{"id":280290,"date":"2026-04-22T13:54:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T13:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/280290\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T13:54:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T13:54:27","slug":"lupe-fiasco-kings-of-chaos-rock-grand-prix-of-long-beach-during-evening-concerts-san-gabriel-valley-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/280290\/","title":{"rendered":"Lupe Fiasco, Kings of Chaos rock Grand Prix of Long Beach during evening concerts \u2013 San Gabriel Valley Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

While the first two days of the Grand Prix of Long Beach are all about motorsports and building hype leading into the final day\u2019s titular IndyCar Series race \u2014 the nights belong to music-lovers.<\/p>\n

Rapper and singer Lupe Fiasco got the party started on Friday night, April 17, with a show that had a West Coast hip-hop vibe.<\/p>\n

Hundreds of excited fans converged on the Terrance Theater Plaza to watch Lupe Fiasco cap off the first day of Grand Prix festivities. DJ Smokey helped get the crowd ready, playing West Coast crowd favorites, including Tupac Shakur\u2019s \u201cCalifornia Love\u201d and Kendrick Lamar\u2019s \u201cm.A.A.d city\u201d \u2014 hyping up the audience for Fiasco\u2019s main event.<\/p>\n

Fiasco took the stage just as the sun was setting behind it, and fans immediately joined in on the show, singing along to hits such as \u201cKick Push\u201d and \u201cSamurai.\u201d<\/p>\n

The energy of the crowd, though, was even more palpable when Fiasco teased arguably his most popular song \u2014 \u201cSuperstar.\u201d Released in 2007 and featuring singer-songwriter Matthew Santos, \u201cSuperstar\u201d went Platinum three times and eventually became the artist\u2019s standout hit.<\/p>\n

Once the first pulses of the song rumbled through the Grand Prix crowd, the energy shifted as fans eager to hear it began shouting along and dancing.<\/p>\n

Lupe Fiasco\u2019s performance was just the beginning.<\/p>\n

The following night, on Saturday, Kings of Chaos returned to the Grand Prix of Long Beach to rock the crowd following another day of exciting racing.<\/p>\n

The all-star band of rock stars, founded by Guns N\u2019 Roses drummer Matt Sorum, also headlined in 2017<\/a> and 2023 \u2014 but with different lineups<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Kings of Chaos<\/a> lineup on Saturday featured guest singers Ed Kowalczyk of Live, Nick Hexum of 311 and singer Aloe Blacc, as well as guitarist Orianthi, Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo and Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think these cars are louder than rock \u2019n\u2019 roll,\u201d Sorum said at the beginning of the show. \u201cYou think you can be louder than cars?\u201d<\/p>\n

The crowd responded with deafening cheers.<\/p>\n

Orianthi then opened the show with a guitar-driven \u201cStar-Spangled Banner\u201d before leading on songs like Michael Jackson\u2019s \u201cBlack or White.\u201d Jackson chose Orianthi to be his lead guitarist for his \u201cThis Is It\u201d concerts when he suddenly died in 2009.<\/p>\n

Kowazyk, Hexum and Blacc, meanwhile, kept the energy going, performing hits by Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, The Doors and more during the more than one-hour concert.<\/p>\n

\"Rapper<\/p>\n

Rapper Lupe Fiasco performs at the Friday evening concert to close out day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Rapper<\/p>\n

Rapper Lupe Fiasco performs at the Friday evening concert to close out day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Rapper<\/p>\n

Rapper Lupe Fiasco performs at the Friday evening concert to close out day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Rapper<\/p>\n

Rapper Lupe Fiasco performs at the Friday evening concert to close out day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Rapper<\/p>\n

Rapper Lupe Fiasco performs at the Friday evening concert to close out day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Rapper<\/p>\n

Rapper Lupe Fiasco performs at the Friday evening concert to close out day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Rapper<\/p>\n

Rapper Lupe Fiasco performs at the Friday evening concert to close out day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans of Lupe Fiasco fill Terrace Theatre Plaza at the Friday evening concert to cap off day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans of Lupe Fiasco fill Terrace Theatre Plaza at the Friday evening concert to cap off day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Rapper<\/p>\n

Rapper Lupe Fiasco is backed by DJ Smokey at the Friday evening concert to close out day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Rapper<\/p>\n

Rapper Lupe Fiasco performs at the Friday evening concert to close out day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Rapper<\/p>\n

Rapper Lupe Fiasco performs at the Friday evening concert to close out day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Kings of Chaos rocked the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18, 2026. Group founder Matt Sorum, Guns N\u2019 Roses drummer, pictured introducing the band. (Photo by Michael Hixon\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Nick<\/p>\n

Nick Hexum of 311 performs with all-star band Kings of Chaos at the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Michael Hixon\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Megadeth<\/p>\n

Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo performs with all-star band Kings of Chaos at the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Michael Hixon\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Guitarist\/singer<\/p>\n

Guitarist\/singer Orianthi performs with all-star band Kings of Chaos at the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Michael Hixon\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Guitarist\/singer<\/p>\n

Guitarist\/singer Orianthi and drummer Matt Sorum perform with all-star band Kings of Chaos at the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18, 2026 Sorum is the founder of the band that has performed at the Grand Prix on three occasions. (Photo by Michael Hixon\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Kings of Chaos rocked the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18, 2026. Group founder Matt Sorum, Guns N\u2019 Roses drummer, pictured performing. (Photo by Michael Hixon\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Aloe<\/p>\n

Aloe Blacc performs with all-star band Kings of Chaos at the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Michael Hixon\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Guitarists<\/p>\n

Guitarists Orianthi and Nuno Bettencourt perform with all-star band Kings of Chaos at the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Michael Hixon\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 20<\/p>\n

Rapper Lupe Fiasco performs at the Friday evening concert to close out day one of the 51st Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

The last time Kings of Chaos headlined the Grand Prix of Long Beach\u2019s Saturday night concert, in 2023, the lineup included Rome Ramirez of Long Beach\u2019s Sublime; Corey Taylor of Slipknot; Living Colours\u2019 Corey Glover and Vernon Reid; and Lzzy Hale, the lead vocalist-guitarist of rock band Halestorm.<\/p>\n

Since Kings of Chaos was founded in 2012, the all-star band has had a rotating collection of famous rockers, including Guns N\u2019 Roses bassist Duff McKagan, and guitarists Gilby Clarke and Slash; Joe Elliott of Def Leppard; Gene Simmons of Kiss; Skid Row\u2019s Sebastian Bach; Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top; Robin Zander of Cheap Trick; Steven Tyler of Aerosmith; and Lou Gramm of Foreigner, among others.<\/p>\n

Among those in the crowd on Saturday night was longtime Grand Prix visitor Jason Abelar. The first time the Corona resident went to the Grand Prix was in 1988, when he was about 11 years old. He went with his brother.<\/p>\n

Abelar said at the Kings of Chaos concert that When he attended his first Grand Prix of Long Beach, Abelar said at the Saturday night concert, he fell in love with the cars, the racing and the \u201cloud engines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abelar said he liked the performance by Kings of Chaos. As for the Grand Prix itself, he said he has enjoyed seeing the three-day event \u2014 which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary and which draws close to 200,000 people annually \u2014 grow over the years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first came in 1988, they didn\u2019t have any bands then,\u201d Abelar said. \u201cIt was all about just the camaraderie with your friends and just having fun.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While the first two days of the Grand Prix of Long Beach are all about motorsports and building…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":280291,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[7,2644,131,28942,133,132,137,100],"class_list":{"0":"post-280290","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-long-beach","8":"tag-california","9":"tag-concerts","10":"tag-long-beach","11":"tag-long-beach-grand-prix","12":"tag-long-beach-headlines","13":"tag-long-beach-news","14":"tag-los-angeles-county","15":"tag-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=280290"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280290\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/280291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=280290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=280290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=280290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}