Dwarfing The Claw

U2’s current stage setup, the “Claw,” is being called the largest set piece in the history of live pop music shows, but the Irish rockers have nothing on veteran Japanese band Glay, which unveiled the Hotel Glay stage set at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium the weekend of Aug. 15.

Their two shows attracted about 150,000 fans.

The band is celebrating its 15th anniversary with the bombastic Great Vacation tour, of which Hotel Glay is an important part.

The set, which cost about ¥1.5 billion ($16 million) is based on a hotel motif and is 100 meters wide and 30 meters high.

Moreover, it incorporates a 500-meter stage extension that completely encircles the stadium, allowing the members of the band to move through all sections of the audience.

The tour proper begins Nov. 21 and will include stops in 14 cities throughout Japan.

Here’s a link to a photo of the Hotel Glay stage, from the band’s MySpace profile.

Check here for our story about U2’s stage.