Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson more than live up to 'Twins of Evil' billing in Phoenix

Ed Masley | The Republic | azcentral.com

Even before Marilyn Manson returned to the stage to join Rob Zombie on their recently recorded cover of the Beatles' proto-metal classic "Helter Skelter" as images of Charles Manson and his family were splashed like blood across the screens behind them, the duo's second Twins of Evil Tour had more than lived up to the promise of its billing.

As dark and dysfunctional pairings go, this was a match made in heaven — or more likely hell, but in a good way.

Zombie also covered Alice Cooper's "School's Out," a headbanging nod to the shock-rock pioneer whose dark theatrics paved the way for much of what transpired when his co-headlining tour with Manson hit Ak-Chin Pavilion on Sunday.

Marilyn Manson: Antichrist Superstar

After a hard-rocking opening set of industrial metal from Alex Martel's Deadly Apples, Manson set the tone for his performance by leading the crowd in the chant of "We hate love, we love hate" that serves as a lead-in to "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" on the album that made him the scourge of the PTA, "Antichrist Superstar."

That was the first of four tracks Manson played from the album that remains his most successful calling card, bringing the set to a crowd-pleasing climax with the title track, delivered high atop a podium, and "Beautiful People," which started with Manson tapping out the beat with a drumstick on his guitarist's pickups.

He also reached back to his first EP to end his portion of the concert with a haunting reinvention of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," prowling the stage in a hooded sweatshirt while it appeared to be snowing.

"The Dope Show," from his celebrated followup to "Superstar," "Mechanical Animals," remains a highlight of the live show, performed in a black feathered mumu after bringing Shooter Jennings on stage from the wings.

It wasn't all '90s nostalgia, though. He also dusted off two songs from last year's "Heaven Upside Down" ("Say10" and "Kill4Me") and his recently recorded reboot of "Cry Little Sister" from "The Lost Boys" soundtrack, during which he got the fans to hold their phone lights in the air.

Manson can be an erratic performer, but he brought his A-game to this show, from the throat-shredding chorus of "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" to the drama he invested in "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)."

Rob Zombie

Rob Zombie hit the stage in a studded leather jacket with fringes and bell bottoms, his signature dreads topped by a cowboy hat as he led his bandmates in the one-two punch of "Demon Speeding"' and "Superbeast."

"Is it (expletive) hot or am I crazy?" Zombie asked, pronouncing Arizona "prime UFO country" and asking, "How many people have been abducted by a UFO?" to set up "Well, Everybody's (Expletive) in a U.F.O."

The pace was relentless, pausing only to engage the crowd with frequent references to Phoenix. "You're the one who wanted to live here so bad," he joked, with regard to the heat. "Is there a place called the Mason Jar here?" he asked while recalling his early adventures in the Valley.

In addition to his own crowd-pleasing staples — "Living Dead Girl," "More Human Than Human," "Thunderkiss '65" and "Dragula" among them – Zombie brought his portion of the concert to a close with three spirited covers, the Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop," "School's Out" and "Helter Skelter."

As theatrical as Manson's set was, Zombie's was even more over the top. He had a giant devil mascot wandering the stage during one song and the screens were filled with images of topless women, horror-movie icons, Herman Munster in a coffin car and gory scenes from Zombie's work as a film director (during "House of 1000 Corpses").

Zombie's bandmates now include two former members of the Manson family, drummer Ginger Fish and lead guitarist John 5, who shredded his way through a jaw-dropping solo alone on stage while Zombie wandered through the crowd. The solo could've gone on even longer than it did without overstaying its welcome.

John 5's guitar work was brilliant throughout, and his total command of the stage was engaging enough to keep the spotlight drifting back to him, despite all the other distractions, as well as his bandleader's own sense of showmanship.

It was after John 5's solo that Zombie addressed the use of smartphones in the audience.

"I must say, I'm a little depressed and you can help me," he said.

"As I walked around the crowd, I was like, 'What happened, man? Why do you want to play on your (expletive) phones all night at an (expletive) rock concert?' Walking around, there's just people scrambling to take selfies. Scrambling to take (expletive) selfies at an (expletive) rock show?!"

Then he told the fans, "What do you say we make tonight the (expletive) good old days? I know you love your stupid phone as much as life itself, more than your mom and your dad and your cat or your dog. But please help Mr. Zombie out by putting your phone away for two and a half minutes maybe?"

The tirade ended with a shout of "Can we get in an (expletive) time machine and have an (expletive) rock show? (Expletive) yeah" as a lead-in to White Zombie's "Thunderkiss '65."

Did people put their phones away?

Of course not.

But in their defense, there was a giant devil mascot wandering the stage.

Marilyn Manson setlist

"Irresponsible Hate Anthem"

"Angel With the Scabbed Wings"

"This Is the New Shit"

"The Fight Song"

"mOBSCENE"

"Say10"

"The Dope Show"

"Kill4Me"

"Cry Little Sister"

"Antichrist Superstar"

"The Beautiful People"

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (Eurythmics)

Rob Zombie setlist

"Demon Speeding"

"Superbeast"

"Well, Everybody's (Expletive) in a U.F.O."

"Scum of the Earth"

"Living Dead Girl"

"In the Age of the Consecrated Vampire We All Get High"

"Dead City Radio and the New Gods of Supertown"

"More Human Than Human"

"Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)"

"The Hideous Exhibitions of a Dedicated Gore Whore"

"House of 1000 Corpses"

Guitar solo

"Thunder Kiss '65"

"Blitzkrieg Bop" (Ramones)

"School's Out" (Alice Cooper)

"Helter Skelter" (Beatles)

Encore

"Dragula"

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