Music Meets Additive Manufacturing? Klaxons Unveil ‘3D Printed Tour’

There is no shortage of interest in jumping on the 3D printing bandwagon, and the UK band Klaxons are the latest to tap into the hype.

The London-based outfit has announced that they will take to the stage in their forthcoming tour, with a full complement of equipment – including guitars, keyboards, microphones, amps, lights and even the wiring – that has been manufactured using 3D printing technology.

The London-based outfit has always enjoyed messing around with technology – they’ve made a name layering electronica around a backbone of jangly indie rock after all – so this is just the latest stage in their metamorphosis towards musical ‘nerdvana’, right?

Sadly (at least for those of us excited by 3D printing) it seems that all is not as it first appears. After watching the video posted on the NME – which must surely be in on the joke – it quickly becomes clear that it is being played for laughs.

“Wow, it’s kind of just like a real guitar but … not,” says guitarist Simon Taylor-Davis as he looks quizzically at one of the 3D-printed exhibits. Meanwhile, the company apparently commissioned to create the kit – SJA 3D Printing – seems to be made up, and the entire production is reminiscent of the original UK series of The Office.

“We were looking for something for the tour, something big, something fresh, so why not 3D printing,” says bassist and vocalist Jamie Reynolds.  I guess you can’t argue with that!

Kudos to Klaxons for finding a novel way to promote their new album ‘Love Frequency’ and their UK tour, as well as for taking us in (at least temporarily) and reminding us that hyping any technology generally just exposes it to ridicule. Regardless of their intentions, this publicity stunt just goes to show us all how intertwined in our society 3D printing has become.  It’s clearly the buzzword of several marketing campaigns, some legitimate, while others a joke.

Klaxons’ 3D Printed Tour starts in October. Meanwhile, you can listen to the new album on The Guardian website ahead of its official release on June 16.  Discuss this story in the 3DPB.com forum thread for Klaxon’s ‘3D Printed Tour”.  Check out the promo video released by the band touting their tour below.