Band in a Bubble
Encyclopedia
Band in a Bubble was a TV show that consists of round-the-clock live broadcasting, during which a band spends an extended period of time inside a "bubble," writing and recording an album. The Band in a Bubble concept was created by Paul Curtis, a band manager, tour promoter, owner of Valve Records
, and visual artist based in Australia. The concept was developed in conjunction with Australian rock band Regurgitator
and XYZ Networks.
s, the idiosyncratic way Regurgitator recorded albums, and by the idea of the insular artistic recording process, juxtaposed against the extroverted performer and how that might impact on the creative mindset. Curtis initially failed to convince Regurgitator of the merits of his idea, and it was set aside for a number of years. Quan Yeomans, the band's guitarist, noted that he became more open to the idea of being in a bubble after seeing David Blaine
's magic stunt. Yeomans told The Age, "I happened to be there when David Blaine did his stunt over the Thames, and I just thought, 'wouldn't it be interesting if he was doing something creative, as opposed to just sitting around doing nothing?'"
With the band's interest now confirmed, Curtis approached a number of television and media outlets, eventually finalizing an agreement with Channel V Australia
. The first Band in a Bubble was organized in Federation Square
in Melbourne
, Australia
. Regurgitator holed up inside the glass bubble for a period of three weeks, during which they recorded the album Mish Mash!
The staging began on August 31, 2004.
The activity inside the bubble could be viewed in several ways. In person, people could watch through the bubble's walls. Cameras positioned inside the bubble offered footage that was displayed on several large LCD screens in Federation Square and broadcast on a dedicated 24 hour digital channel on the pay-tv networks Foxtel
and Austar
, on digital channel 802. Channel V also carried a daily half-hour highlight show, hosted by VJ Jabba. After three weeks, the band emerged from the bubble and performed their new songs live to a large audience in Federation Square.
Yeomans' mother Lien, a popular Vietnamese cook and author, prepared food for the band during their stay. The food was delivered to the band through a hatch, which also served as a way for Curtis to communicate with them. An audio link-up was also located on the other side of the bubble so that visiting musicians and fans could talk to the band or record guest spots on the record. Yumi Stynes
, another popular Channel V VJ and the partner of Regurgitator's Ben Ely, was a frequent guest and interviewer.
Following the Melbourne event, the concept was licensed for development internationally by subsidiaries of Endemol
, the television production company responsible for such shows as Big Brother (TV series) and Deal or No Deal. Plans were soon announced for Band in a Bubble" in the US and Europe.
and featured the pop-punk band Cartel
. The show was developed in a partnership with MTV
, Dr Pepper
, and the band's label, Epic Records
. The show was launched on May 24, 2007.
The bubble was set up at Hudson River Park
's Pier 54
. As before, fans were able to stop by the bubble and watch the band through the building's windows. 23 webcams were set up around the bubble and could be viewed via MTV.com and drpepperbubble.com. MTV broadcast four half-hour specials. During the series, the group Cartel recorded the follow-up to their 2005 debut album Chroma
.
The bubble was created using 55,000 pounds of steel truss and quarter-inch-thick fireproof rigid fiberglass
. The bubble contained a 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) recording studio, as well as a kitchen, dining room, lounge area, and bathroom. The band's sleeping area was on the top level, which was held nine feet in the air by airplane hangar cables.
On June 3, 2007 Cartel's front window was broken by striking winds coming from Pier 54, exactly ten days after they had first entered the bubble.
The staging concluded on June 12, when the band exited the bubble and performed the new album live.
Valve Records
Valve Records is an Australian record label, releasing a wide range of alternative artists both local and international. The label was created by Paul Curtis in 1994 to support the local bands he was managing...
, and visual artist based in Australia. The concept was developed in conjunction with Australian rock band Regurgitator
Regurgitator
Regurgitator are an Australian rock band from Brisbane, currently consisting of Quan Yeomans , Ben Ely and Peter Kostic . The band formed in 1994, its original line-up consisting of Yeomans, Ely and drummer Martin Lee...
and XYZ Networks.
Regurgitator - Melbourne (2004)
Curtis developed the idea in 1999 as an art oriented recording project. It was conceptually stimulated by biosphereBiosphere
The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems. It can also be called the zone of life on Earth, a closed and self-regulating system...
s, the idiosyncratic way Regurgitator recorded albums, and by the idea of the insular artistic recording process, juxtaposed against the extroverted performer and how that might impact on the creative mindset. Curtis initially failed to convince Regurgitator of the merits of his idea, and it was set aside for a number of years. Quan Yeomans, the band's guitarist, noted that he became more open to the idea of being in a bubble after seeing David Blaine
David Blaine
David Blaine is an American illusionist and endurance artist. He is best known for his high-profile feats of endurance, and has made his name as a performer of street and close-up magic. He has set and broken several world records...
's magic stunt. Yeomans told The Age, "I happened to be there when David Blaine did his stunt over the Thames, and I just thought, 'wouldn't it be interesting if he was doing something creative, as opposed to just sitting around doing nothing?'"
Channel V Australia
Channel [V] Australia is an Australian subscription television music channel, and also the newest Channel [V] channel. It is available on Foxtel, Optus TV and Austar satellite and cable services...
. The first Band in a Bubble was organized in Federation Square
Federation Square
Federation Square is a civic centre and cultural precinct in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Regurgitator holed up inside the glass bubble for a period of three weeks, during which they recorded the album Mish Mash!
Mish Mash!
Mish Mash! is the fifth full-length release from Regurgitator and was released on November 15, 2004.The album was the result of the "Band in a Bubble" project, a new reality TV-inspired media stunt sponsored and broadcast by Australian music channel, Channel V...
The staging began on August 31, 2004.
The activity inside the bubble could be viewed in several ways. In person, people could watch through the bubble's walls. Cameras positioned inside the bubble offered footage that was displayed on several large LCD screens in Federation Square and broadcast on a dedicated 24 hour digital channel on the pay-tv networks Foxtel
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
and Austar
Austar
Austar is an Australian telecommunications company. Its main business activity is Subscription Television but it is also involved with internet access and mobile phones...
, on digital channel 802. Channel V also carried a daily half-hour highlight show, hosted by VJ Jabba. After three weeks, the band emerged from the bubble and performed their new songs live to a large audience in Federation Square.
Yeomans' mother Lien, a popular Vietnamese cook and author, prepared food for the band during their stay. The food was delivered to the band through a hatch, which also served as a way for Curtis to communicate with them. An audio link-up was also located on the other side of the bubble so that visiting musicians and fans could talk to the band or record guest spots on the record. Yumi Stynes
Yumi Stynes
Yumi Tasma Stynes is a television presenter for an Australian morning show The Circle and television channel Max.-Early life:...
, another popular Channel V VJ and the partner of Regurgitator's Ben Ely, was a frequent guest and interviewer.
Following the Melbourne event, the concept was licensed for development internationally by subsidiaries of Endemol
Endemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
, the television production company responsible for such shows as Big Brother (TV series) and Deal or No Deal. Plans were soon announced for Band in a Bubble" in the US and Europe.
Cartel - New York City (2007)
Endemol's first staging of Band in the Bubble took place in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and featured the pop-punk band Cartel
Cartel (band)
Cartel is a American pop rock band from Conyers, Georgia that formed in 2003. The band is best known for their single "Honestly", featured on their 2005 debut album Chroma, and for their 2007 appearance on MTV's Band in a Bubble....
. The show was developed in a partnership with MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper is a soft drink, marketed as having a unique flavor. The drink was created in the 1880s by Charles Alderton of Waco, Texas and first served around 1885. Dr Pepper was first nationally marketed in the United States in 1904 and is now also sold in Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Australia ...
, and the band's label, Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. The show was launched on May 24, 2007.
Hudson River Park
Hudson River Park is a waterside park on the Hudson River that extends from 59th Street south to Battery Park in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Bicycle and pedestrian paths, including the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, span the park north to south, opening up the waterfront for...
's Pier 54
Pier 54
Pier 54 in New York City is a former Cunard Line pier that is associated with the 1912 RMS Titanic and 1915 RMS Lusitania maritime disasters. It is now part of Hudson River Park.-Chelsea Piers:...
. As before, fans were able to stop by the bubble and watch the band through the building's windows. 23 webcams were set up around the bubble and could be viewed via MTV.com and drpepperbubble.com. MTV broadcast four half-hour specials. During the series, the group Cartel recorded the follow-up to their 2005 debut album Chroma
Chroma (album)
-Credits:* Nic Hudson – guitar* Julia Kugel – backing vocals* Kenneth Mount – programming* Zack Odom – strings* Joseph Pepper – guitar* Will Pugh – vocals, guitar, piano, programming* Ryan Roberts – bass* Kevin Sanders – drums* David Webers – trumpet...
.
The bubble was created using 55,000 pounds of steel truss and quarter-inch-thick fireproof rigid fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
. The bubble contained a 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) recording studio, as well as a kitchen, dining room, lounge area, and bathroom. The band's sleeping area was on the top level, which was held nine feet in the air by airplane hangar cables.
On June 3, 2007 Cartel's front window was broken by striking winds coming from Pier 54, exactly ten days after they had first entered the bubble.
The staging concluded on June 12, when the band exited the bubble and performed the new album live.