerts/ BlackTrax providing cameras for Interactive Projection Mapping]
* [https://momentfactory.com/work/all/all/drones-tour-muse Moment Factory providing video content for the tour]
* [https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/3d54ak/muse-moment-factory-drones Article on Moment Factory for The Drones World Tour 2015/16 by Vice]


{{Backto | Tour }}
{{Backto | Tour }}

Revision as of 21:33, 11 December 2019

Promotional poster for the first two dates of the tour in Mexico

A headlining tour in support of Drones, The Drones World Tour 2015/16 or the Drones 360 Tour, as it's sometimes called, officially began on November 17th, 2015 with two sold out gigs at Palacio de Los Deportes in Mexico City. Prior to the first concert, Muse have also released an official trailer for the Drones World Tour which can be seen here. The tour ended in 2016.



Information

Stage design
Smaller drones
The big drone
The Revolt Police

This was an indoor arena exclusive headlining tour, due to drones being used, the outdoor use of which was forbidden by the health and safety restrictions. The official beginning of the tour was on November 17th 2015 in Mexico City, and the tour lasted until summer of 2016.

This was the first time the band were performing in the middle of the arena on a 360 stage, with the audience surrounding them, giving them a 360 degree audio/visual experience.

According to Matt, this was their version of the famous Pink Floyd's The Wall.

Warm Up Gigs

The tour's warm up gigs took place on a short tour across Asia and South America in Autumn of 2015, including their first performance in mainland China. The warm up gigs' setlists had some basis for the main tour sets, with Psycho and Reapers as show openers and Voodoo Child being the main intro to SMBH. Warm up gigs also included Unsustainable, which wasn't played on the main tour.

The first warm up gig was in Beijing, China and the last one was in Bogotá, Columbia.

The stage design was the same as with the Drones Festivals Tour 2015. Opening acts included The Ruse for most of the Asian shows, Utopians for most of the South American shows and TELEBIT for the last show in Bogotá.

Stage/Production Design

The stage consisted of a round circle in the middle of the arena with two runways, spanning across the entire arena, each one with a bigger hammerhead stage on the end. The stage and the runways are low, , so the band can get intimate with the crowd, while the two hammerheads are at stage-level. Located underneath the two hammerheads are the tech bunkers. These smaller b-stages are also equipped with one raiser each (one for Chris and one for Matt and his piano). This is also the first Muse stage to feature no drum raiser, and Morgan's equipment is placed in a bunker/hole lowered into the stage, facing the other direction.

Above the main circle is a tube-shaped LCD screen, displaying some visuals, while other visuals can also be projected on transparent curtains, placed above the runways, which can lower or raise at any time during the concert. The visual aspects of the tour are held by Moment Factory, a Montreal-based new media and entertainment studio, which have worked on tours of various musical artists such as Bon Jovi, Madonna, Imagine Dragons and Nine Inch Nails as well as held their own visual art installations across the world.

The tour also includes 16 custom made self-controlled drones, or HFOs (High Flying Objects), as the crew call them, made in partnership with a Dutch company Path65. These drones are controlled by a custom written computer programs. Sensors, which help control them, are placed around the venues and were callibrated for each venue. These drones were, when not in use, "parked" on trusses above the stage. Alongside these 16 drones was a bigger inflatable drone, shaped like a military aircraft/drone, hovering above the audience during certain parts of songs such as the middle part of The Globalist. On the 5th night in Paris, two of the bigger drones, called "Reapers" were used. This was also the only time that they've used two instead of one. The big drone was sometimes refered to by fans as "The Dildrone".

According to Bellamy, they originally wanted each drone to have it's own projection on it (hence the matte-white drones they only used during the opening Mexico gigs in 2015), however that was technically impossible. They did however simulate how that would look using After Effects in the Drones World Tour movie.

During Mercy, confetti, shaped like "Drones" stick figures are deployed above the audience.

When the band enters the arena, they're secretly escorted into the arena as part of the "Revolt" police (several "actors" dressed as riot police from the Revolt music video with illuminating goggles).

Unlike previous tours, no CO2 streamers are used during or at the end of the show. The production also didn't allow Matt's feedback amp to be present on the stage, making this the first tour with no amps on stage.

During their stay in Brussels, instead of the usual place on the hovering construction above the stage, Drone stations had to be placed on the floor due to the height restrictions of the venue.

The 'Drones' Enchanced Experience Package

Part of the Drones World Tour MUSEum

The Enchanced Experience Package was a special VIP package containing one premium VIP ticket, early access to the venue, admission to the MUSEum, invitation to the pre-show party at the so called Starlight Lounge, one limited edition tour poster designed exclusively for the Enchanced Experience guests, one souvenir laminate and private merch shopping.

The MUSEum

The MUSEum was a travelling exhibition which was, as mentioned above, available to visit by buying the Enchanced Experience Package. This was the first tour to include the MUSEum.

The exhibition includes various memorabilia from Muse's previous tours, such as musical gearm costumes and VIP/crew passes.

The MUSEum was included again at the North American Summer Amphitheatre Tour in 2017.

Drones World Tour (Live Film)

The Drones World Tour movie was released on July 12th 2018 in cinemas all around the world. The movie was directed by Tom Kirk and Jan Willem Schram with additional direction and production by Hans-Peter Van Velthoven. It was produced by Corrino Studios. The movie is comprised of footage shot at four European shows in 2016, in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

More on the film here.

Average setlist

Encore

Notes

  • Several minor setlist changes were made during the first couple of gigs (such as Reapers opening and Psycho being the second track) of the tour, allthough the setlist have became consistent throughout the tour.
  • Drill Sergeant sometimes replaced Drones at the beginning at gigs where HFOs weren't used.

Gigs

Date Venue Location
2016-06-21 Olimpiyskiy Moscow, Russia
2016-06-17 Žalgirio Arena Kaunas, Lithuania
2016-06-16 Riga Arena Riga, Latvia
2016-06-14 Hartwall Arena Helsinki, Finland
2016-06-12 Telenor Arena Oslo, Norway
2016-06-11 Ericsson Globe Stockholm, Sweden
2016-06-09 Forum Copenhagen, Denmark
2016-06-08 Forum Copenhagen, Denmark
2016-06-06 Barclaycard Arena Hamburg, Germany
2016-06-04 O2 Arena Prague, Czech Republic
2016-06-03 Mercedes Benz Arena Berlin, Germany
2016-05-21 Mediolanum Forum Milan, Italy
2016-05-20 Mediolanum Forum Milan, Italy
2016-05-18 Mediolanum Forum Milan, Italy
2016-05-17 Mediolanum Forum Milan, Italy
2016-05-15 Mediolanum Forum Milan, Italy
2016-05-14 Mediolanum Forum Milan, Italy
2016-05-12 Hallenstadion Zurich, Switzerland
2016-05-11 Hallenstadion Zurich, Switzerland
2016-05-09 Wiener Stadthalle Vienna, Austria
2016-05-06 Barclaycard Center Madrid, Spain
2016-05-05 Barclaycard Center Madrid, Spain
2016-05-03 MEO Arena Lisbon, Portugal
2016-05-02 MEO Arena Lisbon, Portugal
2016-04-18 SSE Hydro Glasgow, Scotland
2016-04-17 SSE Hydro Glasgow, Scotland
2016-04-15 O2 Arena London, England
2016-04-14 O2 Arena London, England
2016-04-12 O2 Arena London, England
2016-04-11 O2 Arena London, England
2016-04-09 Manchester Arena Manchester, England
2016-04-08 Manchester Arena Manchester, England
2016-04-06 The SSE Arena Belfast, Northern Ireland
2016-04-05 3Arena Dublin, Ireland
2016-04-03 O2 Arena London, England
2016-04-02 Barclayard Arena Birmingham, England
2016-03-31 Olympiahalle Munich, Germany
2016-03-16 Palais 12 Brussels, Belgium
2016-03-15 Palais 12 Brussels, Belgium
2016-03-13 Palais 12 Brussels, Belgium
2016-03-12 Palais 12 Brussels, Belgium
2016-03-10 Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, Netherlands
2016-03-09 Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, Netherlands
2016-03-07 Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, Netherlands
2016-03-06 Lanxess Arena Cologne, Germany
2016-03-04 Bercy Arena Paris, France
2016-03-03 Bercy Arena Paris, France
2016-03-01 Bercy Arena Paris, France
2016-02-29 Bercy Arena Paris, France
2016-02-27 Bercy Arena Paris, France
2016-02-26 Bercy Arena Paris, France
2016-02-01 Verizon Center Washington, DC, USA
2016-01-31 Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA, USA
2016-01-29 Prudential Center Newark, NJ, USA
2016-01-27 Barclays Center Brooklyn, NY, USA
2016-01-25 TD Garden Boston, MA, USA
2016-01-23 Centre Vidéotron Quebec City, QC, Canada
2016-01-21 Centre Bell Montréal, QC, Canada
2016-01-20 Centre Bell Montréal, QC, Canada
2016-01-18 Centre Vidéotron Quebec City, QC, Canada
2016-01-16 Air Canada Centre Toronto, ON, Canada
2016-01-14 Joe Louis Arena Detroit, MI, USA
2016-01-13 United Center Chicago, IL, USA
2016-01-09 Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, NV, USA
2016-01-07 Valley View Casino Center San Diego, CA, USA
2015-12-19 Staples Center Los Angeles, CA, USA
2015-12-18 Staples Center Los Angeles, CA, USA
2015-12-16 Valley View Casino Center San Diego, CA, USA
2015-12-15 Oracle Arena Oakland, CA, USA
2015-12-13 Moda Center Portland, OR, USA
2015-12-12 KeyArena Seattle, WA, USA
2015-12-10 Rogers Arena Vancouver, BC, Canada
2015-12-06 Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, NV, USA
2015-12-05 Gila River Arena Phoenix, AZ, USA
2015-12-02 American Airlines Center Dallas, TX, USA
2015-12-01 Toyota Center Houston, TX, USA
2015-11-20 Palacio de los Deportes - 20th Mexico City, Mexico
2015-11-18 Palacio de los Deportes - 18th Mexico City, Mexico
2015-11-17 Palacio de los Deportes - 17th Mexico City, Mexico
2015-11-11 Los Angeles Sports Arena (Dress Rehearsal show) Los Angeles, CA, USA

See Also


Go back to Tour

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