Corey Taylor and Friends with Cherry Bombs

COREY TAYLOR AND FRIENDSTAKE THE GARDEN AMP BY STORM (LITERALLY)

“I play a bunch of songs that I love, and I do it with people that I love, who I have been playing with for a really long time. That is why it made so much sense to do it with Alicia and the Cherry Bombs. I want to give everybody a big Rock N’ Roll party experience!” -Corey Taylor

Not even the pouring rain could stop the party with Corey Taylor and Friends at their last show at the Garden Amp on May 19th in Orange County, California. A couple days before the show, Corey hit the stage with Slipknot on Jimmy Kimmel Live debuting new masks that were co-created by special effects legend, Tom Savini. If that wasn’t enough, Slipknot premiered two new songs live for the first time, “Unsainted” and “All Out Life” from their upcoming album We Are Not Your Kind set to be released August 9th and a tour to follow.

There was a crowd lined up around the Garden Amp hours before the gates even opened. Fans were also able to purchase a meet and greet with Corey and took photos that were later posted on the Garden Amp Facebook page. The VIPs got preferred seating and a goody bag filled with product by Dirtbag Clothing, Sullen and RNR Magazine. And Hot coffee by Rock N Roll Coffee Co backstage for the Meet and Greet VIPs.

Photos By Enrique Nunez

Photos By Enrique Nunez

The night opened up with a heated performance by the “Darlings of Rock n Roll,” The Cherry Bombs. This group of fierce females included dancers, aerialists, fire artists, hoop artists, and pole dancers. Alicia Dove, is not only Corey’s main squeeze, she is also the ringleader and creator of the Cherry Bombs.

Alicia says she is excited to be sharing the stage with her one true love: “Some people ask me what happiness is and I answer, happiness is doing the thing you love with the person that you love. That is what it is like doing these shows with Corey, it

is pure bliss, from start to end. I get to go to work with my best friend.”

What is unique about the Cherry Bombs’ act is it is more aggressive than just a burlesque show; it is in your face with big stunts and huge acts which include pyrotechnics.

Taylor hit the stage around 8pm, and it started to drizzle. The crowd did not mind, nor did Taylor and friends. Corey’s band mates are talented musicians that we know from other killer bands. They include bassist Jason Christopher (Prong/Ministry), drummer Brandon Pertzborn (Marilyn Manson) and guitarist Zach Throne. The first song they played was “Love Song” by The Damned, which kicked the night into high gear.

A touching moment in the set is when Corey Taylor dedicated

Mother Love Bone’s “Bone China” to his bandmate in Slipknot, Shawn “Clown” Crahan” whose young daughter unfortunately passed away the same day as the show. The last song of the night was Boz Skaggs’ hit “Lido Shuffle” and, by this time, the rain was getting heavier and potentially dangerous for the musicians on stage.

Simultaneously, with the last chorus of the song, the tarp of the amphitheater caved in and a big gush of water just missed Corey! The set was done, the crowd was wet, and everyone left with an ever-lasting memory.

The upcoming album We Are Not Your Kind is said to be dark and falls between Iowa and Vol. 3. “It is experimental, heavy as hell, aggressive and has tons of melodies,” says Corey, “I think people are really going to dig it. We are constantly trying to see what can be explored artistically. This is where Clown is the best in the business. His mind is like a beehive of art. He is constantly trying to find ways to outdo everyone. It’s encouraging to see how invested people are in the music and everything that surrounds it. It reminds you why you love music in the first place.”

Slipknot is getting ready for their summer European tour, playing major festivals. They will be back in July for US tour dates and, of course, they will be playing here in San Bernardino at the Glen Helen Amphitheater where you will find me, in the PIT with the rest of the Maggots!

Garden Amp Show Set List:

Love Song (The Damned) | Don’t Change (INXS) | All This and More (Dead Boys) | Already Gone (Eagles) | You May Be Right (Billy Joel) | Bone China (Mother Love Bone) | Let’s Go (The Cars) | Waitin’ for the Bus (ZZ Top) | Nothin’ but a Good Time (Poison) | Moonage Daydream (David Bowie) | Cream (Prince) | Clampdown (The Clash) | Heat of the Moment (Asia) | Hey Jealousy (Gin Blossoms) | Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles) | Rise Above (Black Flag) | Fire (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) | Lido Shuffle (Boz Scaggs)

Raquel Figlo

Photos By Enrique Nunez