Get ready to enter the electrifying world of rock ‘n’ roll like never before! Rolling Stone and Illuminarium Las Vegas at AREA15 have launched Amplified, a groundbreaking 360-degree immersive spectacle, with the experience coming to NYC this week at ARTECHOUSE and across the pond in Barcelona this June.
This first-of-its-kind experience will engulf you in the sights, sounds, history, and culture of rock, featuring a mind-blowing collection of iconic photographs, videos, and legendary Rolling Stone covers from over 300 artists who shaped music history. Narrated by Kevin Bacon, prepare for a visual, historical, and sonic journey through rock music.
Immerse Yourself in the Sound and Vision of Rock
A 360-Degree Celebration of Rock ‘n’ Roll History
The experience premiered in Las Vegas at the AREA15 location in March with a rock-themed event. “It combines the cinematic immersion of Illuminarium with the immersive idea which was brought to us by Brad Siegel a little over two years ago,” Alan Greenberg, the SEO of Illuminarium, told audiences at the Illuminarium Las Vegas premiere event. “Brad wanted to tell the story of the music that changed our world. That changed everything. The story of Rock and Roll.”
Rare Footage and Iconic Imagery from Rolling Stone’s Archives
Unlike other immersive experiences, Amplified takes viewers on a journey through the sights, sounds, and feels of music history. From the dressing room to the stage, the experience guides visitors backstage. “How lucky are we to have Rolling Stone as our presenting partner,” Greenberg mused at the opening. “Rolling Stone, more than any medium in the world, has chronicled the emergence and the continued impact of Rock and Roll in society everywhere. This is the first time that they’ve put their name on an immersive experience.”
A Journey Through Rock’s Greatest Moments and Artists
Get ready to dive headfirst into the rock ‘n’ roll universe the second you walk in! Before the main event even starts, you can explore cool interactive stuff, snag some awesome rock memorabilia, and grab a drink to set the mood. 1 Then, you’ll embark on an incredible journey through eight different parts, each one diving deep into the legendary artists, the meaning behind their music, and how it totally changed everything – from fashion and cars to the fans and the whole culture. And get this: the whole experience is packed with powerful, electrifying pictures captured by some seriously amazing photographers who were right there in the thick of it all, just like the rock stars themselves!
Eight Transformative Chapters Exploring Rock’s Impact
“We at Random World Studios are storytellers, and we approached this from that point of view,” executive producer Brad Siegel told audiences. “We wanted to tell the story of rock and roll and its impact on popular culture through amazing photography, images, archival footage, and, of course, songs and music. Just the culture, everything about it that has impacted our lives in popular culture.”
Amplified, like many other Illuminarium productions, was a project years in the making, with meticulous attention to detail. “This journey started about two years ago when Alan and Chris gave us the opportunity to pitch some projects,” Siegel said of the project. “We chose music; we chose rock and roll because it was something that was near and dear to our hearts.”
Celebrating Iconic Artists and Their World-Changing Music
Despite a massive archive of footage, one of the main challenges was presenting the story while paring down the source material. “It started with researching photography and thousands and thousands of photographs,” Siegel told audiences. “Megan Manson, who had worked with Jod (Rolling Stone alum Jodi Peckman) for years, started with a tiny list of 10,000 photographs that she wanted to put in this show. We had to figure out that we could only use about 1,000.” As a result, viewers are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at some of rock music’s greatest performers through the ages.
