Electronic dance music fans cruised over to the Celebrity Theatre on Saturday, February 27, and Sunday, February 28, for the Bass Race outdoor event in the venue's parking lot. Dodge & Fuski, Dirty Audio, Dack Janiels, Yakz, and other DJ/producers into spinning bass music performed at the two-day event,.
A statement by the company announcing the news read: “While we are nearing the return of live music, April 2021 is too soon to hold Phoenix Lights in its true and intended format. Phoenix Lights is an electric experience only possible with the full crowd’s energy and the texture of an explorable festival site. That is how we want Phoenix Lights to be remembered now and for years to come.”
It’s the second time Relentless Beats has postponed the festival. The company, which has staged several socially distanced events like drive-in festivals and “pod concerts” over the past year, also ruled out the possibility of putting on the festival with this format. “It does not make sense for us to transform Phoenix Lights into a drive-in or pod concert experience at this time,” the company’s statement said.
Celebrity Theatre founder Rich Hazelwood has died; he was 74
Rich Hazelwood loses battle with leukemia at age 74.
and last updated 2021-03-02 00:19:37-05
PHOENIX â Rich Hazelwood, an Arizona entrepreneur who purchased and restored Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, died Monday, according to a statement from his family. He was 74. The Celebrity Theatre family is devastated to share the news that our owner, Rich Hazelwood passed away this morning. Rich Hazelwood cared deeply about his family, his Celebrity Theatre staff (which he considered family), everyone associated with Celebrity Theatre, and all the Valley supporters who attended concerts and events. He was very proud of the venue and what it means to the community, the family said in a statement.
Celebrity Theatre
Hazelwood is best known for his ownership of the Celebrity Theatre, the long-running concert venue that first opened as the Star Theatre in 1964 and features an in-the-round format for performances. Its hosted performances by such countless famous names over the decades, including Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Guns N Roses, Cheap Trick, Janelle Monáe, and Fleetwood Mac.
Hazelwood, a longtime fan of the venue, purchased the property in 2002. The theater is very special to me, Hazelwood told the
Arizona Republic last year. I watched it being built on my paper route and thought, One day I’m going to own that.
Saying they were devastated to share the news, the Hazelwood family issued a statement. Rich Hazelwood cared deeply about his family, his Celebrity Theatre staff (which he considered family), everyone associated with Celebrity Theatre, and all the Valley supporters who attended concerts and events, it read. He was very proud of the venue and what it means to the community.
Since Hazelwood bought the venue in 2002, the Celebrity hosted performances by such artists as Diana Ross, Duran Duran, Motorhead and Willie Nelson, as well as several years of Alice Cooper s Christmas Pudding concerts.
His daughter, Heidi Hazelwood, will lead Celebrity Theatre through this time of mourning with the assistance of Danny Zelisko, an Arizona concert promoter who s been booking shows there since the 1970s. I ve been in business with my dad since I could walk, Heidi Hazelwood says.