Hello Christine, would you be my Prom Queen? ROX-TV was on hand for the Insane Clown Posse’s 25th Anniversary concert “Severed Limb High Class Reunion” Prom Night Massacre.
Welcome back to the ROX-TV website for a special article on the 25th Anniversary Prom Night Massacre Show “Severed Limb High Class Reunion” which took place Friday night in Fort Wayne Indiana at Piere’s. I have to say that this concert was calling out to me on so many different levels and I was over the moon when Project Born asked me to roll with them to the event. Talk about a great fucking day. I told Frank Nitty and Polk D that they could count me in for what was sure to be a memorable event and we met up around 4pm to get ready for the three hour cruise to Fort Wayne.
For me personally, the show was a representation of my youth, and I remember when the first one went down, all those years earlier. I was fifteen at the time and I had tried to convince my parents to let me go to the show with a few older friends that had tickets. I’m sure I’m not alone here when I say that their response was “no way”. I can’t recall the exact reasoning, but my age had been cited as a factor along with the reality that ICP frightened a lot of parents back in the day.
Being a fan of the Wicked Clownz was not always an easy task, and every once in awhile my mom would find my stash of tapes and before you knew it….POOF…they mysteriously vanished. (Author’s Note: I have it on good authority that the tapes and shirts were thrown away, although my mom doesn’t like to talk about it) If only I had all that shit today, I’d be worth a small fortune, but what can you do.
So I missed the original “Prom Night Massacre Show” back in the day but I never forgot about it completely. Maybe it was destiny or fate, but twenty five years later, I got another chance to go to the Prom. Like a lot of people, the last year or so has been pretty tough for a variety of reasons. I don’t feel like dragging the article down with my personal thoughts on the pandemic so I won’t. Let’s just say, it’s been one hell of a year. I’m a people person, or at least I think I am. I enjoy mixing it up with friends, strangers, and anyone who isn’t a prick. With so much down time over the last year, a live show was just the ticket to boost morale and feel somewhat “normal” again.
5:55pm
I met up with Project Born in Flint Town and we started the “short hike” to the show. By this time we were passing exit 89A on I-69. The sun was high in the sky and just about ten clicks too bright, but it didn’t matter. We were rolling down the highway blasting Tupac’s song “Lord Knows”. It felt good to be on the road and in such good company. Project Born are Legends in the Juggalo Universe and it was honor to be on board with them for this special night.
6:39pm
We crossed the Kalamazoo River near mile 35 and were heading south on I-69. The sun had jumped over the car with the directional shift. There was farmland everywhere and as we passed Exit 32, there was a minor headache when we hit a stretch of construction that seemed to gone on longer than it should have. I don’t why, but it always seems like when you encounter “road work” on the highway, no one ever seems to be around working. It’s just fucking barrels without the laughs. By this time we were into Tupac’s “Against All Odds” and switching lanes as needed.
7:06pm
We hit the border and crossed into Indiana, zipping along at a cool eighty five mph coast. Nitty was bumping Tupac’s “Are you still down” as we blew past the sign.
7:45pm
Somewhere around this time we arrived at Piere’s. The scene was hopping with people everywhere. There were limousines parked out in front of the venue, others were dropping Juggalos and Juggalettes off, with almost everyone dressed in Prom dresses or tuxedo-type clothing. It was a really fun atmosphere and all the people I encountered were there to have a good time. I can’t describe how dope it was to come together for an event like this, with a shit load of like minded people. It was a beautiful thing and the air was electric. You could tell people had been waiting for this for a long time and “it” was finally here.
We rolled up to the venue to get our passes for the night, then headed up to the VIP area where the other performers and artists were chilling. We met Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope, who were getting ready to start a meet and greet session in a little bit, and for a Juggalo, it just doesn’t any better than that. To be rolling with Project Born and get to meet the Wicked Clownz was almost surreal. I had spent my whole life listening to these groups and I was getting a rare glimpse into their world. It was top shelf man. We had some time to kill, so we decided to head downstairs to get something to eat at Bobby McGee’s Good Time Pub. It was attached to the same building and was only a short walk away.
8:15pm
We posted up at a table and got a quick meal in. The food was good and I needed some nourishment for the long night ahead. If anyone gives a shit, the Philly steak and cheese was fire. As I ate, I tried to process my moment in time. Nothing but good times. After killing the grub, we headed back upstairs until it was showtime.
The opening act was Wicked Wood and although we were upstairs, the bass was pounding throughout the building and we could hear them dropping shit for the Juggalos. Project Born was set to go onstage at 9:40pm, or at least that was what the set list said on the wall. I had my camera and took a few pictures of Polk D and Ouija Macc, then I jumped in one with Ouija who was cool enough to take the time to do it. The clock was forever ticking and soon it would be Project Born’s turn to rock the house. I listened to Frank Nitty and Violent J chop it up a bit before the meet and greets started.
Finally, Project Born got word that it was time to head down to the stage. We walked down the stairs and through a hallway, with the restaurant kitchen at one end. It reminded me of that scene in Good Fella’s as we passed by the hustle bustle of the kitchen, the food smelled good, and there was action everywhere. We dipped into a large sliding door and past a curtain, before we hit the staging area. Jumpsteady was there and he went over some details with Project Born. The crowd was hype, and although I couldn’t see them from where we were, I could definitely hear them.
There is nothing like an Insane Clown Posse show. They really are entertainers and know how to put on a great concert. I’ve seen other shows in Detroit over the years with artists from the underground, but ICP is hands down the best at creating an amazing concert in my opinion. We climbed onstage, and made our way to the starting gate. Jumpsteady was going to introduce Project Born and then they would go through the pulled curtain when the time came. We had a couple of minutes onstage while we waited and I took advantage of the time, taking photographs for the group and some video footage.
I hate to use the word, but it was insane to be onstage with Project Born, taking it all in on such an historical night. The stage had been decorated as a Prom scene, and the Faygo was nearby. I knew the crowd would be drenched in the Juggalo Holy Water before long. Then we could hear Jumpsteady addressing the crowd. There was no more time left on the clock, the moment was at hand.
I grabbed as many candid photos as I could and the introduction boomed on the other side of the curtain. The Juggalos were hyped and there was good reason. They were about to witness a blistering set by PJB. The first act ever signed to Psychopathic Records. Anyone who knows their Juggalo history knows about the infamous Born Dead EP that dropped in 1995 or the years of great releases PJB has been dropping.
I must say, when I’m “working” on an event for ROX-TV the focus does change some from the standard fan experience. Where I once just got to kick back and enjoy the set, I now had another purpose and function. Although I got to enjoy the ride like everyone else, I was also hyper focused on capturing images that spoke to the moment. Because of this, I was “busy” in a way, could hear the songs PJB was performing, but mostly centered on the movements and opportunities that arose. It doesn’t matter though because I was living my dream.
Being behind the scenes, capturing a story and the pictures that went along with that story is in my opinion, the freshest shit I’ve done in a long time. A funny thing happened though as PJB went through the curtain, I found myself standing alone on the stage. Initially I thought that where we were, was how the fans would see the show, but it turned out that they would be on the outer part of the stage. I was momentarily dumbfounded and I laughed to myself. I creeped up and opened the curtain in which Project Born had gone through and could see the crowd and everything that went with it.
I realized that my vantage point was no longer a good one and decided to go back down the side stairs and try to get a better angle in front of the stage. It was the right move because I managed to get into a nice spot on the immediate side of the stage. Once I found myself in a better location, I got the camera out and went to work. The crowd was hype and responding well to PJB, who were dropping forest fire up front. I started shooting photos like Billy the Kid shot people. From time to time the Prom balloons would drift in my way, but it didn’t matter as far as I was concerned. They added that “dance feel” atmosphere and made everything cooler, even if they got in the way a little bit.
The Project homies from Flint did a great set and the Juggalos rewarded them with much deserved applause. PJB did a wide selection of songs from the Born Dead series and closed the set down with “Do what it do”. The energy in the room was over the top and I wished the night would never end. As Nitty and Polk D left the stage, the event kept rolling, like a raver on ecstasy. I met Frank Nitty and Polk D backstage and we found a place to chill near the bar area. Ouija Macc, who just dropped “Dirt Bag” was up next and the momentum was forever picking up.
The great thing about the Prom Night Massacre show was that the performers were each unique with their own brand of forest fire. Wiked Wood brought that wicked flavor, my homies from Project Born delivered that hard core Flint Town sound, Ouija Macc was vibrant with that Sin City swagger, and on it went. DJ Chunk was scratching the hell out of shit and it was music to my ears. That Juggalo Family love was strong in the building. Ouija’s set ended and the Clownz were fast approaching.
If my memory serves me correctly before the final hoorah of the evening, a “Prom King and Queen” was chosen, true to form for that Prom Night feel. I’ve been to a few Proms myself, some twenty years ago and I must say, ICP actually managed to throw a proper “Prom Night”. It was almost like being in a horror movie, the atmosphere was that correct. All the shit you would have seen at a high school dance was accounted for, from the decorations, to the backdrops for pictures. The show was like a mini-theme park full of wild ass Juggalos and Juggalettes, who were all having a good time. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Making music, getting together with family, celebrating the fact that we are alive and in good company. Shit, I was with my fucking tribe and so was everyone else, and it felt good.
In a day in age where everyone has a complaint, or agenda, it was good to just have FUN again. Juggalos and Juggalettes getting stoned, drunk, and having a fucking laugh, enjoying our heroes. Hell, it almost felt like the nineties again, when everyone was just getting down and living life. I guess you will always have bitter people, that complain about this or that for eternity, but that dead ass vibe was not present in Fort Wayne Indiana. It was all about having a good time. I think for the health of the everyone, if you know someone that is toxic and wanting to take you to a place that doesn’t even exist or is just negative to the core, cut that and forget it. Nothing stays the same forever, no matter how bad some may want that. I say lets just keep doing what we do…..like we always have.
People hated on this scene when I was a kid and I never heard the end of it. There could be a lot of reasons, but mostly I think it has to do with envy, jealousy, and perhaps insecurity. Juggalos do their own thing and always have. I think people sometimes want to do what they do and can’t, or they don’t understand what we got going on and are sad that no one cares what they are up too, or whatever they believed in was dated and failed. I wonder how many people who used to trash me in high school for listening to ICP, are still able to go see their favorite bands? That’s laughable because most of the mainstream ways of thought as far as music went lasted a few years and died. Some people that hated on Juggalos and ICP didn’t survive the decade with their own careers and shitty music. But here we are….rolling the fuck on…..celebrating a milestone show on the 25th Anniversary with a live concert, which was sold out.
Critics can complain from their empires of dirt or where ever they are today. It’s easy to post hate on Instagram or the internet. We used to call them “cell phone gangsters” back in the day and I suppose that’s what they still are. But who’s listening anyway? Maybe if some people weren’t complaining, no one would even remember who they were? Who knows, like I said, it’s about the music and the good times…and the Juggalo Family knows how to get together in real life and celebrate. Fuck the virtual reality that has become so prominent in the last decade or so. If your not in the real world or on the scene, than its just background noise to me. Kind of like when the channel on the old televisions played white noise and static snow.
Sometime after dark:
The chanting started in the crowd “ICP, ICP, ICP” and the lights went out. The moment that everyone had been waiting for had just pulled into the station. There was no more sand in the hour glass, fucking zero hour had just showed up. The lights started spinning and the curtain slowly crept open. The stage was set with the “Saint John Boys” band who were looking they just walked off the set of “Back to the future”. They played the role perfectly and launched into some Buddy Holly type jam….that was until the “Night of the Axe” came to their back door. The Juggalo heroes had arrived, VIOLENT J AND SHAGGY 2 DOPE!
With their mini-axes in hand, the Clownz dropped that old school 1992 fire. Everyone knew it was C.O.C. time and the crowd loved it. Without missing a beat Insane Clown Posse went right into “Hocus Pocus” off of the Great Milenko album from 1997 and the Faygo began to rain down. The Juggalos and Juggalettes had reached a climatic ecstasy and sang every word “IC Fucking P’s in the House”. The moment gave me chills and my head went numb. That’s how the fuck you do it. The Juggalo family was letting the world know what moved them, without missing a beat.
“Come take a spin on the Carney Ride” bellowed throughout the room and then the clown army pushed forward to drop serious Faygo on the madhouse mayhem in front of the stage. Then came the famous ICP song “Chicken Huntin” which no one could forget. The Slaughter House Remix was featured on the 1995 release of the Riddle Box. It was one of my favorite Insane Clown Posse albums at the time and today. Those truly were magical years in the early days of the Juggalo Universe.
To see Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope up onstage and going strong was a great feeling. Everyone in the house was having a great time and the crowd was into it all the way. They knew every word from every song and had shown up, from all walks of life and from all over the place. The family was back together. “My Axe” from the 2000 release Bizzar came rolling through like a Juggalo freight train and the Clownz had their axes held high.
“Halls of Illusions” brought more joy to the crowd. That wonderful gem from the Great Milenko album. “You walk in see two kids on the floor, they’re playing Nintendo and you got the high score……This is an illusion, it never came true…all because of you”.
Again the crowd was going word for word and the evil clowns came back on stage, throwing Faygo bombs and waving flags. The carnival was on full display. Another golden track came from the Billboard #4 peak 1999 release of The Amazing Jeckel Brothers, none other than “Fuck the world”.
The good times never stopped coming and it was the kind of night that I knew I would remember for the rest of my life.
FAYGO BREAK:
This is a pretty self explanatory part of the show and the Juggalos and Juggalettes were mighty thirsty for that wonderful Detroit Legend F-A-Y-G-O. When I was a kid, we usually got Faygo because it was cheaper than the big name brands. I won’t lie, as a kid, we drank it, but everyone would have rather had a COKE or a weak ass Pepsi. Somehow though, ICP was able to take a second rate soda pop and turn it into a cultural icon in its own right. Juggalos all over the United States who don’t have access to this Detroit Legend, literally buy the shit online and have it mailed to their homes. That’s how big of a deal ICP is, they made a broke ass 69 Cent 2 Liter pop…..a four glass bottles for a dollar type thing (12 ounces)….into a bigger deal than some musical groups. Say whatever you want, but that’s a fact. Crazy right. My shit, is still fire after all these years, and I saw it first hand in Indiana on Friday night. I would have been in the pit, but I didn’t want to get my brand new Project Born Hockey Jersey drenched in the Detroit Flavor.
The show must go on:
“Willy Bubba” came down the line next, off of the 1998 release “Forgotten Freshness Vol. 1 and 2”. Another one of my favorites came shortly thereafter in the form of “Tilt a whirl” off the 1st half of the double release Bizaar Bizzar, from 2000. This was a one of those songs that I really dug, even after I got busy with life for awhile. I played the shit out of that song and it is still one of my favorites off the double album release that should have cost Sharon Osborne $50,000.00 after talking shit on the Howard Stern show in 1999. The albums combined total sales exceeded 400,000 units, which far out paced Sharon’s guestimate of 200,000 units and ICP getting dropped from their label. Violent J had predicted sales as high as 500k, but it didn’t matter. 400k is pretty fucking good. Most people don’t have thirty friends in real life. ICP proved they had a whole army and it must have made the haters angry…actually I’d bet money they are still complaining….somewhere, far far away.
A hop, skip, and a jump and boom, “Boogie Woogie Wu” jumped off, from the 1997 release of Great Milenko. Next came the “Prom Queen” from Tunnel of Love, another blast from the 1996 past. The stage featured a creepy ass couple dancing about, looking half dead (in a good way) and a Prom Queen as well. The vibe was perfect for the night and totally fitting. Custom fucking tailored my man. Dig on that.
There was also “Mr. Johnson’s Head” from the 1994 release Ringmaster, which by my own opinion, is one of the greatest albums Insane Clown Posse ever dropped…ever. Pound for pound, that release is bullet proof and also certified gold. Numbers don’t lie.
Down with the Clown till I’m dead in the ground:
As the historic show came to a close, the Wicked Clownz sounded off with “Down with the clown” off of the Great Milenko album. I think that it was a fitting way to end the night. Then it happened, the last song, much to everyone’s sadness, all things must come to an end, even serial killer Prom Nights. “Pass me by” ended the night as a hundred Juggalos made it on stage for the final send off of the evening. It was an unforgettable night and I was there….
Signing Off,
Mike Shepard
ROX-TV Head Writer
kidvicious810 on IG
