Long Beach, CA (Long Beach Grand Prix), April 18, 2026 Options

[dangum]

Ed Kowalczyk will be performing as part of the "Kings of Chaos" group that features Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum.

Kings of Chaos to headline Long Beach Grand Prix’s Saturday night concert

Kings of Chaos, a collective of legendary rock figures founded by Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum, will headline the 2026 Grand Prix of Long Beach’s Saturday night concert, according to a Thursday, March 5, announcement.

This year’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will take place in the city’s downtown from April 17-19, offering three days of high-speed fun for racing fans from across the world. The 2025 Grand Prix, celebrating the event’s 50th anniversary, drew around 197,000 spectators to the city’s waterfront.

The Grand Prix’s Saturday night concert typically features rock, classic rock and alternative artists — barring the 2024 lineup, which featured a country ensemble, including Eddie Montgomery, Gretchen Wilson, David Lee Murphy and the band Sixwire. For the Grand Prix’s 50th anniversary last year, legendary rock band Foreigner took the headlining spot on Saturday night.

The Kings of Chaos, meanwhile, aren’t new to the Grand Prix, having performed the Saturday show during the 2023 event. This year’s Kings of Chaos lineup, though, will feature what the band is best known for: surprise appearances, special guests — and a high-energy night of live music.

Alongside founder Sorum, several other artists are scheduled to join the show, including LIVE’s lead singer Ed Kowalczyk, 311 frontman Nick Hexum, singer/songwriter Aloe Blacc, and Orianthi, a world-renowned guitarist.

“Known for once-in-a-lifetime collaborations and surprise-filled performances, Kings of Chaos has earned a reputation for bringing together elite talent for electrifying live shows,” the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach said in its announcement. “The setlist will include hits from LIVE, 311 and Aloe Blacc, as well as a few surprise covers of other artists.”

LIVE formed in 1984 and is best known for its songs “Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition),” and “Lightning Crashes.”

311, a classic alternative rock band — with reggae, hip hop and funk influences — was formed in 1988 and known for hits “Amber,” “Down” and “All Mixed Up.” Besides Hexum as lead singer, 311 includes guitarist Jim Watson, bassist Aaron Willis and drummer Chad Sexton, and Dough Martinez as a second vocalist and turntablist.

“Looking forward to jamming with the monster players in Kings of Chaos,” Hexum said in the announcement. “Matt Sorum and I have been friends going back 30 years and it’s going to be great to rock out with him. Let there be chaos!”

Aloe Blacc, meanwhile, launched his solo career in 2003 and rose to prominence after his song “I Need a Dollar” was used as the theme song for “How to Make It in America,” an HBO series. He’s also known for his feature on Avicii’s 2013 single “Wake Me Up.”

Guitarist and singer Orianthi hails from Australia, and has spent her career making her own music — including her 2009 hit “According to You” — and playing guitar for major artists such as Carrie Underwood, Michael Jackson and Alice Cooper.

Besides those special guests, the Kings of Chaos show will, of course, feature Sorum on drums, Megadeath’s James LoMenzo on bass and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt on guitar.

“Long Beach is all about big moments and this is another one,” said GPALB president and CEO Jim Michaelian. “As always, Kings of Chaos brings a powerhouse lineup that matches the energy of race weekend, and having Ed Kowalczyk, Nick Hexum, Aloe Blacc and Orianthi as part of this show will be the perfect way for our fans to finish off an exhilarating Saturday of entertainment on-track and off.”

Admission to the Saturday evening concert, which will take place outside the Terrace Theatre at 6:30 p.m., is free for Grand Prix of Long Beach Saturday ticketholders.

General admission tickets for the second day of the Grand Prix start at $104, with three-day general admission tickets starting at $221.

Tickets are on sale at gplb.com

https://www.presstelegram.com/2026/03/06/ki...-night-concert/

[dangum]

Highlights from the show


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4j70KHgbt8

[Bob]

Highlights from the show


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4j70KHgbt8

Matt Sorum on drums and Nuno Bettencourt on guitar? Doesn't get much better than that.

Too bad that isn't a full video. I'd love to hear how they played those songs from start to finish. Ed's Instagram videos have been taken down.