Episode 8: Ray Winkler

Today’s guest is Ray Winkler: architect, designer, and CEO at STUFISH Entertainment Architects, who has helped conceive and shape The Rolling Stones’ live stages for over 30 years.

Mentored by the late Mark Fisher, Ray began working with him in the mid-1990s at the company that would later evolve into STUFISH, before joining the Stones’ touring family for the first time on the ‘Bridges To Babylon’ tour. From that point on, he became central to translating the band’s identity into vast, immersive stage environments.

In this episode, Ray talks about the trust required to design for a band like the Stones, and the collaborative process behind some of their most ambitious stages. He reflects on how ideas move from sketch to steel, and the lessons learned from Mark Fisher about clarity, discipline, and knowing when to simplify. Ray also shares what it’s like responding to the band’s instincts, adapting designs as tours evolve, and how keeping up with technology, sustainability, and audience expectations is future-proofing the company.

Having also worked with Adele, Elton John, U2, ABBA, and Beyoncé, it’s a fascinating insight into the man in demand behind the spectacle.

Follow STUFISH on Instagram.

Lip Service is produced and presented by Simon Harper.

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