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Review By: Janel Spiegel / Photos by: John DelGrosso
Twins of Evil: Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson
Hell Never Dies Tour 2019
PPL Center July 10, 2019
Allentown, PA
Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson are on tour once again. Together, the Twins of Evil have incredible careers in the music and film industry. They kicked off the Hell Never Dies 2019 tour in Baltimore, MD and Rob Zombie would later explain to the sold-out crowd that they “came a long way” and arrived in Philadelphia and then on to the show in Allentown.
The show started with the opening act of Palaye Royale. They did a few songs and thanked the crowd several times. This audience was having a blast. I saw so many people wearing Manson t-shirts and Rob Zombie t-shirts, Sid Haig t-shirts from Rob Zombie’s film, “House of 1000 Corpses.” I have been to a lot of concerts, and Rob Zombie’s concert has always been one of my all-time favorites. Having Marilyn Manson added was an incredible bonus for us fans.
The guys (Remington Leith- Vocals, Sebastian Danzig-Guitar/Organ and Emerson Barrett- Drums) from Palaya Royale really amped up the crowd.
Marilyn Manson started the show off. He sang everything from “Angel With the Scabbed Wings,” “The Love Song,” “Rock Is Dead,” “This is the New Sh*t,” “The Nobodies.” He kept the crowded interested. Many people were walking around in the pit and interacting, the seated crowd instantly leaped out of seats to sing and do some head banging. Music is truly universal, and Manson is someone who has a unique sound and, his voice sounded good. He sang, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), originally that song was recorded by the Eurythmics and released in 1983. It was written by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart.
Marilyn Manson covered the song and released it on his album, “Smells Like Children” in 1995. Manson’s version would become more than a cover. Manson made it his own in a way. It starts off, and you instantly know the song. It’s as if Manson made the song how he was feeling or what he wanted it to sound like. It is a fan favorite (one of my favorites). Manson came out on stilts as he did in his original music video. The video for “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Manson is a fan favorite. The various images and Manson lurking around with his band members. His version makes you think about life a little bit more. What people do and what they are about.
“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” may be taken many different ways to people, but there is beautiful darkness that you completely feel in Manson’s version. It is almost a nightmare with a heart. Manson talked with the crowd, He is enigmatic and fascinating to watch. He speaks his mind. The crowd was so happy. The PPL Center had the pit set up for both Manson and Rob Zombie to go into the crowd. Manson came down into the crowd. People were screaming and thrilled.
Manson also sang “Antichrist Superstar.” That is also the title of his second album that was released in 1996. Manson also writes and produces his own music. Manson sang “Say 10” from his “Heaven Upside Down” albums (one of my favorites and an incredible song.) People were excited and fascinated by the sets Manson used also. The background photos and each set sort of represented the songs. If you haven’t seen the “Say 10” music video, google it. (Manson’s longtime friend Johnny Depp makes an appearance. Depp also got to perform a few times with Manson at various concerts.) After “Antichrist Superstar” people thought Manson had finished his set but no…. He had a surprise. He returned. He did “The Beautiful People” from the album “Antichrist Superstar.” This is another distinctive song that as soon as it starts. As soon as you hear even a small part of this song you know what song it is and it is Marilyn Manson’s song.
The people around me were screaming and yelling, “tease” as they continued to play parts of the song until he finally did the song. He proclaimed that “I heard you.” He put on a show that no one else could and in only the way he could. He is a legend in his own right.
Now…. As the Rock Gods listened and soldiered on. They would still get no rest, no sleep… The crews began to swiftly get the stage ready for Rob Zombie. This usually includes robots, balls, balloons and oh yeah, Satan. Because it would not be a Rob Zombie show without Satan. The house lights went off, and Rob Zombie was ready to take the stage. Or, was it Billy Joel? Well, Rob Zombie knows his music and cities. He started off a ROARING, SCREAMING AND BEYOND EXCITED crowd by getting the audience to laugh as Billy Joel’s song “Allentown” started playing. The crowd was thrilled. (Allentown people do appreciate the song even though, technically it may be about Bethlehem, PA but Allentown seemed to flow better.)
The last time Rob Zombie was in Bethlehem, PA was his show at the SANDS Bethlehem Event Center. Rob Zombie is one of the most talented individuals out there. He has created a persona and a wide variety of music and films for his fans that are forever appreciated. After playing “Allentown” in Allentown. Rob Zombie’s set was bright, vibrant, fun and filled with clips from his music videos, films including “House of 1000 Corpses” “The Lords of Salem” “The Devil’s Rejects” and also some of Rob Zombie’s own favorite television shows including “The Munsters.” (A television show that originally aired on September 24, 1964 starring Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, and Al Lewis. Or favorite family at 1313 Mockingbird Lane.)
Rob Zombie writes, sings, produces, directs and has animation credits to his name… We cannot forget the soundtracks. His newest film, “3 From Hell” starring Sheri Moon Zombie, Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Danny Trejo, Clint Howard, Jeff Daniel Phillips, David Ury and the legend that is Dee Wallace. Rob Zombie wears every hat, his hat is just a lot cooler than everybody else’s. Rob Zombie founded his band, White Zombie and from then on as they say, “history.”
Rob Zombie started the show off with “Demonoid Phenomenon” from his album “Hellbilly Deluxe.” It was released in 1998. Rob Zombie did a lot of interacting with the crowd, he even walked down into the crowd and around the pit to see everyone. He had his own flashlight. Rob Zombie along with John 5, who is one of the greatest guitar players to ever play. (Check out John 5’s official site https://john-5.com/main/. He has some of his own songs and music he released.) Piggy D., the bass player. (Could we note Peter Criss from KISS was at the show.)
Out of every concert I have been able to attend, no concert has been as alive, so much fun and non-stop as a Rob Zombie concert. He is all over the stage, singing, jumping and in Rock Star shape that is for sure. His energy is infectious. He makes you want to sing along, headbang and crowd surf. A few people were able to crowd surf (crowd-surf safely people.) People let go and had fun. People came to this show knowing they would have a party. That is what it is like. You are with friends/family and maybe a few people you don’t know, haven’t met yet, or you are about to meet, and there is really cool music playing. Not one person was not having fun. He also performed, “Superbeast,” “Living Dead Girl,” “More Human Than Human,” “Well, Everybody’s F****** in a U.F.O,” “The Hideous Exhibitions Of A Dedicate Gore W****.” A lot of Rob Zombie’s music videos are almost like watching short movies. Some of them may be considered short films.
His songs also had different background sets and videos playing behind him as he sang and amped up the crowd. John 5 did an incredible guitar solo after they performed a fan favorite. “P**** Liquor” from the soundtrack, “House of 1000 Corpses.” The song is almost bluesy and you know it the moment you hear the beat. Rob Zombie wrote it and it also represents the characters in the film, “House of 1000 Corpses.”
Rob Zombie also asked that everybody put their cell phones away for a little bit. He wanted it to be a rock concert and take it back a little bit to the “old days.” The sea of people at concerts are often seen with cell phones in the air. Manson asked the audience a few times to turn on the lights from the phones. Rob Zombie wanted people to see the show, to see him, his band and hear the music. People listened. Pretty much everybody put the phones away and rocked out with him. It didn’t last long but everybody likes the memories too.
He performed “Thunder Kiss ‘65” from White Zombie’s album “La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One” was released in 1992. The PPL Center staff did a great job and assisted people with everything. Rob Zombie’s show is something that you should experience at least once or fifty times. He is a performer, an entertainer and the fans have a lot of love for him. People will quote his songs, dress up as characters from his films and being able to see him run around the PPL Center was pretty cool. (Right up there with Zakk Wylde going into the crowd during the Ozzy Osbourne concert at the PPL Center.)
Rob Zombie invited his fell Evil Twin back on-stage, Marilyn Manson joined him after the two of them were “doing karate in the garage.” (Watch “Stepbrothers” starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly) The jokes and the fun and the amount of energy he has is unreal. Rob invited Marilyn Manson back on-stage and they performed “Helter Skelter” together. “Helter Skelter” was originally written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney from the Beatles. “Helter Skelter” was originally released in 1968.
A lot of bands have covered the song. Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Siouxsie and the Banshees and more. Manson and Rob Zombie’s version is a stand-alone version. It is almost as if the song has become a song that the two of them recorded and made their way. The originality of Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson is what makes them who they are.
The crowd was thrilled above and beyond. Rob Zombie finished with “Dragula.” “Dragula” was released from his album, “Hellbilly Deluxe” in 1998. This song has become something of an anthem in a way. It is a song so familiar that it has its very own memes and everything. The lyrics alone and the clip of Christopher Lee saying, “superstition, fear and jealousy” is completely everything.
The music video and the clips playing behind Rob Zombie show him driving a car that looks like the Munster Koach, (the car from “The Munsters”) “Dragula” is such a well-known song and a fun song. It is a great driving song too. Rob Zombie coming on-stage in a giant smoking monster is probably the coolest thing ever. This concert was one of the best concerts in a long time. It was fun and the crowd had so much fun. People reminisce and shared memories of watching “The Munsters” and one woman shared her story of seeing Rob Zombie perform and she just loved him. I felt that way also. Seeing him for the first time was incredible and seeing him again…. NOW with Marilyn Manson is something that you never forget.
Music is something that always brings us together. It makes you remember the good, the bad or the ugly in life. But, it also makes you rock out and lose an earring. A woman passed by me and leaned down and picked up an upside-down cross earring. She looked at me and smiled and said, “Did you lose this?” I said, “Nope, it isn’t mine.” But, I have certainly lost earrings in life and mainly at concerts. (All the head banging.) Whoever lost it, I am sure they had a blast no matter what.
That is what you take away from this show. People crowd surfing, talking to one another, singing, sharing stories, screaming (out of having fun) and so much more. Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson did that! The music they wrote, sing and perform brought everyone out and during Mercury Retrograde no less… The PPL Center did an amazing job, the people directing and helping with parking. The rock gods (and Satan) may still be awake… They are all waiting for the next Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson show.
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