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Insane Clown Posse announced their farewell tour as Violent J revealed his severe heart condition.

There’ll be no more clowning around . 

Insane Clown Posse has announced their farewell tour amid rock star Violent J’s severe heart failure diagnosis. 

“It’s very embarrassing and very not cool to have to say you’re taking a step backward,” J, 49, told fans during the annual Gathering of the Juggalos music festival in Ohio over the weekend. 

“This doesn’t mean I’m going to die or anything like that,” the “Hokus Pokus” performer assured the crowd in a video posted to YouTube , adding that it “means basically we can’t do things the way we used to do them.”

“We can’t really tour no more the way we were touring,” he continued, adding that the concert series will be a “slow tour,” consisting of only “three or four shows a week.”

Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope announced Insane Clown Posse's farewell tour amid J's declining health.

Owing to his declining health, Violent J — real name Joseph Bruce — revealed that he and bandmate Shaggy 2 Dope, a k a 47-year-old Joseph Utsler, will be taking their act around the globe one final time in 2022.  

“We’re gonna do one more tour next year around the world,” J said, according to Loudwire . “We’re gonna do the United States, and then we’re gonna go to Europe, Canada and Australia.

“It’s gonna be a farewell tour.”

The Detroit native went on to detail the gravity of his harrowing heart condition.  

“For those of you that haven’t been to my house,” the emcee said to the audience. “The studio is probably 40 yards from my front door. I noticed walking out to the studio every day, by the time I got to the f – – king studio, I was winded.”

His incapacities didn’t stop there. 

The Insane Clown Posse rock star has undergone several treatments in order to regulate his heart.

“Then when I’d walk up to my mailbox, I’d be like, ‘Oh f – – k, I’ve got to take a break.’ What the f – – k’s the problem?” J added. 

After suffering in silence for several weeks, the “Boogie Woogie Wu” rhymer went to the hospital for testing. 

Doctors ultimately determined that he had severe atrial fibrillation —or AFib — which is a sustained cardiac arrhythmia that causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat at an extremely rapid and irregular pace. 

“That scared the s – – t out of me,” J said of his diagnosis. 

He explained that physicians placed him on a number of medications and subjected him to several intense medical procedures. 

During one procedure, specialists entered the body through his leg in order to burn off a scar that had formed on his heart due to the irregular beating. 

The Insane Clown Posse rock star has undergone several treatments in order to regulate his heart.

“They burned the scar off,” he said. “And when I woke up, they said, ‘your [heart is] beating normal. But it could flip back at any moment from now until six years from now.’ ”

And although J admitted that his doctors advised against regularly performing live shows, he guaranteed ICP fans that his ailing heart won’t stop the music. 

“[This] don’t mean we’re not playing,” he said. “We’re gonna play every Juggalo weekend, every Hallowicked, every f – – king [Big Ballers Christmas Party], every event.”

The clown-crazy crowd cheered as J expounded on the “Neden Game” group’s plans to continue rocking the microphone.    

“We’re gonna do a show somewhere every month — one show a month is our plan,” he said. “I want to make it clear: making music is not affected in any way, shape or form by anything going on with Shaggy or myself health-wise.”

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Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope announced Insane Clown Posse's farewell tour amid J's declining health.

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Insane Clown Posse Announces 2022 Farewell Tour

Due to Violent J's heart issues, the Insane Clown Posse will break out the Faygo for one last tour together in 2022.

Insane Clown Posse will embark on one last Faygo-spraying tour together in 2022. During the annual Gathering of the Juggalos event at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, ICP's Violent J made the announcement that the rap duo will retire from touring after next year due to ongoing concerns about his health. While Insane Clown Posse will no longer tour in the trandtional way, he adds that he and Shaggy 2 Dope will continue to perform at one-off shows along with releasing new music.

"I want to make it clear, making music is not affected in any way, shape or form by anything going on with Shaggy or myself health-wise," said Violent J The 49-year-old also explained how he came to make the decision, first learning of his heart problems after getting "winded" from taking the 40-foot walk from his house to his studio. A subsequent ultrasound then brought about the bad news.

"We went to the hospital to see what's going on," the rapper noted. "They did an ultrasound. The lady who was looking at my heart, we could tell she was tripping about something, but she wasn't a doctor. The doctors were all tied up upstairs in the hospital, understandably. She told me, 'They want you to go straight home, get in bed and they'll call you first thing in the morning.'"

The "Chicken Huntin'" rapper added: "They called before the birds even woke up and fucking told me to go to the hospital. They took me in the back and shit, and basically they just came out and told me I have heart failure. That scared the shit out of me."

Violent J has since undergone various medical procedures for atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat that can cause blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart issues. Recognizing the serious nature of his condition, scaling back on his highly physical live performances seems like a logical next step. In an attempt to let as many fans catch ICP as possible on their farewell tour, Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope will be announcing 2022 dates in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia.

Originally called the Inner City Posse, Insane Clown Posse have been around since 1989. Adorning their faces with clown paint and going by their new name, ICP founded their own independent record label, Psychopathic Records, under which they continue to release new music. Because the hip hop duo has such a large fan base, the group hosts an annual Gathering of the Juggalos where fans can get together to celebrate the group's music and legacy.

Always the entertainers, Insane Clown Posse have pursued creative endeavors outside of the music industry as well. They formed their own indie wrestling organization and have competed as pro wrestlers for WWE, ECW, and WCW. Trying their hand at filmmaking, ICP also developed the comedy Big Money Hustlas which was later given a sequel, Big Money Rustlas .

For now, Insane Clown Posse's next show is scheduled for September while the group's next album will arrive on Halloween. The announcement that ICP will be doing a retirement tour next year has also been captured on video that has been posted to YouTube. This news comes to us from Variety .

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Insane Clown Posse Announces Farewell Tour Due to Violent J’s Heart Issues

By Ethan Shanfeld

Ethan Shanfeld

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Violent J of Insane Clown Posse performs at the 2021 Gathering of the Juggalos on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at Legend Valley in Thornville, OH. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Insane Clown Posse announced that its 2022 tour will be the duo’s last, as Violent J revealed his serious heart issues.

During the Gathering of the Juggalos over the weekend at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, Violent J said that while Insane Clown Posse will retire from touring, he and Shaggy 2 Dope will still perform at one-off shows each month and will continue to release new music.

“I want to make it clear, making music is not affected in any way, shape or form by anything going on with Shaggy or myself health-wise,” the 49-year-old rapper said.

Revealing that he started feeling “winded” during the 40-foot walk from his house to the studio, Violent J said, “We went to the hospital to see what’s going on. They did an ultrasound. The lady who was looking at my heart, we could tell she was tripping about something, but she wasn’t a doctor. The doctors were all tied up upstairs in the hospital, understandably. She told me, ‘They want you to go straight home, get in bed and they’ll call you first thing in the morning.'”

The rapper added, “They called before the birds even woke up and fucking told me to go to the hospital. They took me in the back and shit, and basically they just came out and told me I have heart failure. That scared the shit out of me.”

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Violent J said he has since undergone various procedures for atrial fibrillation, which is defined as an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other cardiovascular complications.

Insane Clown Posse plans to hit the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia next year. The duo also announced their next show will take place in September, and their next album will come out on Halloween.

Watch the full announcement below.

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Insane Clown Posse announce farewell world tour due to Violent J's heart condition

The hip-hop duo plan to continue making music.

Sydney Bucksbaum is a writer at Entertainment Weekly covering all things pop culture – but TV is her one true love. She currently lives in Los Angeles but grew up in Chicago so please don't make fun of her accent when it slips out.

icp final tour

The horrorcore hip-hop duo Insane Clown Posse have announced a farewell world tour after Violent J revealed he has a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation (or A-fib), a heart-rhythm abnormality.

At ICP's Gathering of the Juggalos festival over the weekend , Violent J (real name: Joseph Bruce) told the crowd that due to his ongoing heart issues, he has to take a step back from touring with his partner, Shaggy 2 Dope. But first, ICP will go on one last tour beginning in the United States before moving on to Canada, Europe, and Australia, with the dates spread out to make things easier on Violent J's health.

While onstage at Gathering of the Juggalos , Violent J explained how he started to notice he was getting winded while doing simple tasks like walking to his mailbox or the short distance between his house and studio. When he went to the doctor to get checked out, he was told he "had heart failure" and "the more serious" form of A-fib.

"This don't mean anything like I'm going to die or anything like that," he told the crowd. "It just means that basically we can't do things the way we used to do. We can't really tour no more the way we were touring. We're going to do one more tour next year around the world… but it's going to be a slow tour, like three or four shows a week."

Violent J went on to reassure fans that even after the farewell tour, ICP will still play at major events like Gathering of the Juggalos. "We're pretty much going to do a show somewhere every month," he said. "I want to make it clear making music is not affected in any way, shape, or form by anything going on with Shaggy or myself health-wise. We're ready to kick ass in the f---ing studio, and that's a fact."

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Insane Clown Posse Announce Farewell Tour Due to Violent J’s Serious Heart Issues

Insane Clown Posse  revealed the hip-hop duo will retire from touring after next year's farewell jaunt as Violent J disclosed he had serious heart…

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Insane Clown Posse

Insane Clown Posse  revealed the hip-hop duo will retire from touring after next year’s farewell jaunt as Violent J disclosed he had serious heart issues.

During last weekend’s Gathering of the Juggalos at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, Violent J reassured the crowd that he and Shaggy 2 Dope will still perform one-off shows every month and will continue to release music, saying, “I want to make it clear, making music is not affected in any way, shape or form by anything going on with Shaggy or myself health-wise.” The 49-year-old MC revealed that he was notably feeling “winded” every time he walked from his house to the studio, which he said was about a 40-foot walk.

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“We went to the hospital to see what’s going on. They did an ultrasound. The lady who was looking at my heart, we could tell she was tripping about something, but she wasn’t a doctor. The doctors were all tied up upstairs in the hospital, understandably. She told me, ‘They want you to go straight home, get in bed and they’ll call you first thing in the morning,'” Violent J recalled. “They called before the birds even woke up and f—ing told me to go to the hospital. They took me in the back and sh–, and basically they just came out and told me I have heart failure. That scared the sh– out of me.”

Ohio Man Sues After Legless Juggalo Crashes Into Him With a Golf Cart at Insane Clown Posse…

He explained how he underwent various procedures for atrial fibrillation, which the American Heart Association defines as the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beating irregularly instead of beating effectively to move blood into the ventricles. The irregular or quivering heartbeat affiliated with a-fib can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.

After 25 years of touring, the group plans to set out for one last tour next year, which will include the United States and then Europe, Canada and Australia. Violent J announced ICP will perform their next show sometime at the end of September. “We’re coming on that stage fully f—ing ’80s rocked out!” Violent J said. The group also confirmed their next record will be out on Halloween.

Watch Insane Clown Posse’s announcement below.

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Insane Clown Posse announces farewell tour

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Shaggy 2 Dope of Insane Clown Posse performs at the 2021 Gathering of the Juggalos on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at Legend Valley in Thornville, OH.

ICP doesn’t want things to end in the ICU, so they’re slowing things down a bit.

Detroit rap duo Insane Clown Posse told fans that their next tour will be the last, on account of singer Violent J’s heart problems. The 49-year-old performer, born Joseph Bruce, took to the stage Saturday with his partner Joseph Utsler, aka Shaggy 2 Dope, to break the news to fans.

“We’re gonna do one more tour next year around the world,” Violent J said. “It’s gonna be a farewell tour.”

The pair made sure their followers, known as “Juggalos,” understood that not touring anymore won’t mean the “It’s All Over” performers were packing up their clown make-up and calling it quits. The circus just won’t be coming to town on a regular basis any more.

Shaggy 2 Dope of Insane Clown Posse performs at the 2021 Gathering of the Juggalos on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at Legend Valley in Thornville, OH.

“That don’t mean we’re not playing. We’re gonna play every Juggalo weekend, every Hallowicked, every f—ing (Christmas Party), every event,” he said. “We’re gonna do a show somewhere every month.”

Violent J also said that not touring would give the band more time to record new music.

“We’re ready to kick a– in the studio,” he said.

The duo promised their fans a single on Halloween Day. Shaggy 2 Dope said ICP’s plan is to “Roll it to the wheels fall off of this b–ch.”

Violent J, who is a father, told fans he recently started feeling winded while walking to his recording studio, which is 40 yards from his front door. He visited a hospital, underwent tests and returned home.

A short time later, doctors told to him to come back, he said. After undergoing treatments for atrial fibrillation and spending 25 years on the road, it was time for a new plan.

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Insane Clown Posse tour dates 2024

Insane Clown Posse is currently touring across 1 country and has 1 upcoming concert.

The final concert of the tour will be at Lefty's Live Music in Des Moines.

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Past concerts

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The Liberty Belle - Rocks Off Concert Cruise

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I have been listening to I.c.p.for quite sometime now and they have made a huge impact on my life and 1 night I actually got to shake the hand of shaggy 2 dope and i was soo in awe that my brain locked up and I didn't know w.t.f. to say besides " I was just listening to ringmaster this morning" I mean, wtf. Here is shaggy 2 dope along with Ouija and I think violent J was there at the aquarium in Gatlinburg,TN. I really wish I had that moment all over again. It would definitely turn out the juggalo way. We would definitely go chicken huntin!!! Forks up forks down all the way!! ...Gary Thompson

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We all know how much shit these two guys get for what they do, but love them or hate them, they know their fans and what they came to see. They come out doing their thing, throwing overflowing 2-liter bottles of Faygo diet root beer into the audience as they mosh furiously.

I got pretty soaked and after about 10 minutes of being in that pit, I had to get out because I was being thrown around so hard. By the time I got out, my hair and shirt were covered in root beer. This WOULD be upsetting, but, those considerate clowns use DIET Faygo root beer, so it's not sticky at all, has the consistency of water and doesn't burn if it gets in your eyes. It makes it far more fun and less stressful.

As for the actual performance, they're doing the thing they've always done, the thing they love to do and they've clearly got the idea down because they really put on one hell of a show. They don't leave it all to themselves, too, (dressed in horror-style clown outfits) come out throwing confetti, streamers, more bottles of Faygo and even entire buckets full of Faygo into the crowd. They also didn't stop there, keeping it fresh by inviting all the female fans (Juggalettes) on stage with them to keep showering the crowd with Faygo, and later, during the last song, basically anyone that wanted to be onstage was allowed up there, it seemed. It was total anarchy, but it was pretty amazing to watch and was never truly out of hand.

Overall, they put on a damn good show, and not only do the duo themselves make sure it's a show to remember, but the loyal fanbase of Juggalos that come out to see them make sure of it to. It doesn't matter how much of the music you know or which acts you came to see, if you're there, you're a part of the family. Say what you will about the Insane Clown Posse, their label and Juggalos, but they are some kickass people and make for a night to remember.

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I just dont understand how I became a juggalo, I didn't even care for rap much except for stuff like F the police maybe some beastie boys, I'll even admit Run DMC....but I've even played karaoke versions of these guys songs to people who didn't know wtf I was playing and they agree musically these tracks are amazing, but lyrics only means you still have tons of material for stand up comedy. On stage it is something you just won't see any other way and I've been following some of the first bands in LA to even do a stage show so I've seen some way out stuff....but the first time I saw these guys live made it clear to me that I have to see them each time I can from then on. So tonight's gig was 3rd time and it's still surreal to me even when I try to explain to others wtf an icp gig is like. If you are even contemplating because of the ticket price, it will make perfect sense while you watch the show where the money goes.

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Insane Clown Posse plans 'slow' farewell tour as Violent J battles heart condition

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The long-running Detroit rap duo Insane Clown Posse had a pair of bombshell announcements for fans this weekend.

The group’s Violent J , addressing a crowd Saturday at the 21st Gathering of the Juggalos in Ohio, revealed he was recently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a condition involving abnormal heart rhythm.

Violent J, the charismatic 49-year-old born Joseph Bruce, told fans his heart issue “means basically we can’t do things the way we used to do them.” 

With longtime music partner Shaggy 2 Dope and his brother, Robert Bruce, alongside him onstage, Violent J said ICP will be scaling back its concert activity.

That will include a farewell tour next year with dates in the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Australia — albeit at a lighter pace than normal for the longtime road warriors. Calling it a “slow tour,” Violent J said ICP will play three or four shows a week.

He said his doctors are “not too amped on me doing shows, period. But it’s not a wise move to get out and play six nights a week with (the heart) situation.”

Saturday’s announcement came on the final afternoon of the three-day Gathering, held this year in Thornville, Ohio. The freewheeling annual festival draws ICP fans from across the country — “Juggalos,” in the group’s parlance — for camping, special activities, and performances by the duo and associated acts.

Violent J and Shaggy said the tour won’t be the end of their performing career. The group would continue to play once a month and stage its special events, including its yearly Gatherings and the Hallowicked show held annually in Detroit in October.

Moreover, the 2022 farewell tour may not be the only one, Violent J joked.

“I always thought it would be cool to do a farewell tour like Kiss does,” he said. “And then do another one two years later.”

Juggalos descend on D.C. to fight FBI gang distinction as pro-Trump activists rally

The group also said it will continue to make music regardless.

Violent J said his heart condition was diagnosed after he found himself frequently winded during short walks on his property in Farmington Hills. He described an alarming series of hospital visits that included an emergency fibrillation.

A later ablation procedure managed to correct his abnormal heart rhythm, he said, but it doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods: The condition could manifest at any point.

ICP, which formed in 1989 initially as Inner City Posse, was one of Detroit’s first breakout rap acts, becoming heavyweights in the horrorcore subgenre. With its distinctive clown makeup, a “Dark Carnival” mythology woven through more than a dozen albums, and periodic spikes of controversy for its violent imagery, the group fostered a devoted Juggalo audience.

Juggalo 101: Who they are and why they're marching on Washington

The group also proved its chops on the entrepreneurial side, building a label (Psychopathic Records), a merchandising mini-empire and even a wrestling division at its Farmington Hills headquarters.

Shaggy 2 Dope vowed that Saturday’s news doesn’t mean the demise of Insane Clown Posse.

“The last 30 years were just a warmup,” he said.

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Insane Clown Posse's History In Wrestling, Explained

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The Insane Clown Posse have been a fixture of the pro wrestling business since their arrival in the 1990s. Even if you've never heard their music, you've more than likely seen or otherwise been made aware of ICP at some point. Their face paint has been a widely parodied look and their fans, the Juggalos, have often been the subject of widespread notoriety.

Their music has always been an eclectic mix of hip hop and surreal horror tinted visuals that often lampoon serious subjects. With an aesthetic this bonkers and a fanbase this loyal, it only makes sense that ICP and pro wrestling would pair well together. From the indies to some of the biggest companies in the world, the Posse have certainly left their mark on the squared circle. But, for those who need an education — not on magnets, but on Insane Clown Posse's history in wrestling — this is for you.

The wrestling origins of the Insane Clown Posse

Insane Clown Posse's origins began in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan and with two men — Joseph Bruce AKA Violent J and Joseph Utsler AKA Shaggy 2 Dope. As noted in "Behind the Paint" by Violent J and Hobey Echlin, the duo's beginnings are actually heavily intertwined with backyard pro wrestling. For those who need some context, remember those "Don't try this at home" bumpers that WWE has aired over the years? Essentially, these are the kids who outright ignored that and opted to turn their backyards into their own imaginary arenas.

While certainly dangerous, these humble roots did provide the duo an on-ramp into pro wrestling, bringing their self taught skills to actual indie companies. Following a stint in jail, Violent J met then-ECW stars Rob Van Dam and Sabu, who eventually became good friends with him and Shaggy. It was also during this time that Violent J grew disillusioned with the often political nature of the independent wrestling scene. This led to them sinking their teeth into the hip hop game, taking gigs under their gang name of the Inner City Posse. Wanting to stand out against a saturated gangsta rap market, the duo rebranded as the Insane Clown Posse. This is where the group truly came into their own, taking on the eclectic tone and gonzo horror vibes that they'd become known for.

Their time in ECW

If ever a professional wrestling product defined the anarchist, often countercultural grudge vibes of the '90s, it was Extreme Championship Wrestling. Unpolished and possessing an unwavering sense of DIY spirit, ECW provided a great venue for many fresh young talents to make their mark. This included the likes of Rob Van Dam, Chris Jericho, Tazz, Rey Mysterio, Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, and even the Insane Clown Posse.

As previously mentioned, J and Shaggy had already fostered a friendship with RVD and Sabu during their time on the indie scene. This friendship resulted in ICP getting a call from them in 1997 asking if they wanted to appear on an ECW event. The duo accepted, and ended up making their debut for the company at their second pay-per-view event Hardcore Heaven. After an in-ring hip hop performance, Sabu and RVD, in the midst of their heel tag team run, rushed the ring and battered ICP. In a painful twist of fate, an ill placed kick from RVD ruptured J's eardrum , rendering him temporarily deaf. Thankfully, The Sandman arrived, fighting off RVD and Sabu, saving ICP in the process to a sizable crowd reaction. As a one-off appearance it effectively showcased ICP's musical abilities, mastery of crowd, work and impressive ability to take a beating.

The birth of Strangle-Mania

The same year as their spot on Hardcore Heaven, Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope set off another wrestling venture. The duo's love for pro wrestling extended far and wide, especially towards the Land of the Rising Sun. Both men were rabid fans of the Japanese death matches that were often sold on compilation VHS tapes. The two men parlayed this fandom into a video release known as "Strangle-Mania," a compilation of Japanese matches but with ICP's own commentary track.

The success of the "Strangle-Mania" brand led to ICP's Strangle-Mania Live 1997 , a hybrid of hip hop and pro wrestling. Outside of a few scant clips, the full event has never surfaced but its contents have been chronicled online. The event was headlined by a match between Insane Clown Posse versus a tag team made up for the event called The Chicken Boys. Through their connections with Hellfire Wrestling, the show also featured appearances from legitimate deathmatch wrestlers — Mad Man Pondo, 2 Tuff Tony, and Corporal Robinson. Not only that, but legitimate wrestling legends such as King Kong Bundy and Abdullah the Butcher were there as well. From what can be seen of the event, the entire affair was a superb beta test for what ICP could do with live pro wrestling.

Their time in WWF

In the late '90s, the WWE, still known as the WWF, was heavily entrenched in the Attitude Era. This was a time predicated on gonzo and frequently bad taste car crash television more so than high workrate wrestling. One idea that emerged due to this era was The Oddities, a stable of various freakshow wrestlers originally led by The Jackyl AKA Don Callis. The group was originally a group of freakish heels composed of Kurrgan, Giant Silva, Golga, and Luna Vachon. Interestingly enough, the group found themselves in a segment with characters from another '90s stable, Howard Stern's Wack Pack.

Following Callis' departure, the group were rebranded as babyfaces and even given a catchy new entrance track courtesy of the Insane Clown Posse. Per "Behind the Paint," WWF had caught wind of the duo's crossover appeal with wrestling fans and offered them the opportunity. This resulted in not only their song being used, but even accompanying the Oddities to the ring whenever available. Additionally, ICP got the chance to compete in the ring against Mosh and Thrasher AKA The Headbangers. Things soured when the Headbangers opted to shoot on ICP, hitting them with very stiff shots and not selling their offense. This, combined with previously agreed upon Insane Clown Posse commercials not airing on "Raw," killed the relationship with ICP and WWF.

Their time in WCW

Following their departure from WWF, the Insane Clown Posse opted to appear for Vince McMahon's competitor, World Championship Wrestling AKA WCW. From 1999 to 2000, ICP were a frequent presence on WCW television, helping to form two stables within their stint. The first of these stables was The Dead Pool, an offshoot of Raven's Flock from ECW, featuring Insane Clown Posse, Vampiro, and Raven himself. Following Raven's departure from WCW, the group was rechristened as The Dark Carnival and supplemented with The Kiss Demon and The Great Muta.

In WCW, ICP were allowed to compete in-ring far more than in WWF. ICP found themselves staring up at the lights more often than not, but did manage to score some victories along the way. This included wins over the likes of Norman Smiley, Public Enemy, and even the boy band themed faction known as 3 Count. ICP's time where the big boys play came to close in rather painful fashion amidst a two-on-one handicap match against Mike Awesome. The match concluded when Awesome, stuck in his '70s gimmick, Awesome-Bombed Shaggy onto the roof of his bus. This led to Shaggy sliding off the roof and falling to the concrete ground below, resulting in a sickening bump.

That time ROH booed them out the door

The 2000s were a time of great change for pro wrestling, especially when it came to the independent scene. Following ECW's financial downfall and subsequent purchase by the WWF, many indie feds attempted to recapture that same magic. One company that arose from this was Ring of Honor AKA ROH, first opening its doors in the year 2002. Without ROH, the modern landscape of wrestling would lack some of its most prominent figures — including Bryan Danielson, Sami Zayn, Samoa Joe, and Homicide. From day one, ROH predicated itself on fostering a loyal ECW-style fanbase and hinging itself on workrate based matchups.

Given this commitment to see sports entertainment-based wrestling, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that the Insane Clown posse didn't quite fit in. At ROH's Glory By Honor 2002, ICP made their one and only appearance for the company, facing off against Diablo Santiago & Oman Tortuga AKA The Outcast Killaz. Simply put, the ROH fans didn't warm up to ICP's shtick and thoroughly booed them throughout the matchup. Following this less than positive reaction from the company's fans, the duo didn't return for another appearance.

Their time in Impact Wrestling

The Insane Clown Posse's final stop on their tour across late-'90s and early-'00s wrestling companies was Impact Wrestling , then known as "TNA Impact." For the longest time, "TNA Impact" was the only somewhat-legitimate competitor that the WWE had throughout the 2000s. In 2004, J and Shaggy made their first appearance on TNA's weekly television in the crowd alongside some Juggalos. Later that night however, Jeff Jarrett was battling El Leon through the crowd when ICP opted to spray Faygo in his eyes. This turned into a storyline in which ICP, set on competing in TNA, began wrestling whomever Jarrett sent in his stead.

Residing mainly near the company's lower-midcard, ICP took on the likes of Glenn Gilbertti, David Young, and Kid Kash. This feud resulted in the one-off stipulation of a Dark Carnival match being used — something of a hardcore bout that featured weapons and periodic uses of ICP's music — a match type that hasn't resurfaced since. The duo eventually stopped appearing on television, but their contributions to the company weren't done just yet. In 2006, ICP were given the chance to book and promote the first ever TNA house show event. Other than a crowd cameo a few years later, this was a wrap for ICP's run in the Impact Zone.

The creation of Juggalo Championship Wrestling

By this point, the Insane Clown Posse's appreciation for pro wrestling should be abundantly clear, especially given the bevy of companies they've appeared for. Given their bizarrely impressive tenure within the business, forming their own wrestling federation seemed a logical move. Dropping in the year 1999, Juggalo Championship Wrestling (formerly Championsh** Wrestling) debuted at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit, Michigan. This event, similar to Strangle-Mania Live, proved to be a big success and was given a home media release via "JCW Vol. 1." The first volume was a big success financially, resulting in the release of a second and third volume. Though the third volume needed some extra time as due to injuries and an overly raucous crowd , the first taping was deemed unusable.

Following the success of their video releases, the company began going under the new moniker of Juggalo Championship Wrestling. Following this rebranding, JCW began a kayfabe-rivalry with another indie fed, the Philly-based company known as Pro Wrestling Unplugged AKA PWU. Building steam, JCW began releasing "Slam TV!," a weekly series that led up to their highly anticipated BloodyMania event. At its core, JCW is a loving tribute to the gloriously violent hardcore wrestling and Japanese deathmatches that originally inspired ICP. That definitely rings true in their home media releases, which are dripping with ICP's music and their signature sense of humor.

Gathering of the Juggalos

Where it comes to the Insane Clown Posse, there are few grounds more holy than the Gathering of the Juggalos. The first Gathering took place in 1999, serving as the first organized event for the quickly expanding ICP fanbase. This beta test for the event was not without some hiccups, most infamously 300 Juggalos joining the group on stage, resulting in the concert being stopped. However, the event was still a success, resulting in the Gathering coming back for a second go and lasting till today. Much like ICP's Strangle-Mania Live 1997, the event is a hodgepodge of different forms of entertainment, including pro wrestling.

The Gathering of the Juggalos has been frequently used as a venue for pro wrestling, often with JCW. Given the chaotic nature of the event, pro wrestling made for a natural fit. Often branded as JCW's BloodyMania, the matches definitely leaned into the event's party atmosphere, focusing on insane spots and bloodshed. If you've never seen footage of the event, the best way to describe it would be as a crossbreed of ECW and Woodstock. It's a testament to the power of independent spirit and what can happen when you build an insane yet loyal fanbase — whoop whoop indeed!

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COMMENTS

  1. Insane Clown Posse announces their 'farewell tour'

    Insane Clown Posse announced their farewell tour as Violent J, 49, real name Joseph Bruce, revealed his severe heart condition during the Gathering of the Juggalos concert in Ohio over the weekend.

  2. INSANE CLOWN POSSE TOUR DATES

    Upcoming Events. INSANE CLOWN POSSE TOUR DATES. bottom of page

  3. Insane Clown Posse Announces 2022 Farewell Tour

    In an attempt to let as many fans catch ICP as possible on their farewell tour, Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope will be announcing 2022 dates in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia ...

  4. Insane Clown Posse Announce Final Tour Due to Violent J's ...

    Amy Harris/Invision/AP. Insane Clown Posse announced that its 2022 tour will be the duo's last, as Violent J revealed his serious heart issues. During the Gathering of the Juggalos over the ...

  5. Insane Clown Posse announce farewell tour due to Violent J's heart

    Insane Clown Posse have announced a farewell world tour after Violent J revealed he has a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation. But the hip-hop duo have no plans to stop making music.

  6. Insane Clown Posse Announce Farewell Tour

    08/23/2021. Shaggy 2 Dope (l) and Violent J (r) of the Insane Clown Posse pose backstage Oct. 30, 2003 at the Riviera in Chicago. Scott Harrison/Getty Images. Insane Clown Posse revealed the hip ...

  7. Insane Clown Posse Tickets, Tour Dates & Concerts 2025 & 2024

    Find information on all of Insane Clown Posse's upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025. Insane Clown Posse is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 1 concert across 1 country in 2024-2025.

  8. Insane Clown Posse announces farewell tour

    Insane Clown Posse announces farewell tour. Shaggy 2 Dope of Insane Clown Posse performs at the 2021 Gathering of the Juggalos on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at Legend Valley in Thornville, OH. ICP ...

  9. Insane Clown Posse tour dates 2023

    Insane Clown Posse Full Tour Schedule 2023 & 2024, Tour Dates & Concerts - Songkick. Insane Clown Posse tour dates 2023. Insane Clown Posse is currently touring across 1 country and has 1 upcoming concert. The final concert of the tour will be at Masonic Temple in Detroit.

  10. Insane Clown Posse

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  11. Insane Clown Posse Tickets, 2024 Concert Tour Dates

    09. 5/12/24Until May 12 5/9/24, 12:00 AM. Daytona Beach, FL Daytona International Speedway Welcome to Rockville. On partner site. Find tickets 5/9/24, 12:00 AM. EXCLUSIVE | Ticketmaster now offers hotel deals! Save up to 57% off your stay when you bundle your ticket with a hotel. Promoted.

  12. ICP announces farewell tour after Violent J reveals heart condition

    The long-running Detroit rap duo Insane Clown Posse had a pair of bombshell announcements for fans this weekend. The group's Violent J, addressing a crowd Saturday at the 21st Gathering of the ...

  13. Insane Clown Posse

    TOUR. BIOGRAPHY. INSANE CLOWN POSSE. The founders of Psychopathic Records and perhaps the most notorious and controversial rap duo in the history of music, ICP rose from being scrubs on the streets of Detroit to becoming bona-fide pop culture icons and Gold and Platinum-selling recording artists. Through sheer hard work and determination, ICP ...

  14. Insane Clown Posse

    Welcome to Rockville. Find concert tickets for Insane Clown Posse upcoming 2024 shows. Explore Insane Clown Posse tour schedules, latest setlist, videos, and more on livenation.com.

  15. Insane Clown Posse Announce "Wicked Clowns From Outer Space" Tour

    The call has been sounded! Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope have been called by the cosmos to gather once again. Insane Clown Posse has announced a 2023 tour. It's going to be a blast from the past, as this "Wicked Clowns from Outer Space" tour will faithfully replicate their 1999 tour. This will be ICP's 23rd tour, scheduled for July 5th-8th.

  16. News About ICP's Farewell Tour : r/juggalo

    That's what it sounds like, but in reality, they're gonna play 4 shows in Australia, they'll hit 1 stop in England, 1 in Ireland, 1 in France, 1 or 2 in Germany, 1 in Holland, and 1 in Norway. So probably 7 dates altogether in Europe, 8 max. Then maybe 5-7 dates in Canada. You're looking at an absolute maximum of 20 dates on the ...

  17. Psychopathic Records

    Official Psychopathic Records Youtube pageSUBSCRIBE NOW!Psychopathic Video Department brings you the freshest videos from Psychopathic Records.

  18. Insane Clown Posse on Twitter: "Peep the updated tour flyer! Tickets

    Insane Clown Posse. @icp. Peep the updated tour flyer! Tickets are available via Spotify Pre-Sale until 10 PM (est) tonight! Tickets officially go on sale TOMORROW (4/21) at 10 AM ... So J is on tour in June, Joey is on tour in July/August; why the fuck can't we get an ICP show?! Just do this but together. I mean, solo tours are cool, but there ...

  19. Insane Clown Posse

    TOUR. NEWS. Psychopathic Records. 9 hours ago; 1 min "Hair Up" Insane Clown Posse Official Lyrics Music Video. Surprise Bxtch! "Hair Up" the OFFICIAL LYRICS MUSIC VIDEO from the Insane Clown Posse just dropped like a hatchet from the sky, slappin'... 0 comments. 1 like. Post not marked as liked 1. Psychopathic Records. 15 hours ago;

  20. Insane Clown Posse's History In Wrestling, Explained

    The Insane Clown Posse's final stop on their tour across late-'90s and early-'00s wrestling companies was Impact Wrestling, then known as "TNA Impact." For the longest time, "TNA Impact" was the ...

  21. Insane Clown Posse announce Gathering of the Juggalos ...

    Insane Clown Posse were announced as part of the 2023 Riot ... The original Wicked Clowns From Outer Space Tour was a touchstone moment in Juggalo history and many ninja's initiation into The ...

  22. Insane Clown Posse

    Insane Clown Posse, often abbreviated as ICP, is an American hip hop duo. Formed in Detroit in 1989, ICP's best-known lineup consists of rappers Violent J (Joseph Bruce) and Shaggy 2 Dope (originally 2 Dope; Joseph Utsler). Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore and is known for its elaborate live performances. The duo has earned two platinum and five gold ...

  23. ICP Final show at Juggalo Gathering 2023 . Insane Clown Posse

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