Click on the Music Gear Review banner above to return to the main page

Clowning around with Jason Rebello & Kipper on
 Sting's Brand New Day Tour

by Christopher Buttner

Click on images to enlarge

My Mackie T-shirt, featuring Sting's autograph on the ALL AREA ACCESS pass.  My lovely date was wearing that pass over her... ahem... when he signed it... hence the horrible handwriting.  (She's still trembling with emotion).

Christopher Buttner, Mackie Jedi Publicity Master reporting from the road again.  I caught up with Jason Rebello and Kipper, Sting's keyboardists, and their illustrious keyboard tech, Hopps, at the Chronicle Pavilion in Concorde, California, August 4, 2000.

The guys get down at the Chronicle Pavilion performance, in Concorde, California.

After ten months on the road, the guys in the band were a little
giddy and slap-happy.  But, Jason and Kipper  found a few ways to
(keep me in stitches and), let me document the trouble they get into
on a regular basis.  Thank goodness their keyboard tech, Hopps, was
around to bail them out, again, and again, and again...  Children
must play, as they say!

Jason Rebello, left, and Kipper, right, dare to play around with their Mackie CR1604 and 1604 VLZ Pro mixers when their trusted keyboard tech, Hopps, is not around.

"Maybe if we move these white ones up and down on the CR1604, and rotate the red ones on the 1604 VLZ Pro," says, Jason, "We can route a microphone signal out to the front-of-house system and place our orders for Fish-and-Chips without having to leave the stage!"  Kipper shouts, "Good Show, ole man!"

Jason shows his typical confident face proving that the dial he has chosen will produce the desired results and Kipper moves in to make his adjustments on his Mackie, as well.  Jason states, "Is this black thing on the gooseneck, with the light coming out of it, a light or a microphone, Kipper?"  Kipper sarcastically reminds Jason, "I don't do lights,  I just do sound, Mate."

Before the adjustments are fed back into the monitor system, Jason and Kipper seem to like what they are hearing. "Did we get our own gear to actually... work?",  Kipper states in amazement.  "Usually I just give myself a big shock whenever I touch anything... even if it's not plugged in... hence the hairdo and wild look in my eyes!"

A thorough sign of approval from Jason confirms to Kipper that they are making all the right adjustments.  Kipper agrees and Jason makes ready to feed the signal to the entire PA system.  "Get ready to order your Fish-and-Chips, Kipper!  Should I get you some extra tartar sauce?  Should I speak into microphone with the light coming out of it?"

"That's not it," Kipper warns.  "You just pressed the wrong button and now everything is too loud!  Listen to that amazing headroom!"  Jason freaks out and tries to correct the problem, showing great concern that his Fish-and-Chips order will be overcooked or confused with the Borscht and Broccoli Surprise with Cheese... again!

"Kipper!  Fix it, fix it, fix it!", yelps Jason!  "It's too loud!  No, not more Trim!  Turn it down!  Hopps will kick out butts for messing around with the Mackies again without parental supervision!"  Kipper yells, "I'm trying to turn it down it, but all these knobs!  What did you touch?  How does it work?  I knew I should have brought the manual out on the road with us!  I'm going to call the misses in London tomorrow and have her mail it to me ASAP!  Wait a minute!  What's the Mackie web page address? http://www.mackie.com?!  I will just download the instruction manual before we go on tonight!  Now that's great service!"

Suddenly, Hopps, Jason and Kipper's Nanny... I mean, Keyboard Tech, stumbles upon the scene and saves Jason and Kipper from themselves... again!  "What have I told you two?" Hopps scolds, "Jason, Kipper and electricity don't mix!"

Hopps solves the problem and everyone is happy.  "Now guys," Hopps reminds them, "If it gets too loud, bring down the slider that says, Main Mix!"  Kipper responds, "I knew the Mackie mixer was great, but I didn't know it could talk!"  Irregardless of Kipper's goofiness, everyone is happy they won't be sleeping in the luggage bay of the tour bus again for getting too slap-happy after being on the road for ten months!

Jason and Kipper agree, "We really love our Mackies... even though we don't know what we're doing!  They never break after now being to ten countries in as many months, and we have Hopps to turn them on, make adjustments, and... save our butts all the time!"  Hopps thinks for a moment and then says, "Hey guys! Let's try something.  I have an idea how to let you listen to what you want to hear through the Mackies, without driving everyone nuts!"

Hopps' solution keeps Jason and Kipper out of trouble and happy as can be.

Kipper looking busy.

Sting and Jason in the spotlight during the opening number.

Sting grooves with the band.

    Click Here To Return To The Music Gear Review Home Page