Empire of the Sun: A Day in the Life
Time for the Emperor to go exploring.
By LUKE STEELE
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Getting Ready
I always cut my hair before a show. It makes me feel sharp and renewed.
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On My Second Pot of Coffee
I need about 20 coffees to get going these days.
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Time for a Break
Heading down to the pool.
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Heading Poolside
I was pretty excited to hear they have a wave pool. Should have brought my board.
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Just Rented a Private Cabana
Catching some rays and rest before tonight's show. Not something I usually get time to do when on the road.
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Overdressed
I was maybe a little overdressed for the pool.
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I Stayed Up All Night
. . . but I wasn't so lucky!
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Shopping
Do you have these in empire blue?
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The Day of the Show
I went for a wander the day of the show through the Mandalay Bay Hotel shopping quarter and found this store called Eltons. Picked up a pair of imported patent loafers from the mountains of Italy.
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Shopping at Mandalay Bay
The Emperor's new clothes!
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Checking in at the Hotel
Checking in at Mandalay Bay. Beautiful prints fill the back walls of the counters.
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Channeling Guns N’ Roses
I bought this giant American flag in New York next to Carnegie Deli. I'm thinking of Guns N' Roses and channeling my childhood. Tone Loc and Miss Uganda are in the background discussing my latest fashion faux pas.
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Heading to the Desert
On our beloved tour bus heading out to the desert for the madness that is EDC Las Vegas.
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Action Shot
One of our four GoPro cameras in action. We try to document as much as possible or else it just becomes a big blur.
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Security Check
Police board the tour bus and search all the bags for weapons!
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My Guitar of Sacrifice
I graffiti my guitar of sacrifice each night. They're like messages – pieces of a puzzle for the fans.
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Personalizing the Guitar
I love chunky markers!
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Hours of Prep
We like to get to the shows four to five hours before we head on stage, to really sink into the impulses of the festival.
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Pre-Show Warm Up
Sid Sidhu and myself in a pre-show warm up. We have all kinds of rituals to sharpen our focus. . . .
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Waiting and Focusing
The guitar, just waiting, focusing. . . .
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Right Before the Show
Backstage waiting to head onstage. I always become completely blank at this point.
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Silhouette Wailing
I love the colors and images of the visuals behind us: It's like a giant TV.
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The Emperor Stripped Down
A rare moment. It was 100 degrees out there. It was hot!
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Ready for Takeoff
Miss Uganda and Lightning in Lux ready for takeoff.
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We Are the People
Our famous pink "We Are the People" guitars, with twin necks and intense LED circuitry.
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Going Out With a Bang!
The Empire from the the speedway grandstand.
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A New Ice World
The Emperor in his new ice world.