A contract for the whole world tour
In May 2005, production director Jake Berry asked Mojo Barriers to supply barriers for the Rolling Stones' US dates, starting in August 2005. Mojo Barriers had worked with the Rolling Stones before, and the job grew into a contract for the entire A Bigger Bang world tour.
On the road, tour production manager Dale ‘Opie’ Skjerseth looked after the daily business.
I have worked with Mojo Barriers for a long time with lots of artists and they’ve always given me excellent service. … You know what you’re going to get: good barriers and consistently good service with some-one always available if we need support.
Having worked with the (Rolling) Stones before, we were delighted to be awarded the contract to supply barriers for the whole Bigger Bang World Tour.
Stadiums, arenas and Copacabana Beach
For the US stadium shows Mojo supplied 220 metres of black aluminium barrier. It let Opie create a specially shaped front-of-stage line that ran around the thrust and took in a B-stage 40 metres from the main stage.
From August to December the band played stadiums and arenas across the US. The indoor shows used 120 metres of black aluminium barrier. After Christmas the same indoor system went on to more shows in the US and South America, including a free concert on Copacabana Beach for nearly two million fans. After the final US show in New York in March 2006, the system was shipped to Europe.
Three systems for Japan, Australia and New Zealand
For the shows in Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Mojo supplied three separate systems of 250 metres of steel Mojo Barriers. These barriers were normally based in Australia and operated by ESS Australia, working with the team at Mojo's head office in the Netherlands.
Europe: a delay, then 17 stadium shows
Just before the European leg, Keith Richards' well-documented fall from a coconut tree meant shows were rescheduled and some were cancelled. In the middle of the outdoor season, Mojo worked closely with Opie on contingency plans to store and move the barriers.
When the tour restarted in early July, Mojo supplied 350 metres of black aluminium barrier for 17 European stadium shows, including the Amsterdam Arena. For the next US leg, from September to Thanksgiving in Hawaii, the 220-metre system was shipped back to the United States.
