A new business entity was announced on Jan. 11 capable of sustaining international live shows that feature artificial 3D holograms of famous performers. Base Hologram will be going on the road in Britain and Europe with its virtual Roy Orbison hologram, coming to the U.S. in Sept. Although virtual performers still have their skeptics, Orbison's family is confident. "We want to share and spread music as an art, but we also always tell ourselves 'never bet against Orbison,'" the multiple GRAMMY-winner's son Alex told Billboard.
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Parent company Base Entertainment has depth of production experience and believes they stand out from competitors like Eyellusion and Hologram USA for their showmanship. The budding industry finds itself in a race to use the technology affordably and effectively, focused on the theatrical live music experience.
On the Orbison tour, Base Hologram's team of fewer than 10 techs, relying on their Epson laser projector, will set up rapidly then rehearse and perform with local orchestras while touring, ensuring the thrill of live sound's force blended with digital remasters of Orbison's vocals that are tweaked to mix magnificently.
In addition to Orbison, Base Hologram is also preparing live concerts with virtual Maria Callas, an opera soprano with several things in common with Orbison. Both artists are Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipients for their remarkable influence and accomplishments. Both artists also have a fan base that seems to repopulate itself — nostalgia is just a starting point because their art has remained contagious. And both of them are going back on the road, virtually.
The 2018 schedule for "In Dreams — Roy Orbison In Concert" kicks off in the U.K. and Europe in April, goes down under to Australia for May, and then arrives in the U.S. come Sept. Booking announcements for "Callas In Concert" as well as other planned events are anticipated soon.
