“Freaks on Parade Tour” Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Ministry, and Filter

September 30, 2023 Sunray Magazine

The Talking Stick Amphitheater was host to one of the most talked-about tours this year, ‘Freaks on Parade’.
Last Sunday September 24, with headliner Rob Zombie and supporting acts Alice Cooper, Ministry, and Filter coming to Phoenix, AZ, to get their freak on! It looked like a sold-out crowd of 20,000 people were in attendance by the time Alice Cooper went on until Rob Zombie ended the night. This was a packed lineup, and each band complemented one another.

Filter opened up the night and once again didn’t disappoint. Every time I’ve seen Filter over the years, they still throw down like when they first came onto the scene. I’m always amazed by Richard’s vocal range, as it’s beautiful, but he also has that aggressive tone.

Ministry was up next, and it was a true highlight of the night. Uncle Al walked out to the stage and told everyone, “We are going to just party and have fun tonight.” That’s exactly what they did in Ministry fashion. Honestly, they were on point with every song on their set list. Ministry destroyed that stage and didn’t leave any ounce of regret on that stage.

The infamous and phoenix native was up next, the one and only Alice Cooper. The original shock rocker! The venue was packed, the sun was down, and it was time for some debauchery. Alice Cooper hasn’t skipped a beat in his entire career, and from what everyone saw Sunday night, there’s no slowing him down at this point. His on-stage antics and voice are still at the top, and his stage presence is still larger than life.

It was finally time for Rob Zombie and co. to take the stage. This is one artist who has never disappointed with his live show. The set list was a blast from the past and kept the energy flowing for all the freaks in the crowd. Opening up with ‘The Triumph of King Freak’ Zombie came out with this giant skull that stood at least 10 feet tall, with Zombie in big, bold letters at the very top of it. The energy that Zombie brings to every show is unmatched, as he never stops! He’s literally running back and forth the whole time, swinging that long hair in every direction, all while never skipping a lyric. Zombie ran through all his hits and made this night special for everyone in attendance. While speaking to the crowd during ‘What Lurks on Channel X’, he personally declared this a freak party, and everyone here needs to let their freak flag fly! Professionalism is sometimes lost with this bigger artist, and with Zombie, you get nothing but the purest form of professionalism. During Thunderkiss 65, Riggs guitar wasn’t working properly and had to go backstage multiple times after starting the opening riff. (I’m sure you hear it in your head.) Zombie made some jokes that Riggs didn’t actually want to play the song and joked around with the crowd about how all the cell phone lights made Riggs disappear from the stage. Everything about the Zombies live show is a spectacle; it’s always bigger than life and pulls you in, no matter how far away you’re. The production value is top-notch, from giant UFOS and robots to massive LED screens and the giant demon chasing him around on stage.