Rob Zombie and His Merry Band of Freaks Parade Through Toronto in an All Out Smash
- jaybroderick
- 8 minutes ago
- 9 min read
By: Jay Broderick
Toronto, Canada - As we were becoming men in the late 1980s, early 1990s, we spent a lot of time in our buddy Carey, or Jon's basements. Amongst the rituals was alcohol, watching comedy TV like In Living Color and Get a Life and of course, our fill of MuchMusic's Power Hour, an hour of heavy metal videos. As the 90s took hold, the Power Hour started featuring bands like Alice in Chains and My Sister's Machine which was great, but wasn't quite the thrash we grew accustomed to love. But then one night in 1992, a video came over the television by a band called White Zombie. The track? Thunder Kiss '65... DAMN! The groove was infectious as hell! And I was hooked!
Despite White Zombie only putting out 3 studio albums, the man behind the band kicked off a solo career in music, then eventually branched out into directing horror movies, including the legendary House of 1000 Corpses. Yes, Zombie borrows heavily from the classic Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but HO1KC is one of my absolute favourite horror flicks of all time. And since that fateful moment in 1992, I'm not ashamed to say that I have become a Rob Zombie man-whore. I have seen the man in concert both with White Zombie, and as a solo artist, but it was without a doubt one my greatest moments when I received the email stating I had been approved to cover The Freaks on Parade Tour at RBC Amphitheatre on September 1st, 2026.
With a "Demonoid Phenomenon" of excitement as I made my trek downtown Toronto, I failed to remember that the Canadian National Exhibition was on... the unofficial end of summer! But I didn't let the insane traffic bum me out. Even though I missed the opener Orgy, The Hu, and Marilyn Manson were still in store before the Superbeast himself was to take the stage.
The Hu
For sure you've had those moments when you've heard a new song, and immediately your ears perked up, and you were like "WHAT IS THIS???" Not quite the same experience as when I first heard that White Zombie song in 1992, but when I first heard Mongolia's The Hu's "Wolf Totem", I thought it was one of the coolest things ever! With band members playing the morin khuur, a Mongolian bowed string instrument, and the singer growling out guttural cries, I simply couldn't believe my ears. Mongolian Metal? Who the hell knew? The fact the The Hu were on this bill was an unbelievable bonus. As the 8-piece took the stage and kicked their set off, vocalist Nyamjantsan Galsanjamts' hair was blowing and I thought "Damn! Look at this front line! This is the absolute coolest!!" I frantically snapped my images, then hurried off to my seat to catch the brief set. As I walked by the merch table, the lineup extended all the way down to the 200 level. I have literally never seen this at this venue. With tons of fans in makeup, the venue was packed to the rafters, and The Hu grooved out on stage, heads banging, strings haunting, and fists pumping.
When I first heard these guys, it was an immediate "YAASSSSS!!!!" I've wanted to see them ever since, and they didn't disappoint!
The Hu Photo Gallery (all photos by: Jay Broderick)
Marilyn Manson
Shock Rock has been a thing, pretty much since rock and roll was born. "Screamin" Jay Hawkins was the original Shock Rocker in the 1950s, but anybody will tell you that Alice Cooper is the Godfather. I'll never try to convince you that Coop lost his title in the 1990s when a dude named Marilyn Manson came on the scene, but one thing is for certain... Manson has definitely earned his place in the annals of Shock Rock.
Unlike Zombie (be it White or Rob), and The Hu, I wouldn't exactly say that Marilyn Manson was an immediate "I LOVE THIS!" It was "ok" at first, but not mind blowing... and then time happened, and the artist's music grew on me. But oddly enough, it was Manson's 3rd album, Mechanical Animals that turned the switch for me. I say "oddly enough" because the album was not the abrasive, industrial style that was the first 2 albums. And as snobby music fans, when we fall in love with a band, a change in direction tends to send us off the rail. Like Metallica's Load (some may even point to their previous, self titled black album), Mechanical Animals was that album for Manson. But man, I LOVED it!!! It got a ton of spins in my repertoire, and it was the tour that I first caught the singer in a live setting. And it was AMAZING!!!
One thing was clear some 28 years later... Marilyn Manson has a rabid fan base. The anticipation in the stadium was electric. A black curtain covered the stage as the opening notes to "Exit Wound" rang out, and with the drop of the drapes, Manson appeared, bathed in white light, arms held high to welcome the Toronto crowd. The roar was deafening as the 10 photogs frantically snapped away. See, for Manson, he typically has a 1 song rule, instead of the standard 3. And this was the case tonight... but hey, sometimes he doesn't allow any media, so we were all gassed. As we left the pit at the conclusion of the opening track, the singer welcomed the crowd. "TORONTO! I fucking love you! What a great feeling to be back!" and the band rang into "Disposable Teens".
"Aaaaaaaaagggggghhhhhhh!!!!".... as I get back into the venue after dropping off my gear, the whole bloody venue was on their feet. Every last fan! Manson then called out the city again. "TORONTO! I can't tell you enough how much I love you!" He proceeds to offer up the next song as a dedication to the fans in this city. "It's a love song from me to you" and he introduces "Great Big White World" from the aforementioned Mechanical Animals. The singer sounds great. The band sounds great! And the insane fans sound great. Man, it-is-LOUD!!!
If you've read my work, I don't typically go into a ton of details for supporting acts, even when they're bigger bands such as in a co-headlining tour. But this is Marilyn Manson, and the man deserves his due. He has forever been slammed with allegations, and has been a physical mess with addiction, but sometimes we need a kick in the ass to wake up. And Manson certainly has cleaned up his act, at least as evident in his recent shows. He looks healthy, he sounds great, and he has the support of his fans around the world, including 16,000 strong in Toronto. As he played through tracks like "The Nobodies", The Dope Show", and the Eurythmics track "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", the Toronto crowd belted out lyrics, cheered as loud as I had heard the fans at any show, and showed how enamored they are with the 1990s Shock Rock God.
Closing out with the granddaddy of Marilyn Manson songs "The Beautiful People", the singer is back on his game. Let's hope he stays in this place. Well done Marilyn! Well done Toronto heavy music fans!!!
Marilyn Manson Photo Gallery (all photos by: Jay Broderick)
Rob Zombie
Some might also label Rob Zombie as another "Shock Rock" musician. I'm not sure I follow that line of thought. While it's true that Zombie's style can be "shocking", this man does it purely for the love of a genre that he has helped define in the 21st century. The Horror Genre that is! Frequently using sound bites from classic horror movies of the 1960s and 70s, writing and directing his own tales of mayhem on the big screen, and his visual arts, Rob Zombie is a modern day master. While I got the sense that the anticipation from this Toronto crowd was geared toward Manson, I was far more amped up for the headlining performance.
Again, the black curtain. The intro to "F.T.W. 84", the lead track from Rob's latest album released earlier this year. And the curtain drops, revealing an insanely elaborate set design. The singer stood atop a massive "ZOMBIE" platform. 2 devils flanked the stage, each of which bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson and guitarist Mike Riggs stood directly underneath. Drummer Ryan Goff perched high and impossible to see was tucked away in behind the platform. I thought "YES! THIS IS ROB ZOMBIE!!!" And when fireballs blasted up from everywhere during the band's 3rd song "Superbeast", it was the cherry on the top of a "Tutti-Fuckin'-Fruity" sundae!!
Again, it's not the friendliest venue logistically when you're taking photographs, but I was able to make it back to my seat for "More Human Than Human", a White Zombie cover song. A 20 foot robot monster loomed eerily behind the singer as he and the crowd belted out the lyrics "I am electric head, A cannibal core, A television said, Yeah". It was after this 5th song of the band's set that Zombie took a moment to say "hello". "OH YEAH! TORONTO!! I wanna thank you for coming out tonight. I do love this city and I love this building. I hear they'll be tearing it down. BUMMER!!!" referring to the closure of the venue at the end off the 2027 season for a multi-year redevelopment project. While they're not specifically tearing the venue down, there's a distinct feeling of oneness I get when a band or musician talk about your city as if they live here. Understanding what's happening gives a real sense of caring, and as corny as it may sound, I love it! Zombie then proceeded to talk about the singer's second solo album The Sinister Urge turning 25 years old, and being exasperated at where the time has gone. He then starts chanting "SCUM OF THE EARTH!" The crowd joins in, and eventually, the band screams into the track, saturated in red light. Once again, fireballs explode up from the stage, and the lyrics flash from the singer's platform at the front of the stage, but not the same sky-high platform he was on to start the show.
Another highlight of the night was for the band's performance of "Living Dead Girl". Images of a Joker-like character flash on the vast array of video screens strewn about the stage. Zombie asks if there are any ladies in the house, and as a side bar, I never recall this many women who were into the heavy music scene. Yes, glam-band shows in the 80s were littered with scantily clad vixens, but heavy concerts? Not so much... but now, there are just as many, if not more women then there are men at these shows. Even your death metal shows at Lee's Palace have insane amounts of female metal fans head banging and rocking out. Zombie asks for the lights to come up to see, and then does a little crowd battle call back, side to side, and then the band blasts into the track. Multi-coloured beach balls get thrown out into the crowd, and a dude walks past me surrounded by security and police, escorting him out. It's actually the 5th incident I've seen on this night, including a lady who was certainly in her 60s. Love it or hate it, right or wrong, that's rock and roll!!!
Speaking of women... a long pause in the darkness... the sound of rolling thunder rumbles over the sound system, and then the crowning moment! Zombie tells the crowd that he has a very special guest here tonight, and then Sheri Moon Zombie appears next to her husband. Now, I have made clear my love for Rob, but Sheri is on a whole other level!!! She waves to the crowd and disappears as quick as that, as the band plays into "House of 1000 Corpses"... I mean, how good can it get outside of the video screens flashing images of the Firefly family (if you know, you know), and YEP! That happened too!!
In a bit of a strange but humbling moment, Rob Zombie appeared in a Canada hockey jersey. The number 99 emblazoned on the back. He led the crowd into a rendition of "Oh Canada" and then smashed into "Thunder Kiss '65". Did I say the previous track was a showstopper? Uhhhhhhhh..... this one kicked some serious ass! And if that wasn't enough, Marilyn Manson returns to join Zombie in "Helter Skelter" before the band eventually closes out the night with "Dragula". BAM!!!!! A far too short set, but it was over, and the crowd was left stunned by what they had just witnessed. One of the defining moments of 2026!
Set List
F.T.W. 84
Tarantula
Superbeast
The Triumph of King Freak (A Crypt of Preservation and Superstition)
More Human Than Human (White Zombie cover)
Scum of the Earth
Well, Everybody's Fucking in a U.F.O.
Living Dead Girl
Heathen Days
Feel So Numb
House of 1000 Corpses
O Canada
Thunder Kiss '65 (White Zombie cover)
Helter Skelter (The Beatles cover w/ Marilyn Manson)
Encore:
Dragula
I have seen Zombie a few times live, and a number of times on recorded video. He has been known to seem a little breathless in his vocal performances, but not on this night. Man, he was so good!! And like his predecessor on stage, Toronto slammed!!! This folks, is what it's all about. And if Zombie has his way, he ain't "Never gonna stop me, Never gonna stop!!!"
Rob Zombie Photo Gallery (all photos by: Jay Broderick)
Rob Zombie Online
Show Date: September 1, 2026
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