Alan "Goat" Owen

Showco Lighting Designer • Production Designer

Alan "Goat" Owen was one of Showco's most respected lighting designers and a creative force behind some of the most groundbreaking concert productions of the 1980s. Best known as Genesis' longtime lighting designer and production designer, Goat helped shape the visual identity of one of rock's most innovative live acts.

Known for his creativity, technical expertise, and larger-than-life personality, Goat earned a reputation for designing productions that pushed the boundaries of what audiences expected from a live concert experience.

One of the defining moments of his career came with Genesis' groundbreaking Abacab Tour (1981), the first major concert tour to feature the earliest Vari-Lite automated lighting fixtures. The tour marked a turning point in concert lighting history and introduced audiences to a technology that would forever change live entertainment.

Goat expanded those ideas even further on the legendary Mama Tour (1983–1984). His ambitious lighting design featured approximately 150 Vari-Lite fixtures arranged across a distinctive pie-shaped truss, supported by hundreds of conventional PAR lights and powerful Super Trouper followspots. At full scale, the lighting system weighed more than six tons and demonstrated that automated lighting could become an integral part of the performance itself—not simply illuminate it.

Months before the tour began, Goat worked closely with Genesis to develop the overall production design, creating a visual experience that perfectly complemented the band's music. The resulting show became one of the most influential lighting productions of its era and helped establish moving lights as a permanent part of modern concert touring.

Beyond his technical achievements, Goat was beloved throughout the touring community for his humor, kindness, and unforgettable personality. Whether designing spectacular productions or creating laughter backstage, he left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Sadly, Alan "Goat" Owen passed away from cancer in 1996. His influence continues to shine on stages around the world, and his work remains an important chapter in both Showco's history and the evolution of concert lighting.

Goat was survived in memory by his twin daughters, Kate and Angela, and their mother, Cathy. Sadly, both Kate and Cathy have also since passed away.

Legends never fade.