Rob Zombie (born Robert Bartleh Cummings; January 12, 1965) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and actor. His music and lyrics are notable for their horror and sci-fi themes,[2][3] and his live shows have been praised for their elaborate shock rock theatricality.[4][1][5][6] He has sold an estimated 15 million albums worldwide.[7] He rose to fame as a founding member and the frontman of heavy metal band White Zombie, with whom he released four albums.
Zombie directed the horror film House of 1000 Corpses in 2000, though the controversial project was not released until 2003, and has since been described as a cult classic. Zombie followed the film with two sequels in his Firefly trilogy: The Devil's Rejects (2005) and 3 from Hell (2019). After the success of his first two films he directed Halloween (2007), a remake of the classic 1978 horror film. The film became his highest-grossing to date, though was generally received negatively by critics. He later directed Halloween II (2009), which failed to match the commercial success of its predecessor. Zombie has also directed the films The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009), The Lords of Salem (2012), 31 (2016), and The Munsters (2022).
Early life
Zombie was born Robert Bartleh Cummings in Haverhill, Massachusetts,[8] on January 12, 1965,[9] the oldest son of Louise and Robert Cummings.[10] His younger brother, Michael, uses the stage name Spider One and is the lead singer of Powerman 5000.[11][12][13] Growing up, he had a fascination with horror films and "always wanted to be Alice Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Bela Lugosi, and Stan Lee".[14][15] He has said of his childhood, "I didn't aspire to be anything. I was just a dopey kid. Basically everyone seemed amazing to me as a kid. I grew up in some nowhere town... anybody that even seemed remotely famous just seemed like they were on another planet."[16]
Zombie's parents worked at a carnival.[17] In 1977, when he was 12, his parents chose to leave after a riot broke out at the carnival and tents were set on fire.[18][19] He said of the experience, "Everybody's pulling out guns, and you could hear guns going off. I remember this one guy we knew, he was telling us where to go, and some guy just ran up to him and hit him in the face with a hammer—just busted his face wide open. My parents packed up real quick, and we took off."[20] He later elaborated, "I think someone just got ripped off for a lot of money on the gambling tents and they came back later and set the tents on fire [and] it turned into this big riot. [...] It was super violent and crazy and I think that was when my parents were like, 'You know what? We might be able to find something better to be doing here.' Because me and my brother are in the middle of this. Things are on fire, people beating the crap out of each other."[16]
Cummings and Yseult co-founded the band that would become known as White Zombie. They broke up after seven years of dating, but continued to work in the band together.[32] The band released three extended plays to little success, with their debut studio album Soul-Crusher following in 1987 through the band's own record label, Silent Explosion.[33] They released their second studio album Make Them Die Slowly in 1989 to little commercial reaction.[34] Yseult and Zombie ended their relationship in 1991 and Zombie began dating Sheri Moon shortly afterwards.[35] The band caught the attention of Geffen Records following the release of their fourth extended play; their third studio album, La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One, was released through the label in 1992.[36] Although the album did not enter the Billboard 200 chart until about a year after its release,[37] it became the band's breakout hit, going on to sell over two million copies in the United States.[38] Two singles, "Thunder Kiss '65" and "Black Sunshine", were released to promote La Sexorcisto.[39][40]
White Zombie's fourth and final studio album, Astro-Creep: 2000 – Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head (1995), became their first and only to enter the top ten of the Billboard 200; it went on to sell over two million copies in the United States.[37][38] Cummings directed the music video for the album's single "More Human than Human" (1995) and would go on to direct all subsequent videos for the band.[41][42] In 1996, Cummings legally changed his name to Rob Zombie.[43] White Zombie released a remix album that year, marking their final release before their eventual disbandment.[44] Zombie collaborated with Alice Cooper on the song "Hands of Death (Burn Baby Burn)" (1996) for Songs in the Key of X: Music from and Inspired by the X-Files.[45] The song was nominated in the category of Best Metal Performance at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, though lost to Rage Against the Machine.[46] White Zombie officially broke up in September 1998, with Zombie stating, "Sometimes a band just breaks up because the band has run its course and the best days are behind them. White Zombie went through a lot together and did tons of great stuff, but it was time to stop. The good times were over and we were all moving in different directions."[47] A box-set for the group was released in 2008 featuring all of their released material.[48]
Since the break up of White Zombie, Zombie has shown no interest in reforming the band and has been quoted as saying, "I have many legit reasons [for not wanting to reform White Zombie]. Just because you don't know them does not mean they don't exist. Everything is not everybody's business."[49] In a 2011 interview, Zombie stated that he had not spoken to any members of the band "except John Tempesta in about 15 years."[50]
1998–2001: Solo debut and commercial success
Work on Zombie's debut solo album first began in 1997, before the band had officially broken up.[51] For the album, Zombie worked with numerous artists, including Charlie Clouser of Nine Inch Nails fame and former White Zombie bandmate John Tempesta.[52][53][54][55][56] Zombie's solo debut album, Hellbilly Deluxe: 13 Tales of Cadaverous Cavorting Inside the Spookshow International, was released on August 25, 1998.[57] The album was a commercial success, debuting at number five on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 121,000 copies.[58] The album's first week sales topped that of his prior albums with White Zombie.[59]Hellbilly Deluxe went on to become Zombie's highest selling album to date, with sales exceeding three million copies in the United States.[60] The album was influenced by classic horror films,[61] with numerous songs on the album containing samples and quotes from some of Zombie's favorite horror films.[62] The album spawned three singles, all of which charted on the BillboardHot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[63] Numerous songs from the album were used in films and video games, mainly in the horror genre.[64] The success of the album led to the release of Zombie's first remix album, American Made Music to Strip By (1999).[65] The album entered the top forty of the Billboard 200 in its debut week.[65]
Zombie formed his own record label, Zombie-A-Go-Go Records, in 1998.[66] The label released the final album from American instrumental band The Bomboras,[67] as well as the debut album from the Ghastly Ones.[66] Both albums were released on June 2, 1998, though received little critical or commercial success. The label next released the compilation album Halloween Hootenanny (1998), featuring appearances from artists such as Reverend Horton Heat and Rocket From the Crypt.[68] Zombie himself contributed the song "Halloween (She Get So Mean)" to the soundtrack, which had previously appeared on promotional releases of "Dragula" (1998). Zombie released the album Rob Zombie Presents The Words & The Music Of Frankenstein on October 12, 1999, through Zombie-A-Go-Go Records.[69] The album, considered a soundtrack, features the original score and some dialogue from the original Frankenstein (1931).[69]
Zombie was set to make his directorial debut with the film The Crow: 2037, and even wrote the film's script.[70] The film was set to take place in the future, though it was never released.[71][72] It was decided that the film was not suited for the franchise, but would instead serve as a standalone project.[73] He composed the original score for the video game Twisted Metal III, released in 1998.[74] Zombie designed a haunted attraction for Universal Studios in 1999, which was later deemed instrumental in reviving the Halloween Horror Nights annual attraction.[75] It was during this time that Zombie began working with the studio on his directorial debut, a film titled House of 1000 Corpses.[76] The project began filming in May 2000 with a scheduled release date of the following year, though the studio ultimately cancelled its release due to the violent themes present throughout the film.[77] Zombie's song "Superbeast", taken from Hellbilly Deluxe, received a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.[78] Zombie contributed the song "Scum of the Earth" (2000) to the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack.[79]
Zombie's second studio album, The Sinister Urge, was released on November 13, 2001.[80][81] The album expands on the horror and shock rock elements seen in his debut album, and features collaborations with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne.[82] The album became his second to enter the top ten in the United States,[83] with its first week sales topping that of his previous album.[84][85] The album went on to sell over one million copies in the United States, his second to accomplish this feat.[60] The album was preceded by the single "Feel So Numb", with a second single being released the following year.[86] Despite the album's success, it was noted as a decline in sales when compared to his first studio album. The Sinister Urge and its subsequent singles were met with a positive critical reception,[87][88] with AllMusic writing "It is the slow burn of [the album's] last track that shows the most promise; after years of making good heavy metal, he finally expands the boundaries of his own sound. Few metal musicians kept their sound fresh for as long as Zombie, and this album is no exception."[82]The Sinister Urge was voted as the fans' favorite album on Zombie's official website.[89] The album is the final project to feature guitarist Mike Riggs and drummer John Tempesta, who had been with Zombie since the start of his solo career.
2002–2006: Marriage, directorial debut, and continued musical success
Following years of struggling to find a distributor and various re-shoots, Zombie confirmed that his film House of 1000 Corpses would finally be released through Lions Gate Entertainment.[90] The film was released theatrically on April 11, 2003.[91][92] The film received a generally negative reception from critics, though it grossed over $16 million worldwide.[93] The film was criticized for being too "grotesque" and "violent", but has since garnered a cult following.[94][95][96] Despite vastly negative reviews,[97] the film garnered a warmer reception in later years, and is frequently listed as one of the "best horror films ever made".[98] Zombie worked with Scott Humphrey on the majority of the film's soundtrack, which was released on March 25, 2003.[99][100] The release features original songs from Zombie such as "Pussy Liquor" and "Little Piggy", as well as Zombie's own rendition of the Commodores hit single "Brick House" (1977), re-titled "Brick House 2003".[101] The soundtrack peaked at number fifty-three on the Billboard 200, and number four on the Top Soundtracks chart.[102]
Zombie released his first compilation album, titled Past, Present & Future, on September 23, 2003.[103] The release featured a collection of songs taken from Zombie's solo albums as well as his releases with White Zombie; new material is also present on the album.[104] The album debuted at number eleven on the Billboard 200, and would go on to become Zombie's third release to sell over one million copies in the country.[60] Zombie guest starred on episodes of both Spider-Man: The New Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited that year, in a voice only role for both.[105] In November 2003, Zombie launched his Spookshow International comic book series.[106] His second series, The Nail, spawned four issues between June and October 2004, while his Bigfoot series lasted from February to May 2005, featuring four issues.[107][108] Zombie's second film, The Devil's Rejects, serves as a direct sequel to House of 1000 Corpses, and was released on July 22, 2005.[109][110] The film featured a more "violent Western film" theme as opposed to the horror aspects of its predecessor.[111] The film received a much more positive reception than its predecessor, though was still criticized for its violence and material.[112] The film has been described as "one giant loogie that comes straight from the heart", filled with moments of nihilism and cunning wit.[113] Much like the first film, The Devil's Rejects went on to gain a cult following after its release.[114] The film has a 53 out of 100 rating on Metacritic, meaning mixed to positive reviews.[115] Zombie released a number of The Devil's Rejects comics throughout 2005 to coincide with the film.[116]
Zombie began working on his third studio album in 2005, whilst finishing work on The Devil's Rejects; the album was influenced by glam rock artists like Slade, T. Rex, and Gary Glitter.[117] The release was described as "experimental" by Zombie, who claimed the project featured numerous acoustic-led songs.[118] The album, Educated Horses, was released on March 28, 2006.[119] It sold 107,000 copies in its first week, becoming Zombie's third album to enter the top ten on the Billboard 200.[120][121] The album received mixed critical reviews, with Rolling Stone writing "A handful of cuts are too long on sludgy instrumental grooves, but whether Zombie is out-Trent Reznoring Trent Reznor on the sitar-laden grindfest '17 Year Locust' or spitting fire amid the apocalyptic blues riffs of 'The Devil's Rejects', he sounds like a gifted schlockmeister that Strokes fans can enjoy. Or at least tolerate."[122] The song "The Lords of Salem" was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.[123]Educated Horses saw a further decline in sales for Zombie, selling just over 500,000 copies in the United States. The album became his first studio album as a solo artist to not receive a certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[60] It served as Zombie's final studio album to be released through Geffen Records. Zombie had a cameo appearance in a voice only role for the film Slither (2006).[105] Zombie released his first official greatest hits album, The Best of Rob Zombie, on October 10, 2006.[124] The album was re-released only months later under the title The Best of Rob Zombie: 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection.[125] The project debuted at number 166 on the Billboard 200, and went on to receive a gold certification from the RIAA.[60] The album featured no new material, and was released with little promotion on Zombie's behalf. It remains his final album to receive an RIAA certification to date.[60]
2007–2009: Focus on film work
Zombie during Ozzfest 2007
Zombie opted to focus on his career as a director in 2007, following the release of his third studio album a year prior. It was confirmed in 2006 that Zombie had signed on to write and direct a remake of the horror classic Halloween (1978).[126] Zombie later referred to the film as a "re-imagining" of the original John Carpenter film.[127] Zombie's version of the film was officially released on August 31, 2007.[128][129] Thanks to its opening weekend of $30.5 million, the film broke the box-office record for the Labor Day weekend, surpassing the record set in 2005 by Transporter 2 with $20.1 million.[130] It currently resided as the top Labor Day weekend grosser for fourteen years until Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021.[131] The film went on to become Zombie's highest grossing release to date.[132][133] Despite these achievements, the film was generally panned by critics upon its release.[134] Based on 109 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, Halloween received an average 25% overall approval rating based on 110 reviews, with the consensus "Rob Zombie doesn't bring many new ideas to the table in Halloween, making it another bloody disappointment for fans of the franchise."[135] Zombie directed a fictitious trailer for a film Werewolf Women of the SS, which was featured in the film Grindhouse (2007).[136][137] That same year, Zombie released his first live album, Zombie Live.[138]
Zombie announced work on a new film, Tyrannosaurus Rex, which was slated for release in 2009; the film was ultimately scrapped.[139][140][141][142] Despite previous comments made by Zombie that he would not do a sequel to Halloween, it was later announced he would both write and direct the series' next film, tentatively titled H2.[143][144]H2 was ultimately the reason for the postponement and eventual cancellation of Tyrannosaurus Rex.[145]Halloween II was released on August 28, 2009.[146][147] The film received a worse critical reception than Zombie's original remake and failed to achieve the commercial success of the remake, but was a box office success nevertheless.[148] Unlike the original Halloween II (1981), Zombie's version of the film focused on the prior film's survivor and the effects that the film's events had on her mentality.[149][150][151] Following the completion of the film, Zombie confirmed he would not make another sequel.[152]Variety Magazine announced the weekend before the release of Halloween II that Zombie would be directing a remake of the 1950s film The Blob.[153] Zombie later chose to back out of the film as he "didn't want to do another remake".[154]
The day that Halloween II was released, Zombie and Jesse Dayton released the album Rob Zombie Presents Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures, based on the band featured in the film's party scene.[155] The album was released through Zombie's own Zombie-A-Go-Go Records, the first album released through the label in almost ten years.[156] There were initial reports of a film centering around Captain Clegg, though the project never materialized.[157] Dayton later toured in character as the band as the opening act for Zombie throughout 2009 and 2010.[157] The release of Rob Zombie Presents Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures marks the final release from Zombie-A-Go-Go Records, before Zombie formed his new Zodiac Swan label in 2013. Zombie was the executive producer of the animated film The Haunted World of El Superbeasto, based upon his comic book series The Adventures of El Superbeasto.[158] The series previously appeared in his Spookshow International comic book. The film was released in limited showings at selected theaters on September 12, 2009, and to DVD & Blu-Ray on September 22, 2009.[159] It features the voices of Tom Papa, Paul Giamatti, Zombie's wife Sheri Moon Zombie, and Rosario Dawson. The film received a generally mixed reaction upon its release.[160]
2010–2015: New label and return to music
It was announced in 2009 that Zombie had begun working on his fourth studio album, the follow-up to his 2006 album Educated Horses.[161][162][163] The album was originally scheduled to be released on November 17, 2009, but was delayed following Zombie's departure from longtime label Geffen Records on October 29, 2009,[164][165] after which he penned a new deal with Roadrunner Records.[166] Zombie later claimed that Geffen had "morphed into a different label" and that being signed didn't "work for [him] anymore."[167] The album was confirmed to be titled Hellbilly Deluxe 2: Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls and the Systematic Dehumanization of Cool, with Zombie describing it as a sequel to his 1998 debut as they sounded similar in both "vibe" and "attitude".[168]Hellbilly Deluxe 2 was released on February 2, 2010.[169][170] The album sold 49,000 copies in its first week of release, becoming his fourth top ten album in the United States.[171][172] The album received a mixed to positive critical reception upon its release.[173] Zombie released a special edition of the album on September 28, 2010, featuring three new songs.[174] Zombie promoted the release through his Hellbilly Deluxe 2 World Tour, which served as his first international tour since beginning his solo career.[175][176] The tour featured 150 dates, spanning over a two-year time span.[177] Zombie released the Icon greatest hits album on October 5, 2010, through Roadrunner Records.[178]
Zombie launched his seventh and final comic book series, Whatever Happened to Baron Von Shock?, in 2010; the series spanned four issues.[179] Zombie had another voice-only role in the 2010 film Super, portraying God.[105] In 2011, Zombie directed a horror-themed commercial for Woolite.[180] Zombie announced work on the horror film The Lords of Salem in 2011.[181] The film, whose name is derived from the Rob Zombie song of the same name, is about a coven of witches in modern-day Salem, Massachusetts.[182] In an interview Zombie said that the film would be his cinematically biggest film and described it as "if Ken Russell directed The Shining".[183]The Lords of Salem premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2012, with a limited theatrical release following in April 2013.[184][185]The Lords of Salem became the last film of veteran actor Richard Lynch, who died in 2012.[186][187][188]
Zombie later stated that Tyrannosaurus Rex would be his next released film after The Lords of Salem, though the project has since been put on hold for a second time.[189] In 2012, it was confirmed that Zombie would be writing and directing a film titled The Broad Street Bullies, which would be based on the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team.[190][191] The film will be Zombie's first non-horror film.[192][193] He has since stated that the film was in the "research stages", and a release date is unknown.[194] Much like Tyrannosaurus Rex, the film, along with Rock Bottom Creek, has been put on hold indefinitely. Zombie released a second remix album, titled Mondo Sex Head, on August 6, 2012.[195] The album featured remixed material from Zombie's first four studio albums, as well as his releases with White Zombie.[196] The album was released through Geffen Records, despite Zombie having left the label.[197] Zombie embarked on the Twins of Evil Tour with American rock band Marilyn Manson beginning on September 28, 2012.[198] The tour concluded following a publicized feud between the artists while on tour, with the two groups often feuding while on stage.[199] The tour officially concluded on December 12, 2012.[199]
Recording for Zombie's fifth studio album began in June 2012,[200][201] with Zombie announcing the then-untitled project in July 2012.[202] On the record, Zombie claimed "We just want to make a dark, heavy, weird record and stick to that idea [...] If something comes up that isn't, we won't finish it. We'll stick to the plan."[203][204] Zombie parted ways with Roadrunner Records, instead releasing the album through his new record label Zodiac Swan through Universal Music Enterprises and T-Boy Records.[205] On January 30, 2013, Zombie announced that the album was titled Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor.[206] The album was released on April 23, 2013.[207]Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor became Zombie's fifth consecutive studio album to debut inside the top ten of the Billboard 200, though it boasted his lowest first week sales of his career.[208] The album has since become Zombie's lowest selling album to date.[60]
Zombie designed and launched the Great American Nightmare haunted attraction in 2013.[209] The attraction, based in Chicago, featured references to Zombie's films and other significant horror events in pop culture.[210] He designed the attractions "Lords of Salem Total Black Out", "The Haunted World of El Superbeasto 3D", and "House of 1000 Corpses", which were combined with a music festival from artists in hard rock, alternative, EDM, and more in 2013.[211] In 2014, Zombie had the voice-only role of Ravager Navigator in the superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy.[212] He released his first video album, The Zombie Horror Picture Show, on May 19, 2014. He released his second live album, Spookshow International: Live, on February 24, 2015.[213]
2016–present: More albums and upcoming films
Rob Zombie in Toronto, September 2023
Zombie announced work on his sixth studio album as early as April 2014, having begun working on the project that January.[214] On January 11, 2016, Zombie confirmed the title of the record to be The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser, along with the album's cover art and track listing.[215] The album was released on April 29, 2016. Zombie described it as "seriously [their] heaviest most fucked up musical monster to date."[216] Zombie began working on a new horror film, 31, in 2014. Zombie described the film as "old-school", and raised money for the film through crowdfunding.[217][218] The film follows a group of individuals attempting to survive a night in a carnival filled with murderous clowns.[219] Zombie has stated that he wanted to have a "very nasty, gritty, guerilla-style approach to the filmmaking" for 31, as it "fits the story and the vibe of the movie".[219]31 premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2016. It has been announced that Zombie signed on to direct the film Raised Eyebrows, a movie about the life of comedian and actor Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx.[220][221][222] The film has yet to receive a release date.[223] Zombie launched his "Spookshow International" pinball machine in February 2016.[224][225][226][227] The limited edition item features ten of Zombie's classic songs, as well as voice contributions from Zombie, Sheri Moon, and Sid Haig.[228][229] On May 22, 2017, Zombie posted a short snippet of audio to his Instagram account of a live recording of the White Zombie song "Electric Head Part 2" stating he was in the process of mixing the Astro Creep 2000 live set from the Chicago date of the 2016 Riot Fest.
On August 1, 2017, Zombie announced on his Instagram page that he had begun working on his seventh studio album.[232] Guitarist John 5 described the album as "his Sgt. Pepper", and called it "the best Zombie record that he's ever done."[233] Zombie's first song in four years, "The Triumph of King Freak (A Crypt of Preservation and Superstition)", was released on October 30, 2020. Deemed a "ferocious blast of big guitar metal", it serves as the first single from his seventh album The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy, released on March 12, 2021. The album was produced by Zeuss, who also produced The Electric Warlock. Zombie had focused primarily on filming in the years prior.[234][235][236]
In June 2021, Zombie confirmed that he would direct a film adaptation of the television series The Munsters, which was released on digital, DVD, Blu-Ray, and Netflix on September 27, 2022.
In May 2023, Zombie announced that he has begun working on his eighth solo album, which he hopes to have released by the summer of 2024.[238]
In the fall of 2023, Zombie co-headlined the Freaks on Parade tour with Alice Cooper, with Filter and Ministry acting as the opening acts.[239] The tour spanned one month, lasting from August 24, 2023 until September 24, 2023, visiting 19 venues across the United States and Canada.
Zombie's music has been noted for its use of horror and suspense elements,[240][241] which is inspired by Zombie's love of horror films.[242] Zombie's music also contains elements commonly found in heavy metal music.[243][244][245] Zombie's music has been described as "melding metal with industrial, hypnotic rhythms and haunting sounds" and having a "complicated beat, distinctive vocals and a killer story line".[246] Zombie's songs have also been known to feature quotes and samples from classic horror films.[247] Numerous songs on his debut album, Hellbilly Deluxe, feature quotes from classic horror films that Zombie grew up with.[62] Zombie has classified himself as a metal musician, and stated "It felt like hard rock and heavy metal had really been struggling you know, like top of the charts – it felt like they were being kicked to the curb for a long time. It was almost like you were doing something but you feel like nobody cares anymore so now you're just chuggin' along doing what you do and it's like the world had forgotten. However it's felt like in the last few years that's kind of changed and you feel it coming back."[248]
In their review of Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor (2013), Music Enthusiast commented on Zombie's musical style "If you are a fan of Rob Zombie's, or even if you aren't, you can definitely recognize his style of music- that is to say, if Alice Cooper wrote songs for strip clubs. Rob Zombie albums have always had bombastic, almost danceable grooves, over the top guitar effects [...] and loads of B-movie sci-fi/horror lyrics."[207] He is also noted for using "spoken word lyrics" in numerous songs, a style he began while with White Zombie.[207]AllMusic compared the musical themes of Hellbilly Deluxe to a White Zombie record, stating it was "complete with thunderous industrial rhythms, drilling metal guitars, and B-movie obsessions."[249]Entertainment Weekly spoke about the album's horror film qualities, stating it had "concocted a veritable blood feast of hair-raising guitars, spine-tingling drum loops, and a cast of ghoulish characters who could be refugees from an old William Castle horror flick."[250] Legends Magazine wrote that "the songs follow the same formula of anger, sex, death, monster, demon, zombie, satanic, drug abuse kinda raw drive a tractor over your neighbor's skull kinda hate the world so I'll burn it all down music."[251] AllMusic wrote in their review of American Made Music to Strip By that Hellbilly Deluxe had a "sexy, sleazy, horror-movie vibe".[65]
While The Sinister Urge continues the themes of horror and suspense, it is noted as featuring more dance-oriented beats in songs such as "Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy)".[252] Zombie claimed that whereas Hellbilly Deluxe featured electronics, The Sinister Urge was recorded with a live band as to emphasize the instrumentals.[253] With the Educated Horses album, Zombie further distanced himself from the sound of his first two albums. Zombie described the album as experimental, and explored a number of acoustic productions with John 5.[254] Despite a shift in sound, many of the album's lyrics feature horror elements found on his prior releases.[122]Hellbilly Deluxe 2, Zombie's fourth studio album, saw a return to the heavy metal sound of his early releases.[255] The album was considered a direct sequel to his debut studio album, with which it shares a name. Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor continued these themes, and features "bass-heavy" beats.[207] The record was deemed a throwback to his debut album due to similar lyrical and sonic themes.[207]
Influences
Both Zombie's music and film work draws influence from classic horror and suspense films, with Zombie citing the 1970s as the "last great time where films were being made for the sake of the film and not for the sake of the money."[256] Zombie has cited artists such as Alice Cooper,[257]Kiss,[258]Queen,[259] and Elton John[260] as influences during his childhood.[261] Zombie claimed that the first record he ever bought was an Alice Cooper album.[262]Metallica, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Slayer, Ministry, Pantera, Sepultura, Black Flag and Twisted Sister were also cited as influences by Zombie.[263] Zombie claimed his mother would not allow him to watch horror films, namely The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974),[264] which later served as an influence on Zombie's films House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects.[265] Zombie has directed the majority of his music videos as a solo artist, with numerous releases being influenced or referencing horror films. The music video for his single "Living Dead Girl" is based upon the silent horror film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920),[266] while his video for "Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy)" was heavily inspired by A Clockwork Orange (1971).[267] His film The Lords of Salem was inspired by the horror classic The Shining (1980).[268]
Personal life
Zombie in 2007
Zombie dated his White Zombie bandmate Sean Yseult from 1984 until 1991, though they continued to work in the band together after their breakup.[35] Zombie began dating actress Sheri Moon in 1993,[35] and they were married at Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas on October 31, 2002.[269] They originally set their wedding date for November 9,[270] but eloped 10 days before.[271] They split their time between a home in Los Angeles and a farm in Connecticut.[272]
Zombie's public image has often been denoted by his long hair, large beard, industrial fashion sense, and horror-themed makeup.[273] A self-described ethical vegan, he and his wife use their Connecticut property to house rescued farm animals.[274] He originally became a vegetarian in 1982 after viewing footage of a slaughterhouse. He is a supporter of PETA and was thanked by the organization for his realistic portrayal of the link between childhood animal abuse and psychopathy in his remake of Halloween.[275]
Zombie generally refrains from sharing his political and religious beliefs with the public, though he has mentioned that his mother once contemplated becoming a nun.[276] In the same interview, he said that he avoids all alcohol and drugs because he "certainly didn't achieve anything by being wasted and fucked up".[276] In a separate interview, he said that he does not believe in an afterlife and the concept of Heaven was "insane", believing that "this life is all you get".[277] He also said that he does not believe in concepts such as UFOs, aliens, or Bigfoot.[277] He criticized the initial cancellation of the 2020 horror film The Hunt following an outcry from U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters, stating, "As far as [canceling] The Hunt, that's just a bullshit sacrificial lamb that solves nothing in society, but they always do that. If it wasn't that movie it would have been a video game or sometimes it was somebody's rock album."[278][279]
White Zombie was an American heavy metal band that formed in 1985. Based in New York City, they started as a noise rock band, releasing three EPs and one studio album in that style before changing to a heavy metal-oriented sound that broke them into the mainstream. The albums La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One (1992) and Astro-Creep: 2000 (1995) established them as an influential act in groove metal and industrial metal, respectively. Their best-known songs include "Thunder Kiss '65", "Black Sunshine" and "More Human than Human". The group officially disbanded in 1998. In 2000, White Zombie was included on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, ranking at No. 56. As of October 2010, the band has sold six million albums, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
House of 1000 Corpses is a 2003 American black comedy horror film written, co-scored, and directed by Rob Zombie in his directorial debut, and the first film in the Firefly film series. It stars Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon, Karen Black, Rainn Wilson, Chris Hardwick, Tom Towles, Erin Daniels, Jennifer Jostyn, Walton Goggins, and Dennis Fimple in his final role. The plot centers on a group of teenagers who are kidnapped and tortured by a psychopathic family during Halloween after traveling across the country to write a book.
Hellbilly Deluxe: 13 Tales of Cadaverous Cavorting Inside the Spookshow International is the debut solo studio album by American musician and filmmaker Rob Zombie. The album serves as his first release outside of the band White Zombie, with whom he released two multi-platinum studio albums. Hellbilly Deluxe was released on August 25, 1998, through Geffen Records. Musically, the project portrays Zombie's love for classic horror films with heavy metal and electronic music. The album's lyrics speak of murder, chaos, and supernatural forces. The majority of Hellbilly Deluxe was recorded in California, and was produced by both Zombie and Scott Humphrey; Zombie is credited as the sole writer on all of the songs.
John William Lowery, who is known by the stage name John 5, is an American guitarist. Lowery first took the stage name in 1998 when he left David Lee Roth's solo band and joined Marilyn Manson. Lowery later became the guitarist for Rob Zombie, and in 2022, became the touring guitarist for Mötley Crüe, being promoted to a full member the following year.
The Sinister Urge is the second solo studio album by American musician Rob Zombie. The album is the follow-up to his highly successful debut album Hellbilly Deluxe, released in 1998. The album was released by Geffen Records on November 13, 2001, more than three years after the release of his first album. The album's title is named after the 1960 crime drama film The Sinister Urge, directed and written by Ed Wood. Much like his previous effort, The Sinister Urge features elements of horror film and suspense in both its lyrical content and its music. Zombie also features a change of sound in several songs on the album when compared to Hellbilly, with songs such as "Never Gonna Stop " featuring a more dance-influenced beat.
Educated Horses is the third studio album by American musician Rob Zombie, released on March 28, 2006, by Geffen. A streaming "listening party" was held on MP3.com starting March 22, 2006, which caused advance copies to spread throughout P2P software programs. It is the first album to feature guitarist John 5 and drummer Tommy Clufetos, and the last to feature bassist Blasko.
American Made Music to Strip By is the first remix album released by American musician Rob Zombie. The album was released through Geffen Records on October 26, 1999. It is composed entirely of remixes of songs taken from Zombie's debut studio album, Hellbilly Deluxe (1998). Zombie worked with a number of musicians and producers to create updated versions of the songs, including Charlie Clouser, who had previously worked with Zombie on his debut solo effort. Ten of the original album's songs have been remixed, excluding three instrumental interludes. Two of the remixes featured on American Made Music to Strip By had previously been released on promotional discs for "Dragula" (1998) and "Living Dead Girl" (1999).
RobNicholson also known as Blasko, is an American bassist, musician and manager. He is the bassist and backing vocalist of Rob Zombie and bassist for Ozzy Osbourne, and is also a manager for Black Veil Brides. He is also the former bassist of Cryptic Slaughter and live bassist for Danzig.
Mike Riggs is an American heavy metal guitarist. The highlights of his career include his work for Rob Zombie's solo albums and currently his skills as a guitarist, vocalist, and producer for Scum of the Earth, of which he is the only original band member.
Matthew Montgomery, also known as Piggy D., is an American musician. He has been bassist for Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie, and is the former guitarist for Wednesday 13.
"Dragula" is a debut solo single co-written and recorded by American rock musician Rob Zombie. It was released in August 1998 as the lead single from his solo debut Hellbilly Deluxe. Since its release, it has become Zombie's most recognizable song as a solo artist. It is also his best-selling song, and had sold over 717,000 copies in the U.S. by 2010. The song is based on the drag racer "DRAG-U-LA" from the sitcom The Munsters.
"Superbeast" is a song by Rob Zombie, released as the third single from his solo debut, Hellbilly Deluxe. The song was co-written by Charlie Clouser, formerly of Nine Inch Nails. It also appears on Rob Zombie's Past, Present & Future, the greatest hits album The Best of Rob Zombie, and two remixes are contained on American Made Music to Strip By.
Tommy Clufetos is an American session drummer most noted for his work with Black Sabbath during their Black Sabbath Reunion Tour, which highlighted their new album 13. He also toured with them on their final tour. Clufetos is also the drummer for vocalist Ozzy Osbourne as well as the supergroup L.A. Rats.
The discography of American vocalist, film director, screenwriter, and film producer Rob Zombie consists of seven studio albums, four compilation albums, two remix albums, three live albums, one video album, 23 singles, and eight promotional singles. Zombie first rose to fame as a member of the heavy metal band White Zombie, with whom he released four studio albums; the group disbanded in 1998. Opting to continue making music as a solo artist, Zombie began working on his debut solo studio album that would come to be known as Hellbilly Deluxe: 13 Tales of Cadaverous Cavorting Inside the Spookshow International (1998). The project became a commercial success for Zombie, entering the top five of the Billboard 200 in the United States and selling over three million copies in the United States alone. The album spawned three singles, all of which were used extensively in films and video games following their release. Zombie released remixed versions of songs from his debut studio album on American Made Music to Strip By (1999), which peaked inside the top forty in the United States.
Zombie Live is the first live album from heavy metal artist Rob Zombie. The CD was recorded over several nights during the band's Educated Horses tour and was said to include a 36-page super-deluxe book of never-before-seen live pictures and a DVD of live footage and animated videos. After the release of the album no artbook or DVD were included with the release of the album. Blabbermouth.net reported that the DVD companion would be available in spring 2008, but this still has yet to surface. A different concert film, The Zombie Horror Picture Show, was released in 2014.
Hellbilly Deluxe 2: Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls and the Systematic Dehumanization of Cool is the fourth solo studio album by former White Zombie frontman Rob Zombie. The album is a sequel to his debut album Hellbilly Deluxe. It was released on February 2, 2010, through Roadrunner Records. This is the first album with bassist Piggy D and the last with drummer Tommy Clufetos.
Calabrese is an American rock band that is based out of Phoenix, Arizona. The band originally consisted of three faux brothers; bassist/vocalist Jimmy Calabrese, guitarist/vocalist Bobby Calabrese and drummer Davey Calabrese. In 2022 Jimmy left the band and was subsequently replaced by Argyle Goolsby, best known as the frontman of Blitzkid. Calabrese has been described as "Melodic, hook-laden, catchy, fun, Rock with a Punk attitude”. They have cited other bands such as the Damned, Alkaline Trio, Black Flag, Black Sabbath, Turbonegro, the Misfits, the Hives, White Zombie/Rob Zombie, AFI, Danzig, Type O Negative, and the Ramones as influences.
"What?" is the first single release from Rob Zombie's album Hellbilly Deluxe 2, released in early 2010 on Roadrunner Records/Loud & Proud Records.
The Hellbilly Deluxe 2 World Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Rob Zombie that began in October 2009 in support of his fourth studio album Hellbilly Deluxe 2. The tour consisted of 12 legs spanning across Japan, North America, Europe and Australia. The tour marked the first time Zombie has performed internationally since the beginning of his solo career.
References
1 2 Kitts, Jeff; Tolinski, Brad (2002). Guitar world presents the 100 greatest guitarists of all time!. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard. p.146. ISBN9780634046193.
↑ DiVincenzo, Alex (November 2, 2009). "Spider One Interview". Horror-101.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
↑ Weingarten, Marc (September 18, 1998). "Hellbilly Deluxe". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
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