Freaks On Parade 2024: The Return of Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper

By Soleil Caouette

Music Journalist

On September 14th, Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper performed the last leg of their 2024 tour with special guests Ministry and Filter at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater. If you know anything about Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper, then you know they love to give their fans an incredibly theatrical show. Rob Zombie, known for his horror films like “House of 1000 Corpses” and “The Devil’s Reject”, captivated his audience with crazy alien visuals and an insane stage presence. Before I even decided to go, videos circulated on my social media feed with mind-blowing performances sung by Mr. Zombie, and I just knew I had to get on it and see him live. The amphitheater was jam-packed with people ranging from 8 to 70 years old, and it was exciting to see the different people all enjoying the same kind of music.  

Alice Cooper is a 76-year-old legend who has been in the music industry for about sixty years. He pretty much created the theatrical performance in the heavy metal and rock genre, gifting him the name of “the godfather of shock rock”. Alice Cooper’s set was insane to watch with elaborate characters trying to kill him, a boa constrictor, and a guillotine performance. Everyone’s jaws flew open during “Feed My Frankenstein”, when a huge Frankenstein came out on stilts and was running around the stage. It reminded me of those weird moving animatronics at Spirit Halloween! His overall set was backed by the guitar icon, Nita Strauss, who was the guitarist for Lia-Fail at Vans Warped Tour when she was only 15 years old, and honestly, she stole the entire show. Her crazy guitar solos and dramatic acting made the crowd louder each time she came out. Cooper’s persona has a way of enticing the audience with his goofy costumes and intense drama with every song that is performed.  

Rob Zombie came out very last standing on a high platform with a crazy skull-looking mic stand. You can tell everyone at this show came for Zombie because of the intensity felt in the crowd. Smoke filled the front of the stage, sirens were going off, and everyone knew “Channel X” was about to play. Teenagers and older adults were forming Xs with their arms while they chanted the words to this song. The teenagers were starting to mosh, while the older adults backed up and began to watch in awe. It seemed like they were transported back to the good old days when they would go to hardcore shows in college.  

 The drummer, Ginger Fish, came out right above him on an elevated drum set which was eye-catching to the audience. Psychedelic visuals filled the screens, and that’s when the crowd got excited. Zombie is known for his over-the-top technical displays during his performances and his horror-themed outfits and mic stands. Not only was he singing all of his songs with an energy that could fill an entire stadium, but Zombie knows a cool set design I mean if you have seen his movies, you know what I am talking about.