Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Ministry and Filter Bring Freaks On Parade Tour To West Palm Beach

A packed house, a killer clown, a presidential candidate in a straight jacket, Marie Antoinette and a guillotine?  Just another day at the office for the Freaks On Parade.

As if things just need to be bigger and better since the first full year out of lockdowns and masks, the Freaks on Parade show is massive.  Not just because the entire line up are metal power houses, but also because they are traveling with huge sets to smaller venues.  The amount of logistics used just to make this work was incredible.  Visually stunning and engaging, this show is put on by artists that are just thrilled to be out and about.  This is a dream line up from beginning to end.

The show opened with a near perfect set from Filter.  The band is out supporting their latest offering, The Algorithm. Richard Patrick was vocal perfection, hitting every single note including the high aiming ones in “Hey Man Nice Shot”.   Jonny Radtke plays with an effortless ease. Id’ love to see a bit more action in motion, but that is the photographer speaking.  Most people got engaged from sheer excitement at seeing Filter live and certainly weren’t disappointed.

Ministry is always just a great, full on show, even if I couldn’t see through the fog machine for half of my allotted photo time.  From a few rows back, I’m positive it was gorgeous, but while photo pit all of the fog settled on me and the other photographers.  Still, we managed to shoot during the small breaks in between blasts.  The fog is a necessary evil when daylight prevents the colored lights from being seen otherwise.  I have a love hate relationship with that trickery. 

Al Jourgensen, was mesmerizing.  At times, I found myself entranced and had to remind myself to walk around to take additional photos of the rest of the band.  I found I liked them more today than in the past.  Maybe it’s the personalities, or just the polish, but someone actually commented that I looked as if I was having the “time of (my) your life up there”.   I really was.  I needed the energy boost having had a twenty four hour day that ended that morning.  I bounced out of the pit after the third song feeling renewed.

What can I say about Alice Cooper except this was a bucket list shoot.  I’ve been trying to catch up with his tours for about ten years now.  Timing was always off.  I would be in one city, he would be in another.  COVID reared its ugly head, and pit restrictions began at several festivals that he has played previously.  The tours themselves stayed limited, and the FINALLY… BLISS! 

This is the always larger than life artist I grew up on.  My older sister, also names Alice, was enamored with him as a teenager and well into her adult life.  Having passed away at the age I am now, I felt somewhat connected to her at this show.  I kept thinking how much she would have loved being there.  Maybe she was in spirit.  I had to ditch my cameras in the office of the venue and go to my seat for the entire set.  It was worth it. 

The man is a consummate entertainer.  He gave us everything he had.  All of it.  He never ages either.  Sure, maybe if you do a side by side comparison of photos you may see it, but there is an odd magnetism to a man who ages gracefully.  It could be a result of walking away from alcohol, or his strong family ties and support system, but I surely wouldn’t thing that this man bouncing all over the stage wielding swords, crutches and performing in a straight jacket in sweltering heat was three quarters of a century old.

He surround himself with incredible musicians as well.  Beginning with possibly the most recognizable of the group, and current cover of Guitar Player magazine, Nita Straus, is absolutely everything she has been hyped to be.  She is a powerhouse musician who knows her craft.  You could hold her up to almost anyone present or past and say she is brilliant.  It’s odd that much of the press mentions “female” in their description.  I feel it may be justification for her success, but I assure you it isn’t.    Yes, she is stunningly beautiful.  There isn’t retouching on her photos, I can confirm this having seen her up close and personal.  However, I think she doesn’t get the true recognition she deserves for just being one of the all-time greatest rifsters out there. ( Yes I made that word up I hope is sticks).  Her fret work and hammering is just so fast you can’t possibly keep up. 

That all being said, Chuck Garric, on bass has a pretty tight resume as well.  Playing with L. A Guns, Beasto Blanco ( Calico Cooper’s Band), Don Felder and several more, this man has the chops.  He has a huge personality on stage. 

Tommy Henriksen, who also plays in the Alice Cooper fronted supergroup The Hollywood Vampires is equally talented, and has the charisma to back it up. There is certainly a well deserved reason he is in a supergroup.  He was a ton of fun to photograph, and when  and when the guitar solos finally began is was evident the entire band was super tight.

Ryan Roxie, has a resume dating back to 1977.  With superior talent and a flare for some great hats, you can’t miss him.  I would list every project he has been involved in, but it wouls take me two days.  Let’s just say he’s busy, and busy for a reason.  A talented guitarist who is always in demand.

Rounding out, and often overlooked because he’s way in the back behind all the flash, is Glen Sobel.  Everyone overlooks the drummer.  They probably shouldn’t.  His resume is an eclectic list of Hollywood Elite and metal artists, and well as the unexpected Weird Al Yakovic.

I was thrilled to see Alice Cooper perform “I Want To Be Elected” in his straight jacket after being “beheaded” by his wife dressed as Marie Antoinette.  It must work for them because they have been married for forty seven years.  The family  that slays together, stay together.

Rob Zombie was a great choice of closer.  His set was huge, and even some well placed pyro.  He knows how to enthrall a crowd and keep them engaged. He is quite the showman.    He doesn’t tire out. 

Piggy D. As always keeps me on my toes and quite frankly scared.  He rarely breaks character and plays up his current persona to its limits.  Editing the photos for this article was done with all the lights on. Yikes.  Mike Riggs has rejoined  Zombie after John 5 left for his tenure with Motley Crue.  As always, Ginger Fish played it well hiding behind his drum kit and the large platform until after the photographers were out of the pit.  All.in all it was a great night.

L