by Tamara Igleheart
— Photojournalist —
On Friday, August 12, 2022, thousands of heavy Metal fans let their freak flags fly as the monstrous Freaks on Parade tour swept through Southern California and made a stop at Fivepoint Amphitheater in Irvine. Featuring NuMetal heavyweights Powerman 5000, Static-X, Mudvayne, and King Freak himself, Rob Zombie, this show was one for the history books. Each band gave an amazing performance and proved once again why they’ve made it this far in their respective careers.
Powerman 5000 was first to take the stage at Fivepoint Amphitheater, and they did a fantastic job of warming up the crowd. Spider One is a great performer and frontman and displayed incredible energy throughout their set. Newcomer guitarist Dan Schiz played masterfully and showed that he has what it takes to play with some of the best musicians in the business. The band has a commanding presence and the audience was jumping and singing along throughout their time on stage.
Static-X was next to perform, and their arrival on stage was met with cheers. Although they only had time for a short set, they made sure to play some of their greatest hits, including “Wisconsin Death Trip,” “Cold,” and “Push It.” Though no one can replace the late, great Wayne Static, frontman Xer0 was a terrific choice to take up the mask and fill in. Static-X is still going strong after time, loss, and uncertainty.
After a 12-year touring hiatus, Mudvayne took the stage in Irvine as part of the Freaks on Parade tour. This is the first time the band has toured since 2010, but when they started playing, it was like no time had passed at all. Chad Gray is one of the best frontmen in the metal genre, and he ran around the stage like he never stopped. Dressed in white overalls and covered in fake blood, he had the fans in Irvine jumping, singing, and screaming along with him for their entire set. They played for a little over an hour, and made sure to cover a lot of their discography, including songs such as “Dig,” “Determined,” “Nothing to Gein,” and “Happy?”. Mudvayne was the perfect choice as direct support for the headliner.
After a few hours of bona fide heavy metal, the one and only Rob Zombie closed out the show and played for a sea of people at FivePoint Amphitheater. With Rob standing on top of a giant riser with a skull and the word “Zombie” on it, the band began the first song, “The Triumph of King Freak.” Coming back down to the stage, Rob Zombie was a blur while performing, and it was clear he’s been able to hold onto the vitality he’s had since the beginning of his career. John 5 and Piggy D were excellent as always on guitar and bass, and Ginger Fish was a phenom on drums. It is always a pleasure to watch this group of musicians, as they work well together and are extremely talented. A legend and a metal household name, Rob Zombie continues to rock stages and melt faces.
The Freaks on Parade tour featured an outstanding lineup of bands, and those who made it out to one of the stops were treated to a freakishly awesome night of Metal.
Freaks on Parade Concert Photo Gallery
