The Times

Issue date: 5/9/08 Section: the Scene

Media Credit: Courtesy of Milwaukee Public Museum The Daniel M. Soref Planetarium is located in the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Normally, when somebody says the word "planetarium," you usually associate it with the images of sitting in a domed theatre, looking up at the night sky to try and find the constellation the tour guide is speaking of. The show Rock Stars, currently taking place at the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium, is anything but your normal planetarium experience.

The Digistar 3 planetarium computer system is located inside the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium and projects full-dome video in the IMAX theater. In addition, it features state-of-the-art digital imaging and 12,000 watts of surround sound, a necessity when attending any rock concert. During this performance, space scenes and bright organic patterns evoke the trippy heyday of the laser light show, while the auditorium resounds with the power chords of Rush's "Tom Sawyer," the frenzy of the Doors' hit "Break on Through" or the roots rock twang of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising." Watch as rock and roll comes to life in this full dome, high-resolution, digitally-animated show Rock Stars, an 11-song thrill ride for music lovers of all ages.

The 11 songs included in the show are Emerson, Lake and Palmer's "Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression pt. 2," The Doors' "Break on Through," Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising," "Purple Haze," by Jimi Hendrix, "Another Brick in the Wall pt. 2," by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin's "Good Times Bad Times," Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion," Rush's "Tom Sawyer," Midnight Oil's "Beds Are Burning," "Where the Streets Have No Name," by U2, and Metallica's "Enter Sandman."

"Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression, pt. 2" began the show by fading in during the short break of electronics that followed the main instrumental section of the piece, making it more straightforward and dynamic. This particular song still stands today as a classic progressive rock track, and begins with the lyrics, "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends." While these lyrics are being spoken, you feel like you are being transported in a small cart through a movie theater, up stairs, through the snack area, and finally ending up in front of a giant black movie screen.

The Doors' song "Break on Through" draws the listener in not only because of its Latin-derived opening, but also because immediately the lyrics indicate that something is different. These aspects of the song build with Ray Manzarek's throbbing bass pedals and Robbie Krieger's understated lead guitar. Suddenly, the band turns a corner and sonically explodes behind Morrison's frenetic led vocals, shouting, "Break on through to the other side." At this point during the show, a dazzling array of abstract images flash before your eyes, evoking the physical sensation of moving through space.

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