Tell Me :
Talk
Not just that but 10 years of MTV prior to that point also stripped the mystique awayy. I remember a friend who was a big concert goer in the 1970's telling me around 1991 that before MTV you might go to a concert without even knowing what the band looked like.
Grunge also represented the beginning of a total diversification of popular music with no dominant musical style in popular culture. Grunge only lasted like 10 minutes anyway.
Grunge (real Sub Pop era Seattle bands, not the coattail riding posers that turned on MTV in 1992) has a lot more in common with blues than a lot of what rock radio was playing a the time.
Dude who made his career ripping off Zodiac Mindwarp
Rob Zombie
Rob Straker Rob Zodiac
Born January 12, 1965 (age 51)
Haverhill, Massachusetts, United States
Musician singer-songwriter screenwriter film director film producer programmer record producer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1985–present
Labels
Roadrunner Loud & Proud Geffen Zodiac Swan
Associated acts
White Zombie Alice Cooper Powerman 5000 Ozzy Osbourne Black Label Society Marilyn Manson Slipknot Iggy Pop Skrillex Howard Stern Drowning Pool
Website www.robzombie.com
Rob Zombie[6] (born Robert Bartleh Cummings;[7][8] January 12, 1965) is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. Zombie rose to fame as a founding member of the heavy metal band White Zombie, releasing four studio albums with the band. Zombie's first solo effort was a song titled "Hands of Death (Burn Baby Burn)" (1996) with Alice Cooper, which went on to receive a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards. He released his debut solo studio album, Hellbilly Deluxe in 1998. The album went on to sell over three million copies worldwide, and spawned three singles. He released a remix album the following year that contained songs from Hellbilly Deluxe. Zombie directed the horror film House of 1000 Corpses in 2000, though the controversial project failed to see a release until 2003. His second studio album, The Sinister Urge (2001), became his second platinum album in the United States. In 2003, Zombie released the compilation album Past, Present, & Future.
Zombie directed The Devil's Rejects (2005), a direct sequel to his prior film House of 1000 Corpses. The project received a more positive reception than its predecessor. His third studio album, Educated Horses (2006), was a departure from his earlier recordings. The album became his third to enter the top ten of the Billboard 200, though saw a decrease in sales when compared to his previous releases. Deciding to focus on his directing career, Zombie directed the horror film Halloween (2007), a remake of the 1978 horror classic of the same name. The film became Zombie's highest grossing film to date, though was met with a lukewarm critical reception. He later directed Halloween II (2009), though it failed to match the success of the first film. He released the animated film The Haunted World of El Superbeasto that same year. Zombie returned to music with the release of his fourth studio album, Hellbilly Deluxe 2 (2010). The album peaked at number eight in the United States, and sold over 200,000 copies in the country.
In 2012, Zombie released a second remix album and directed the horror film The Lords of Salem, which was released the following year. His fifth studio album, Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor (2013), became his lowest selling album to date. He directed the upcoming horror film 31, and has purchased the rights to a film about the NHL team Philadelphia Flyers, titled The Broad Street Bullies; no release date for the film has been announced. Since the beginning of his music career, Zombie's music and lyrics have featured notable horror and sci-fi themes. His live shows have been praised for their elaborate shock rock theatricality.[9] Since beginning his solo career, Zombie has sold an estimated fifteen million albums worldwide.[10]
Contents
1 Life and career
1.1 1965-98: Early life and White Zombie
1.2 1998–2001: Solo debut and commercial success
1.3 2002–06: Marriage, directorial debut, and continued musical success
1.4 2007–09: Focus on film work
1.5 2010–15: New label and return to music
1.6 2016: The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser and upcoming films
2 Artistry
2.1 Musical style
2.2 Influences and style
3 Discography
4 Filmography
4.1 As actor
4.2 Director
5 Solo band members
5.1 Timeline
6 References
7 External links
Life and career
1965-98: Early life and White Zombie
Robert Bartleh Cummings was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts on January 12, 1965.[11] He is the oldest son of Robert and Louise Cummings.[12] Rob's younger brother, Michael David Cummings, is the lead singer of the band Powerman 5000.[13] Growing up, Rob had a fascination with horror films, and has stated that he always "wanted to be Alice Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Bela Lugosi, and Stan Lee.[14][15] While raising their sons, Rob's parents worked in a carnival,[16] but they chose to leave after a riot broke out and tents were set on fire.[17][18] Zombie recalled the experience in an interview, stating, "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."[19] Cummings graduated from Haverhill High School in 1983.[20] He moved to New York City, and he began attending Parsons School of Design where he met eventual girlfriend Sean Yseult.[21][22] Before the success of White Zombie, he was a production assistant for the series Pee-wee's Playhouse.[23]
Rob and Sean served as co-founders for a band that would become known as White Zombie. Yseult and Zombie would break up after seven years of dating, though they continued to work in the band together.[24] The band released three extended plays to little success, with their debut studio album following in 1987 through the band's own record label, Silent Explosion.[25] They released their second studio album two years later, to little commercial reaction.[26] Yseult and Zombie ended their relationship in 1991, and Zombie began dating Sheri Moon shortly afterwards.[27] The band caught the attention of Geffen Records following the release of their fourth extended play; their third studio album was subsequently released through the label in 1992.[28] The album became the band's breakout hit, going on to sell over two million copies in the United States.[29] Their first single, "Thunder Kiss '65", was released through the label in 1993.[30]
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 to enter the top ten of the Billboard 200; it went on to sell over two million copies in the United States.[29] Rob 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.[31][32] In 1996, Rob legally changed his name to Rob Zombie.[33] White Zombie released a remix album that year, marking their final release before their eventual disbandment.[34] 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.[35] The song was nominated in the category of Best Metal Performance at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, though lost to Rage Against the Machine.[36] White Zombie officially broke up in 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."[37] A box-set for the group was released in 2008 featuring all of their released material.[38]
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. For the album, Rob worked with numerous artists, including Charlie Clouser of Nine Inch Nails fame and former White Zombie bandmate John Tempesta.[39][40][41][42][43] Zombie's solo debut album, Hellbilly Deluxe: 13 Tales of Cadaverous Cavorting Inside the Spookshow International, was released on August 25, 1998.[44] The album was a commercial success, debuting at number five on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 121,000 copies.[45] The album's first week sales topped that of his prior album's with White Zombie.[46] Hellbilly Deluxe went on to become Zombie's highest selling album to date, with sales exceeding three million copies in the United States.[47] The album was influenced by classic horror films,[48] with numerous songs on the album containing samples and quotes from some of Zombie's favorite horror films.[49] The album spawned three singles, all of which charted on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[50] Numerous songs from the album were used in films and video games, mainly in the horror genre.[51] The success of the album led to the release of Zombie's first remix album, American Made Music to Strip By (1999).[52] The album entered the top forty of the Billboard 200 in its debut week.[52]
Zombie formed his own record label, Zombie-A-Go-Go Records, in 1998.[53] The label released the final album from American instrumental band The Bomboras,[54] as well as the debut album from the Ghastly Ones.[53] 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.[55] 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.[56] The album, considered a soundtrack, features the original score and some dialogue from the original Frankenstein (1931).[56]
Zombie was set to make his directorial debut with the film The Crow: 2037, and even wrote the film's script.[57] The film was set to take place in the future, though it was never released.[58][59] It was decided that the film was not suited for the franchise, but would instead serve as a standalone project.[60] He composed the original score for the video game Twisted Metal III, released in 1998.[61] Zombie designed a haunted attraction for Universal Studios in 1999, which was later deemed instrumental in reviving the Halloween Horror Nights annual attraction.[62] It was during this time that Zombie began working with the studio on his directorial debut, a film titled House of 1000 Corpses.[63] 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.[64] Zombie's song "Superbeast", taken from Hellbilly Deluxe, received a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.[65] Zombie contributed the song "Scum of the Earth" (2000) to the Mission: Impossible II soundtrack.[66]
Zombie's second studio album, The Sinister Urge, was released on November 13, 2001.[67][68] The album expands on the horror and shock rock elements seen in his debut album, and features collaborations with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne.[69] The album became his second to enter the top ten in the United States,[70] with its first week sales topping that of his previous album.[71][72] The album went on to sell over one million copies in the United States, his second to accomplish this feat.[47] The album was preceded by the single "Feel So Numb", with a second single being released the following year.[73] 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,[74][75] 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."[69] The Sinister Urge was voted as the fans' favorite album on Zombie's official website.[76] 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.
2002–06: Marriage, directorial debut, and continued musical success
Rob Zombie at Ozzfest, 2005.
In 2002, Zombie announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Sheri Moon, with a wedding date set for November 9, 2002.[77] Only ten days before the wedding date, the couple decided to elope on October 31, 2002.[78] On the decision, Sheri claimed "We were actually taking a walk in our neighborhood the day before. The wedding date was to be November 9th. We're like, 'Oh, God, we've been together for nine years. We should just say our vows privately'. It was just like a spur-of-the-moment decision. It just happens that the next day was Halloween. We didn't do it for any spooky reasons or anything".[27] Now married, Moon officially changed her name to Sheri Moon Zombie.[27]
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.[79] The film was released theatrically on April 11, 2003.[80][81] The film received a generally negative reception from critics, though grossed over $16 million worldwide.[82] The film was criticized for being too "grotesque" and "violent", but has since garnered a cult following.[83][84][85] Despite vastly negative reviews,[86] the film garnered a warmer reception in later years, and is frequently listed as one of the "best horror films ever made".[87] Zombie worked with Scott Humphrey on the majority of the film's soundtrack, which was released on March 25, 2003.[88][89] 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".[90] The soundtrack peaked at number fifty-three on the Billboard 200, and number four on the Top Soundtracks chart.[91]
Zombie released his first compilation album, titled Past, Present & Future, on September 23, 2003.[92] 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.[93] 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.[47] 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.[94] In November 2003, Zombie launched his Spookshow International comic book series.[95] 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.[96][97] Zombie's second film, The Devils Rejects, serves as a direct sequel to House of 1000 Corpses, and was released on July 22, 2005.[98][99] The film featured a more "violent Western film" theme as opposed to the horror aspects of its predecessor.[100] The film received a much more positive reception than its predecessor, though was still criticized for its violence and material.[101] The film has been described as "one giant loogie that comes straight from the heart", filled with moments of nihilism and cunning wit.[102] Much like the first film, The Devil's Rejects went on to gain a cult following after its release.[103] The film has a 53 out of 100 rating on Metacritic, meaning mixed to positive reviews.[104] Zombie released a number of The Devils Rejects comics throughout 2005 to coincide with the film.[105]
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.[106] The release was described as "experimental" by Zombie, who claimed the project featured numerous acoustic-led songs.[107] The album, Educated Horses, was released on March 28, 2006.[108] It sold 107,000 copies in its first week, becoming Zombie's third album to enter the top ten on the Billboard 200.[109][110] 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."[111] The song "The Lords of Salem" was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.[112] 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).[47] 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).[94] Zombie released his first official greatest hits album, The Best of Rob Zombie, on October 10, 2006.[113] The album was re-released only months later under the title The Best of Rob Zombie: 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection.[114] The project debuted at number 166 on the Billboard 200, and went on to receive a gold certification from the RIAA.[47] 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.[47]
2007–09: Focus on film work
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).[115] Zombie later referred to the film as a "re-imagining" of the original John Carpenter film.[116] Zombie's version of the film was officially released on August 31, 2007.[117][118] 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.[119] It still currently resides as the top Labor Day weekend grosser.[120] The film went on to become Zombie's highest grossing release to date.[121][122] Despite these achievements, the film was generally panned by critics upon its release.[123] 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."[124] Zombie directed a fictitious trailer for a film Werewolf Women of the SS, which was featured in the film Grindhouse (2007).[125][126] That same year, Zombie released his first live album, Zombie Live.[127]
Zombie announced work on a new film, Tyrannosaurus Rex, which was slated for release in 2009; the film was ultimately scrapped.[128][129][130][131] 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.[132][133] H2 was ultimately the reason for the postponement and eventual cancellation of Tyrannosaurus Rex.[134] Halloween II was released on August 28, 2009.[135][136] The film received a worse critical reception than Zombie's original remake, and failed to achieve the commercial success of the former.[137] 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.[138][139][140] Following the completion of the film, Zombie confirmed he would not make another sequel.[141] Variety Magazine announced the weekend before the release of Halloween II that Zombie would be directing a remake of the 1950s film The Blob.[142] Zombie later chose to back out of the film as he "didn't want to do another remake".[143]
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.[144] The album was released through Zombie's own Zombie-A-Go-Go Records, the first album released through the label in almost ten years.[145] There were initial reports of a film centering around Captain Clegg, though the project never materialized.[146] Dayton later toured in character as the band as the opening act for Zombie throughout 2009 and 2010.[146] 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.[147] 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 on September 22, 2009.[148] 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.[149]
2010–15: 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.[150][151][152] Prior to the release of the album, it was confirmed that Zombie had parted ways with longtime label Geffen Records, penning a new deal with Roadrunner Records.[153] Zombie later claimed that Geffen had "morphed into a different label" and that being signed didn't "work for [him] anymore."[154] 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".[155] Hellbilly Deluxe 2 was released on February 2, 2010.[156][157] The album sold 49,000 copies in its first week of release, becoming his fourth top ten album in the United States.[158][159] The album received a mixed to positive critical reception upon its release.[160] Zombie released a special edition of the album on September 28, 2010 featuring three new songs.[161] Zombie promoted the release through his Hellbilly Deluxe 2 World Tour, which served as his first international tour since beginning his solo career.[162][163] The tour featured 150 dates, spanning over a two-year time span.[164] Zombie released the Icon greatest hits album on October 5, 2010 through Roadrunner Records.[165]
Rob Zombie at Nova Rock 2014
Zombie launched his seventh and final comic book series, Whatever Happened to Baron Von Shock?, in 2010; the series spawned four issues.[166] Zombie had another voice-only role in the 2010 film Super, portraying God.[94] In 2011, Zombie directed a horror-themed commercial for Woolite.[167] Zombie announced work on the horror film The Lords of Salem in 2011.[168] 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.[169] In an interview Zombie said that the film would be his cinematically biggest film and described it as "if Ken Russell directed The Shining".[170] The Lords of Salem premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2012, with a limited theatrical release following in April 2013.[171][172] The Lords of Salem became the last film of veteran actor Richard Lynch, who died in 2012.[173][174][175]
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.[176] 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.[177][178] The film will be Zombie's first non-horror film.[179][180] He has since stated that the film was in the "research stages", and a release date is unknown.[181] 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.[182] The album featured remixed material from Zombie's first four studio albums, as well as his releases with White Zombie.[183] The album was released through Geffen Records, despite Zombie having left the label.[184] Zombie embarked on the Twins of Evil Tour with American rock band Marilyn Manson beginning on September 28, 2012.[185] The tour concluded following a publicized feud between the artists while on tour, with the two groups often feuding while on stage.[186] The tour officially concluded on December 12, 2012.[186]
Recording for Zombie's fifth studio album began in June 2012,[187][188] with Zombie announcing the then-untitled project in July 2012.[189] 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."[190][191] 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.[192] On January 30, 2013, Zombie announced that the album was titled Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor.[193] The album was released on April 23, 2013.[194] 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.[195] The album has since became Zombie's lowest selling album to date.[47]
Zombie designed and launched the Great American Nightmare haunted attraction in 2013.[196] The attraction, based in Chicago, featured references to Zombie's films and other significant horror events in pop culture.[197] 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.[198] In 2014, Zombie had the voice-only role of Ravager Navigator in the superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy.[199] 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.[200]
2016: The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser and upcoming films
Zombie announced work on his sixth studio album as early as April 2014, having begun working on the project that January.[201] 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.[202] The album was released on April 29, 2016. Zombie described it as "seriously [their] heaviest most @#$%& up musical monster to date."[203] 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.[204][205] The film is set to follow a group of individuals attempting to survive a night in a carnival filled with murderous clowns.[206] 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".[206] 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.[207][208][209] The film has yet to receive a release date.[210] Zombie is set to launch his "Spookshow International" pinball machine in February 2016.[211][212][213][214] The limited edition item features ten of Zombie's classic songs, as well as voice contributions from Zombie, Sheri Moon, and Sid Haig.[215][216]
Artistry
Musical style
Zombie's music has been noted for its use of horror and suspense elements,[217][218] which is inspired by Zombie's love of horror films.[219] Zombie's music also contains elements commonly found in heavy metal music.[220][221][222] 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".[223] Zombie's songs have also been known to feature quotes and samples from classic horror films.[224] Numerous songs on his debut album, Hellbilly Deluxe, feature quotes from classic horror films that Zombie grew up with.[49] 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."[225]
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."[194] He is also noted for using "spoken word lyrics" in numerous songs, a style he began while with White Zombie.[194] 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."[226] 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."[227] LegendsMagazine 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."[228] Allmusic wrote in their review of American Made Music to Strip By that Hellbilly Deluxe had a "sexy, sleazy, horror-movie vibe".[229]
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)".[230] Zombie claimed that whereas Hellbilly Deluxe featured electronics, The Sinister Urge was recorded with a live band as to emphasize the instrumentals.[231] 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.[232] Despite a shift in sound, many of the album's lyrics feature horror elements found on his prior releases.[233] Hellbilly Deluxe 2, Zombie's fourth studio album, saw a return to the heavy metal sound of his early releases.[234] The album was considered a direct sequel to his debut studio album, with whom it shares a name. Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor continued these themes, and features "bass-heavy" beats.[194] The record was deemed a throwback to his debut album due to similar lyrical and sonic themes.[194]
Influences and style
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."[235] Zombie has cited artists such as Alice Cooper,[236] KISS,[237] Queen,[238] and Elton John[239] as influences during his childhood.[240] Zombie claimed that the first record he ever bought was an Alice Cooper album.[241] He has cited Cooper's style and costumes as an influence on his own.[242] Metallica and Twisted Sister were also cited as influences by Zombie.[243] Zombie claimed his mother would not allow him to watch horror films, namely The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974),[244] which later served as an influence on Zombie's films House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects.[245] 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),[246] while his video for "Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy)" was heavily inspired by A Clockwork Orange (1971).[247] His film The Lords of Salem was inspired by the horror classic The Shining (1980).[248] Since he began working with White Zombie, Rob has been known for his long hair and beard.[249] Zombie claimed that he has not cut his beard since he was able to grow one, and began growing his hair out in 1984.[250] Zombie has been an ethical vegetarian for over 30 years[251] and later turned vegan along with his wife Sheri.[252] He is a supporter of PETA.[251] Zombie neglects to share his political and religious beliefs with the public, though claims that at one point his mother contemplated becoming a nun. He chooses to avoid alcohol and substance abuse, stating "I certainly didn't achieve anything by being wasted and @#$%& up."[253]
Discography
Main article: Rob Zombie discography
Hellbilly Deluxe (1998)
The Sinister Urge (2001)
Educated Horses (2006)
Hellbilly Deluxe 2 (2010)
Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor (2013)
The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser (2016)[201]
Filmography
As actor
List of films credits Year Title Role Notes
1994 Airheads Himself Film; Performer with White Zombie
1997 Space Ghost Coast to Coast 1 episode
2003 Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Dr. Curt Connors 1 episode; Voice only
Justice League Unlimited Ichthultu
2006 Slither Dr. Karl Film; Voice only
2010 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Himself Guest; 1 episode
Super God Film; Voice only
2013 Counting Cars Himself Guest
2014 Ink Master Himself Guest Judge
Guardians of the Galaxy Ravager Navigator Film; Voice only
Director
List of films credits Year Title Role Notes
2003 House of 1000 Corpses Director, writer Theatrically released
2005 The Devil's Rejects Director, producer, writer Sequel to House of 1000 Corpses
2007 Halloween Remake of 1978 film
Werewolf Women of the SS Faux-trailer, screened prior to Grindhouse
2009 Halloween II Sequel to Halloween
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto Direct-to-DVD animated film
2010 CSI: Miami Director Season 8, episode 16: "LA"
2012 Tom Papa: Live in New York City Director Comedy Central Records
2013 The Lords of Salem Director, producer, writer
2014 The Zombie Horror Picture Show Director, performer
2016 31 Director, producer, writer
TBD Raised Eyebrows Director Based on life of Groucho Marx
Solo band members
Current
Rob Zombie – vocals (1997–current)
John 5 – guitar, backing vocals (2005–current)
Piggy D. – bass guitar, backing vocals (2006–current)
Ginger Fish – drums, percussion (2011–current)
Former
Mike Riggs – guitar (1997–2003)
Blasko – bass guitar, vocals (1997–2006)
John Tempesta – drums, percussion, vocals (1997–2004)
Tommy Clufetos – drums, percussion (2005–2010)
Joey Jordison – drums, percussion (2010–2011)
That quote totally made my day! Exactly!!! I graduated from High School in 1994. So I was smack dab in the middle of the grunge movement. People forget how short it was and Grunge as a genre gets WAY too much credit. They were/are media darlings. Nirvana was already on the brink of break up and cancelled 'Palooza 94. Cobain committed suicide during Spring Break. Pearl Jam became more of a "Classic Rock Band" after '94's Vitalogy. Nirvana broke up after Kurt's death in early 94. Soundgarden released IMHO the grunge masterpiece in Superunknown in Summer '94. They followed that up in '96 with the Solid Down on the Upside. Broke up in early '97. Alice in Chains released their Swan Song with Layne in 1995. Opened four shows for KISS in Summer '96 and then sat idle until Layne's death. Pearl Jam shifted from Grunge to Classic Rock like I mentioned and have gone strong ever since until this day. I have no idea why STP gets considered "Post Grunge" when they were releasing albums the same time as Nirvana, PJ< Sound, and AIC. In '96 they took a wrong turn with Tiny Music and never got back on track. In reality by early 1997 Grunge had quietly dissipated. Gained momentum in '92 hit it big in '93 and by '97 had all but vanished.
And I agree with the above comment. Soundgarden and Pearl Jam are indeed very different bands. Both great but different. And I'm not hating on Grunge. I've seen Soundgarden twice, AIC twice, and PJ five times. All great shows but all in all I think grunge gets more credit then it deserves.
Me I liked Sean Iseult...
I said 10 minutes because it was over the minute Nirvana broke. It could have been the Replacements, could have been the Pixies but it was Nirvana. They have more in common with Faith No More and Jane's Addiction in that respect. The 80's formula was no longer exciting the kids and it was time for something new to touch them deep inside.
STP might be considered post grunge because for all intents and purposes they were just a pop band following the formula. At least those of us who considered it independent bands most likely (but not necessarily) from the Seattle area. First on the bandwagon. At least they were able to transcend and move beyond that which is why they had a career beyond 1995.
But a rude awakening for those of us who thought Mudhoney was going to be the biggest band in the world.
And Green River might still be the greatest band most people have never heard of.
Personally I think Soundgarden's best albums are UltramegaOK and Loud Love. After that, a precipitous drop in quality and songcraft.
Melvins and Mudhoney are still putting out great new music on a regular basis.
Jane's - I would not call ;'Grunge' - but they are one of my all-time favorites. They were very good at keeping the myth of the untouchable rockstar alive. The underground film 'Gift' was great.
It's very hard to keep this rockstar thing going in the 24/7 info age
Yep, overexposure is the culprit, first with videos and now the internet. Even a band like the Stones have lost a lot of mystery. You can just go on youtube and see them 1000 times in a row. Even concerts aren't as big a deal because you can sit home and watch a periscope feed. Back in the early seventies, seeing a band like the Stones on TV was an EVENT!
It was shoved your down throat. That was the role of MTV and Rolling Stone and Spin back in the day. I am pretty sure there would have been bands that sounded like Nirvana and Mudhoney playing bars in Seattle without it. But MTV's focus was all about the image and look at what Nirvana did. The actual music being made by most of the bands was the lowest priority for exposure. None of it actually helped any of the other bands who would have likely had a similiar level of success in the underground. At least Pearl Jam and Nirvana were doing what they could to help their contemporaries with opening act slots and generous mentions in interviews so people who actually appreciate music for it's own sake might have something further to investigate.
Remember, the biggest bands in the world at the time were still Metallica, Guns N Roses and U2.
I would disagree that it was contrived, at least the first wave up til Nirvana breaking. After that, pop bands and the profiteers just outside the limelight were doing what they were expected to do which is find some way to cash in.
Talk about your favorite band.
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OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Hansman
()
Date: May 4, 2016 17:35
Where have all our rock stars gone? It’s a topic that’s been debated more frequently in recent years as the musicians with a certain special mystique about them appear to be less in prominence. While speaking with HNGN, Rob Zombie delved into the topic and he traced the shift away from the larger than life rock star to the beginning of the grunge era of the early ’90s.
Read More: Rob Zombie: Grunge Era Marked End of the 'Rock Star' | [loudwire.com]
Read More: Rob Zombie: Grunge Era Marked End of the 'Rock Star' | [loudwire.com]
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Dan
()
Date: May 4, 2016 19:12
Quote
Hansman
Where have all our rock stars gone? It’s a topic that’s been debated more frequently in recent years as the musicians with a certain special mystique about them appear to be less in prominence. While speaking with HNGN, Rob Zombie delved into the topic and he traced the shift away from the larger than life rock star to the beginning of the grunge era of the early ’90s.
Read More: Rob Zombie: Grunge Era Marked End of the 'Rock Star' | [loudwire.com]
Not just that but 10 years of MTV prior to that point also stripped the mystique awayy. I remember a friend who was a big concert goer in the 1970's telling me around 1991 that before MTV you might go to a concert without even knowing what the band looked like.
Grunge also represented the beginning of a total diversification of popular music with no dominant musical style in popular culture. Grunge only lasted like 10 minutes anyway.
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Elmo Lewis
()
Date: May 4, 2016 19:40
This 3 headed monster killed blues based rock and roll as I knew it:
Rap
MTV
Grunge
Rap
MTV
Grunge
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Dan
()
Date: May 4, 2016 19:48
Quote
Elmo Lewis
This 3 headed monster killed blues based rock and roll as I knew it:
Rap
MTV
Grunge
Grunge (real Sub Pop era Seattle bands, not the coattail riding posers that turned on MTV in 1992) has a lot more in common with blues than a lot of what rock radio was playing a the time.
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Koen
()
Date: May 4, 2016 19:52
WTF is a Rob Zombie ?
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Dan
()
Date: May 4, 2016 20:09
Quote
Koen
WTF is a Rob Zombie ?
Dude who made his career ripping off Zodiac Mindwarp
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
wonderboy
()
Date: May 4, 2016 20:11
With the exception of Springsteen, the larger than life rock star is pretty much a product of boomer culture. They bands the boomers idolized in the 60s and 70s are still larger than life. Generation X was more cynical about that kind of thing and being a smaller audience anyway, their favorite musicians got crowded out by boomer tastes.
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
HonkeyTonkFlash
()
Date: May 4, 2016 20:42
A good point was made about MTV and the rise of videos stripping the mystery away. When I was in my early teens - early 1970's - seeing your favorite band on TV was an EVENT! When a local station first aired Gimme Shelter, it was an OMG moment! Then, when everybody started having their videos all over the place, it was no longer as big a thrill to catch your idols on the tube.
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Hansman
()
Date: May 4, 2016 20:56
Quote
Koen
WTF is a Rob Zombie ?
Rob Zombie
Rob Straker Rob Zodiac
Born January 12, 1965 (age 51)
Haverhill, Massachusetts, United States
Musician singer-songwriter screenwriter film director film producer programmer record producer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1985–present
Labels
Roadrunner Loud & Proud Geffen Zodiac Swan
Associated acts
White Zombie Alice Cooper Powerman 5000 Ozzy Osbourne Black Label Society Marilyn Manson Slipknot Iggy Pop Skrillex Howard Stern Drowning Pool
Website www.robzombie.com
Rob Zombie[6] (born Robert Bartleh Cummings;[7][8] January 12, 1965) is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. Zombie rose to fame as a founding member of the heavy metal band White Zombie, releasing four studio albums with the band. Zombie's first solo effort was a song titled "Hands of Death (Burn Baby Burn)" (1996) with Alice Cooper, which went on to receive a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards. He released his debut solo studio album, Hellbilly Deluxe in 1998. The album went on to sell over three million copies worldwide, and spawned three singles. He released a remix album the following year that contained songs from Hellbilly Deluxe. Zombie directed the horror film House of 1000 Corpses in 2000, though the controversial project failed to see a release until 2003. His second studio album, The Sinister Urge (2001), became his second platinum album in the United States. In 2003, Zombie released the compilation album Past, Present, & Future.
Zombie directed The Devil's Rejects (2005), a direct sequel to his prior film House of 1000 Corpses. The project received a more positive reception than its predecessor. His third studio album, Educated Horses (2006), was a departure from his earlier recordings. The album became his third to enter the top ten of the Billboard 200, though saw a decrease in sales when compared to his previous releases. Deciding to focus on his directing career, Zombie directed the horror film Halloween (2007), a remake of the 1978 horror classic of the same name. The film became Zombie's highest grossing film to date, though was met with a lukewarm critical reception. He later directed Halloween II (2009), though it failed to match the success of the first film. He released the animated film The Haunted World of El Superbeasto that same year. Zombie returned to music with the release of his fourth studio album, Hellbilly Deluxe 2 (2010). The album peaked at number eight in the United States, and sold over 200,000 copies in the country.
In 2012, Zombie released a second remix album and directed the horror film The Lords of Salem, which was released the following year. His fifth studio album, Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor (2013), became his lowest selling album to date. He directed the upcoming horror film 31, and has purchased the rights to a film about the NHL team Philadelphia Flyers, titled The Broad Street Bullies; no release date for the film has been announced. Since the beginning of his music career, Zombie's music and lyrics have featured notable horror and sci-fi themes. His live shows have been praised for their elaborate shock rock theatricality.[9] Since beginning his solo career, Zombie has sold an estimated fifteen million albums worldwide.[10]
Contents
1 Life and career
1.1 1965-98: Early life and White Zombie
1.2 1998–2001: Solo debut and commercial success
1.3 2002–06: Marriage, directorial debut, and continued musical success
1.4 2007–09: Focus on film work
1.5 2010–15: New label and return to music
1.6 2016: The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser and upcoming films
2 Artistry
2.1 Musical style
2.2 Influences and style
3 Discography
4 Filmography
4.1 As actor
4.2 Director
5 Solo band members
5.1 Timeline
6 References
7 External links
Life and career
1965-98: Early life and White Zombie
Robert Bartleh Cummings was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts on January 12, 1965.[11] He is the oldest son of Robert and Louise Cummings.[12] Rob's younger brother, Michael David Cummings, is the lead singer of the band Powerman 5000.[13] Growing up, Rob had a fascination with horror films, and has stated that he always "wanted to be Alice Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Bela Lugosi, and Stan Lee.[14][15] While raising their sons, Rob's parents worked in a carnival,[16] but they chose to leave after a riot broke out and tents were set on fire.[17][18] Zombie recalled the experience in an interview, stating, "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."[19] Cummings graduated from Haverhill High School in 1983.[20] He moved to New York City, and he began attending Parsons School of Design where he met eventual girlfriend Sean Yseult.[21][22] Before the success of White Zombie, he was a production assistant for the series Pee-wee's Playhouse.[23]
Rob and Sean served as co-founders for a band that would become known as White Zombie. Yseult and Zombie would break up after seven years of dating, though they continued to work in the band together.[24] The band released three extended plays to little success, with their debut studio album following in 1987 through the band's own record label, Silent Explosion.[25] They released their second studio album two years later, to little commercial reaction.[26] Yseult and Zombie ended their relationship in 1991, and Zombie began dating Sheri Moon shortly afterwards.[27] The band caught the attention of Geffen Records following the release of their fourth extended play; their third studio album was subsequently released through the label in 1992.[28] The album became the band's breakout hit, going on to sell over two million copies in the United States.[29] Their first single, "Thunder Kiss '65", was released through the label in 1993.[30]
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 to enter the top ten of the Billboard 200; it went on to sell over two million copies in the United States.[29] Rob 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.[31][32] In 1996, Rob legally changed his name to Rob Zombie.[33] White Zombie released a remix album that year, marking their final release before their eventual disbandment.[34] 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.[35] The song was nominated in the category of Best Metal Performance at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, though lost to Rage Against the Machine.[36] White Zombie officially broke up in 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."[37] A box-set for the group was released in 2008 featuring all of their released material.[38]
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. For the album, Rob worked with numerous artists, including Charlie Clouser of Nine Inch Nails fame and former White Zombie bandmate John Tempesta.[39][40][41][42][43] Zombie's solo debut album, Hellbilly Deluxe: 13 Tales of Cadaverous Cavorting Inside the Spookshow International, was released on August 25, 1998.[44] The album was a commercial success, debuting at number five on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 121,000 copies.[45] The album's first week sales topped that of his prior album's with White Zombie.[46] Hellbilly Deluxe went on to become Zombie's highest selling album to date, with sales exceeding three million copies in the United States.[47] The album was influenced by classic horror films,[48] with numerous songs on the album containing samples and quotes from some of Zombie's favorite horror films.[49] The album spawned three singles, all of which charted on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[50] Numerous songs from the album were used in films and video games, mainly in the horror genre.[51] The success of the album led to the release of Zombie's first remix album, American Made Music to Strip By (1999).[52] The album entered the top forty of the Billboard 200 in its debut week.[52]
Zombie formed his own record label, Zombie-A-Go-Go Records, in 1998.[53] The label released the final album from American instrumental band The Bomboras,[54] as well as the debut album from the Ghastly Ones.[53] 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.[55] 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.[56] The album, considered a soundtrack, features the original score and some dialogue from the original Frankenstein (1931).[56]
Zombie was set to make his directorial debut with the film The Crow: 2037, and even wrote the film's script.[57] The film was set to take place in the future, though it was never released.[58][59] It was decided that the film was not suited for the franchise, but would instead serve as a standalone project.[60] He composed the original score for the video game Twisted Metal III, released in 1998.[61] Zombie designed a haunted attraction for Universal Studios in 1999, which was later deemed instrumental in reviving the Halloween Horror Nights annual attraction.[62] It was during this time that Zombie began working with the studio on his directorial debut, a film titled House of 1000 Corpses.[63] 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.[64] Zombie's song "Superbeast", taken from Hellbilly Deluxe, received a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.[65] Zombie contributed the song "Scum of the Earth" (2000) to the Mission: Impossible II soundtrack.[66]
Zombie's second studio album, The Sinister Urge, was released on November 13, 2001.[67][68] The album expands on the horror and shock rock elements seen in his debut album, and features collaborations with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne.[69] The album became his second to enter the top ten in the United States,[70] with its first week sales topping that of his previous album.[71][72] The album went on to sell over one million copies in the United States, his second to accomplish this feat.[47] The album was preceded by the single "Feel So Numb", with a second single being released the following year.[73] 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,[74][75] 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."[69] The Sinister Urge was voted as the fans' favorite album on Zombie's official website.[76] 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.
2002–06: Marriage, directorial debut, and continued musical success
Rob Zombie at Ozzfest, 2005.
In 2002, Zombie announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Sheri Moon, with a wedding date set for November 9, 2002.[77] Only ten days before the wedding date, the couple decided to elope on October 31, 2002.[78] On the decision, Sheri claimed "We were actually taking a walk in our neighborhood the day before. The wedding date was to be November 9th. We're like, 'Oh, God, we've been together for nine years. We should just say our vows privately'. It was just like a spur-of-the-moment decision. It just happens that the next day was Halloween. We didn't do it for any spooky reasons or anything".[27] Now married, Moon officially changed her name to Sheri Moon Zombie.[27]
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.[79] The film was released theatrically on April 11, 2003.[80][81] The film received a generally negative reception from critics, though grossed over $16 million worldwide.[82] The film was criticized for being too "grotesque" and "violent", but has since garnered a cult following.[83][84][85] Despite vastly negative reviews,[86] the film garnered a warmer reception in later years, and is frequently listed as one of the "best horror films ever made".[87] Zombie worked with Scott Humphrey on the majority of the film's soundtrack, which was released on March 25, 2003.[88][89] 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".[90] The soundtrack peaked at number fifty-three on the Billboard 200, and number four on the Top Soundtracks chart.[91]
Zombie released his first compilation album, titled Past, Present & Future, on September 23, 2003.[92] 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.[93] 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.[47] 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.[94] In November 2003, Zombie launched his Spookshow International comic book series.[95] 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.[96][97] Zombie's second film, The Devils Rejects, serves as a direct sequel to House of 1000 Corpses, and was released on July 22, 2005.[98][99] The film featured a more "violent Western film" theme as opposed to the horror aspects of its predecessor.[100] The film received a much more positive reception than its predecessor, though was still criticized for its violence and material.[101] The film has been described as "one giant loogie that comes straight from the heart", filled with moments of nihilism and cunning wit.[102] Much like the first film, The Devil's Rejects went on to gain a cult following after its release.[103] The film has a 53 out of 100 rating on Metacritic, meaning mixed to positive reviews.[104] Zombie released a number of The Devils Rejects comics throughout 2005 to coincide with the film.[105]
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.[106] The release was described as "experimental" by Zombie, who claimed the project featured numerous acoustic-led songs.[107] The album, Educated Horses, was released on March 28, 2006.[108] It sold 107,000 copies in its first week, becoming Zombie's third album to enter the top ten on the Billboard 200.[109][110] 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."[111] The song "The Lords of Salem" was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.[112] 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).[47] 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).[94] Zombie released his first official greatest hits album, The Best of Rob Zombie, on October 10, 2006.[113] The album was re-released only months later under the title The Best of Rob Zombie: 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection.[114] The project debuted at number 166 on the Billboard 200, and went on to receive a gold certification from the RIAA.[47] 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.[47]
2007–09: Focus on film work
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).[115] Zombie later referred to the film as a "re-imagining" of the original John Carpenter film.[116] Zombie's version of the film was officially released on August 31, 2007.[117][118] 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.[119] It still currently resides as the top Labor Day weekend grosser.[120] The film went on to become Zombie's highest grossing release to date.[121][122] Despite these achievements, the film was generally panned by critics upon its release.[123] 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."[124] Zombie directed a fictitious trailer for a film Werewolf Women of the SS, which was featured in the film Grindhouse (2007).[125][126] That same year, Zombie released his first live album, Zombie Live.[127]
Zombie announced work on a new film, Tyrannosaurus Rex, which was slated for release in 2009; the film was ultimately scrapped.[128][129][130][131] 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.[132][133] H2 was ultimately the reason for the postponement and eventual cancellation of Tyrannosaurus Rex.[134] Halloween II was released on August 28, 2009.[135][136] The film received a worse critical reception than Zombie's original remake, and failed to achieve the commercial success of the former.[137] 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.[138][139][140] Following the completion of the film, Zombie confirmed he would not make another sequel.[141] Variety Magazine announced the weekend before the release of Halloween II that Zombie would be directing a remake of the 1950s film The Blob.[142] Zombie later chose to back out of the film as he "didn't want to do another remake".[143]
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.[144] The album was released through Zombie's own Zombie-A-Go-Go Records, the first album released through the label in almost ten years.[145] There were initial reports of a film centering around Captain Clegg, though the project never materialized.[146] Dayton later toured in character as the band as the opening act for Zombie throughout 2009 and 2010.[146] 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.[147] 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 on September 22, 2009.[148] 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.[149]
2010–15: 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.[150][151][152] Prior to the release of the album, it was confirmed that Zombie had parted ways with longtime label Geffen Records, penning a new deal with Roadrunner Records.[153] Zombie later claimed that Geffen had "morphed into a different label" and that being signed didn't "work for [him] anymore."[154] 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".[155] Hellbilly Deluxe 2 was released on February 2, 2010.[156][157] The album sold 49,000 copies in its first week of release, becoming his fourth top ten album in the United States.[158][159] The album received a mixed to positive critical reception upon its release.[160] Zombie released a special edition of the album on September 28, 2010 featuring three new songs.[161] Zombie promoted the release through his Hellbilly Deluxe 2 World Tour, which served as his first international tour since beginning his solo career.[162][163] The tour featured 150 dates, spanning over a two-year time span.[164] Zombie released the Icon greatest hits album on October 5, 2010 through Roadrunner Records.[165]
Rob Zombie at Nova Rock 2014
Zombie launched his seventh and final comic book series, Whatever Happened to Baron Von Shock?, in 2010; the series spawned four issues.[166] Zombie had another voice-only role in the 2010 film Super, portraying God.[94] In 2011, Zombie directed a horror-themed commercial for Woolite.[167] Zombie announced work on the horror film The Lords of Salem in 2011.[168] 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.[169] In an interview Zombie said that the film would be his cinematically biggest film and described it as "if Ken Russell directed The Shining".[170] The Lords of Salem premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2012, with a limited theatrical release following in April 2013.[171][172] The Lords of Salem became the last film of veteran actor Richard Lynch, who died in 2012.[173][174][175]
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.[176] 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.[177][178] The film will be Zombie's first non-horror film.[179][180] He has since stated that the film was in the "research stages", and a release date is unknown.[181] 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.[182] The album featured remixed material from Zombie's first four studio albums, as well as his releases with White Zombie.[183] The album was released through Geffen Records, despite Zombie having left the label.[184] Zombie embarked on the Twins of Evil Tour with American rock band Marilyn Manson beginning on September 28, 2012.[185] The tour concluded following a publicized feud between the artists while on tour, with the two groups often feuding while on stage.[186] The tour officially concluded on December 12, 2012.[186]
Recording for Zombie's fifth studio album began in June 2012,[187][188] with Zombie announcing the then-untitled project in July 2012.[189] 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."[190][191] 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.[192] On January 30, 2013, Zombie announced that the album was titled Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor.[193] The album was released on April 23, 2013.[194] 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.[195] The album has since became Zombie's lowest selling album to date.[47]
Zombie designed and launched the Great American Nightmare haunted attraction in 2013.[196] The attraction, based in Chicago, featured references to Zombie's films and other significant horror events in pop culture.[197] 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.[198] In 2014, Zombie had the voice-only role of Ravager Navigator in the superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy.[199] 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.[200]
2016: The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser and upcoming films
Zombie announced work on his sixth studio album as early as April 2014, having begun working on the project that January.[201] 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.[202] The album was released on April 29, 2016. Zombie described it as "seriously [their] heaviest most @#$%& up musical monster to date."[203] 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.[204][205] The film is set to follow a group of individuals attempting to survive a night in a carnival filled with murderous clowns.[206] 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".[206] 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.[207][208][209] The film has yet to receive a release date.[210] Zombie is set to launch his "Spookshow International" pinball machine in February 2016.[211][212][213][214] The limited edition item features ten of Zombie's classic songs, as well as voice contributions from Zombie, Sheri Moon, and Sid Haig.[215][216]
Artistry
Musical style
Zombie's music has been noted for its use of horror and suspense elements,[217][218] which is inspired by Zombie's love of horror films.[219] Zombie's music also contains elements commonly found in heavy metal music.[220][221][222] 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".[223] Zombie's songs have also been known to feature quotes and samples from classic horror films.[224] Numerous songs on his debut album, Hellbilly Deluxe, feature quotes from classic horror films that Zombie grew up with.[49] 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."[225]
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."[194] He is also noted for using "spoken word lyrics" in numerous songs, a style he began while with White Zombie.[194] 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."[226] 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."[227] LegendsMagazine 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."[228] Allmusic wrote in their review of American Made Music to Strip By that Hellbilly Deluxe had a "sexy, sleazy, horror-movie vibe".[229]
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)".[230] Zombie claimed that whereas Hellbilly Deluxe featured electronics, The Sinister Urge was recorded with a live band as to emphasize the instrumentals.[231] 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.[232] Despite a shift in sound, many of the album's lyrics feature horror elements found on his prior releases.[233] Hellbilly Deluxe 2, Zombie's fourth studio album, saw a return to the heavy metal sound of his early releases.[234] The album was considered a direct sequel to his debut studio album, with whom it shares a name. Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor continued these themes, and features "bass-heavy" beats.[194] The record was deemed a throwback to his debut album due to similar lyrical and sonic themes.[194]
Influences and style
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."[235] Zombie has cited artists such as Alice Cooper,[236] KISS,[237] Queen,[238] and Elton John[239] as influences during his childhood.[240] Zombie claimed that the first record he ever bought was an Alice Cooper album.[241] He has cited Cooper's style and costumes as an influence on his own.[242] Metallica and Twisted Sister were also cited as influences by Zombie.[243] Zombie claimed his mother would not allow him to watch horror films, namely The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974),[244] which later served as an influence on Zombie's films House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects.[245] 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),[246] while his video for "Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy)" was heavily inspired by A Clockwork Orange (1971).[247] His film The Lords of Salem was inspired by the horror classic The Shining (1980).[248] Since he began working with White Zombie, Rob has been known for his long hair and beard.[249] Zombie claimed that he has not cut his beard since he was able to grow one, and began growing his hair out in 1984.[250] Zombie has been an ethical vegetarian for over 30 years[251] and later turned vegan along with his wife Sheri.[252] He is a supporter of PETA.[251] Zombie neglects to share his political and religious beliefs with the public, though claims that at one point his mother contemplated becoming a nun. He chooses to avoid alcohol and substance abuse, stating "I certainly didn't achieve anything by being wasted and @#$%& up."[253]
Discography
Main article: Rob Zombie discography
Hellbilly Deluxe (1998)
The Sinister Urge (2001)
Educated Horses (2006)
Hellbilly Deluxe 2 (2010)
Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor (2013)
The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser (2016)[201]
Filmography
As actor
List of films credits Year Title Role Notes
1994 Airheads Himself Film; Performer with White Zombie
1997 Space Ghost Coast to Coast 1 episode
2003 Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Dr. Curt Connors 1 episode; Voice only
Justice League Unlimited Ichthultu
2006 Slither Dr. Karl Film; Voice only
2010 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Himself Guest; 1 episode
Super God Film; Voice only
2013 Counting Cars Himself Guest
2014 Ink Master Himself Guest Judge
Guardians of the Galaxy Ravager Navigator Film; Voice only
Director
List of films credits Year Title Role Notes
2003 House of 1000 Corpses Director, writer Theatrically released
2005 The Devil's Rejects Director, producer, writer Sequel to House of 1000 Corpses
2007 Halloween Remake of 1978 film
Werewolf Women of the SS Faux-trailer, screened prior to Grindhouse
2009 Halloween II Sequel to Halloween
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto Direct-to-DVD animated film
2010 CSI: Miami Director Season 8, episode 16: "LA"
2012 Tom Papa: Live in New York City Director Comedy Central Records
2013 The Lords of Salem Director, producer, writer
2014 The Zombie Horror Picture Show Director, performer
2016 31 Director, producer, writer
TBD Raised Eyebrows Director Based on life of Groucho Marx
Solo band members
Current
Rob Zombie – vocals (1997–current)
John 5 – guitar, backing vocals (2005–current)
Piggy D. – bass guitar, backing vocals (2006–current)
Ginger Fish – drums, percussion (2011–current)
Former
Mike Riggs – guitar (1997–2003)
Blasko – bass guitar, vocals (1997–2006)
John Tempesta – drums, percussion, vocals (1997–2004)
Tommy Clufetos – drums, percussion (2005–2010)
Joey Jordison – drums, percussion (2010–2011)
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Koen
()
Date: May 4, 2016 21:03
Ok, thanks.
Never heard of him though.
Never heard of him though.
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Dan
()
Date: May 4, 2016 21:16
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Koen
()
Date: May 4, 2016 21:26
Nope.
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Kurt
()
Date: May 4, 2016 22:39
I would say that Rob himself is, in fact, a 'Larger Than Life Rock Star'.
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Rockman
()
Date: May 5, 2016 01:14
Thought I'd staggered into a porn shop when I spotted the cover of Zombie's Record Store release ....
ROCKMAN
ROCKMAN
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
keefriffhard4life
()
Date: May 5, 2016 06:56
rob is always cool but grunge was not 1 style. pearl jam and soundgarden sound nothing alike
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
TumblinDice76
()
Date: May 5, 2016 18:12
Quote
Dan
Grunge only lasted like 10 minutes anyway.
That quote totally made my day! Exactly!!! I graduated from High School in 1994. So I was smack dab in the middle of the grunge movement. People forget how short it was and Grunge as a genre gets WAY too much credit. They were/are media darlings. Nirvana was already on the brink of break up and cancelled 'Palooza 94. Cobain committed suicide during Spring Break. Pearl Jam became more of a "Classic Rock Band" after '94's Vitalogy. Nirvana broke up after Kurt's death in early 94. Soundgarden released IMHO the grunge masterpiece in Superunknown in Summer '94. They followed that up in '96 with the Solid Down on the Upside. Broke up in early '97. Alice in Chains released their Swan Song with Layne in 1995. Opened four shows for KISS in Summer '96 and then sat idle until Layne's death. Pearl Jam shifted from Grunge to Classic Rock like I mentioned and have gone strong ever since until this day. I have no idea why STP gets considered "Post Grunge" when they were releasing albums the same time as Nirvana, PJ< Sound, and AIC. In '96 they took a wrong turn with Tiny Music and never got back on track. In reality by early 1997 Grunge had quietly dissipated. Gained momentum in '92 hit it big in '93 and by '97 had all but vanished.
And I agree with the above comment. Soundgarden and Pearl Jam are indeed very different bands. Both great but different. And I'm not hating on Grunge. I've seen Soundgarden twice, AIC twice, and PJ five times. All great shows but all in all I think grunge gets more credit then it deserves.
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
dcba
()
Date: May 5, 2016 18:16
Quote
DanQuote
Koen
WTF is a Rob Zombie ?
Dude who made his career ripping off Zodiac Mindwarp
Me I liked Sean Iseult...
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Dan
()
Date: May 5, 2016 19:37
Quote
TumblinDice76Quote
Dan
Grunge only lasted like 10 minutes anyway.
That quote totally made my day! Exactly!!! I graduated from High School in 1994. So I was smack dab in the middle of the grunge movement. People forget how short it was and Grunge as a genre gets WAY too much credit. They were/are media darlings. Nirvana was already on the brink of break up and cancelled 'Palooza 94. Cobain committed suicide during Spring Break. Pearl Jam became more of a "Classic Rock Band" after '94's Vitalogy. Nirvana broke up after Kurt's death in early 94. Soundgarden released IMHO the grunge masterpiece in Superunknown in Summer '94. They followed that up in '96 with the Solid Down on the Upside. Broke up in early '97. Alice in Chains released their Swan Song with Layne in 1995. Opened four shows for KISS in Summer '96 and then sat idle until Layne's death. Pearl Jam shifted from Grunge to Classic Rock like I mentioned and have gone strong ever since until this day. I have no idea why STP gets considered "Post Grunge" when they were releasing albums the same time as Nirvana, PJ< Sound, and AIC. In '96 they took a wrong turn with Tiny Music and never got back on track. In reality by early 1997 Grunge had quietly dissipated. Gained momentum in '92 hit it big in '93 and by '97 had all but vanished.
And I agree with the above comment. Soundgarden and Pearl Jam are indeed very different bands. Both great but different. And I'm not hating on Grunge. I've seen Soundgarden twice, AIC twice, and PJ five times. All great shows but all in all I think grunge gets more credit then it deserves.
I said 10 minutes because it was over the minute Nirvana broke. It could have been the Replacements, could have been the Pixies but it was Nirvana. They have more in common with Faith No More and Jane's Addiction in that respect. The 80's formula was no longer exciting the kids and it was time for something new to touch them deep inside.
STP might be considered post grunge because for all intents and purposes they were just a pop band following the formula. At least those of us who considered it independent bands most likely (but not necessarily) from the Seattle area. First on the bandwagon. At least they were able to transcend and move beyond that which is why they had a career beyond 1995.
But a rude awakening for those of us who thought Mudhoney was going to be the biggest band in the world.
And Green River might still be the greatest band most people have never heard of.
Personally I think Soundgarden's best albums are UltramegaOK and Loud Love. After that, a precipitous drop in quality and songcraft.
Melvins and Mudhoney are still putting out great new music on a regular basis.
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
dcba
()
Date: May 5, 2016 21:47
Me I would have given my left nut to see Jane's Addiction winning the pinata instead of Nirvana... Oh well : success would have killed Farrell and Navarro around 1993 so all in all it's good.
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
TumblinDice76
()
Date: May 5, 2016 22:27
Dan-You are a wise man my friend. I actually liked a lot of Screaming Trees' stuff too but when you physically look at bands like the Trees and Tad, they weren't as "pretty" as PJ or the others. I agree with ya spot on about Green River.
I guess my biggest complaint with Grunge is that it was viewed in the 90's as being this raw, alternative (before that word was over used) underground music. Kind of like the MC5 and the Stooges were in their time. But in reality it is the furthest thing from the truth. Grunge in reality was one of the most commercialized and processed corporate rock genre of all times. By the 90's though the record industry was just better at disguising there manipulation then they were in the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's. Now in 2016 looking back a lot of that 90's grunge seems even more pretentious then the LA metal scene of the 80's. The Metal scene knew what it was and didn't apologize for being what it is/was. Grunge thought it was "smarter" and more "important". it probably was smarter but almost more annoying in a way. If you didn't like Metal you could have easily avoided it. MTV and Rolling Stone was shoving Grunge down our throats at a steady pace.
I am officially a 40 year old-I have a love/hate relationship with my own era and generation!
I guess my biggest complaint with Grunge is that it was viewed in the 90's as being this raw, alternative (before that word was over used) underground music. Kind of like the MC5 and the Stooges were in their time. But in reality it is the furthest thing from the truth. Grunge in reality was one of the most commercialized and processed corporate rock genre of all times. By the 90's though the record industry was just better at disguising there manipulation then they were in the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's. Now in 2016 looking back a lot of that 90's grunge seems even more pretentious then the LA metal scene of the 80's. The Metal scene knew what it was and didn't apologize for being what it is/was. Grunge thought it was "smarter" and more "important". it probably was smarter but almost more annoying in a way. If you didn't like Metal you could have easily avoided it. MTV and Rolling Stone was shoving Grunge down our throats at a steady pace.
I am officially a 40 year old-I have a love/hate relationship with my own era and generation!
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Palace Revolution 2000
()
Date: May 5, 2016 22:57
LOL, there they are - in the final post: Screaming Trees. I was scrolling down, getting ready to mention the only Grunge-era band that I really liked. They didn't get all that much credit but man were they good.Quote
TumblinDice76
Dan-You are a wise man my friend. I actually liked a lot of Screaming Trees' stuff too but when you physically look at bands like the Trees and Tad, they weren't as "pretty" as PJ or the others. I agree with ya spot on about Green River.
I guess my biggest complaint with Grunge is that it was viewed in the 90's as being this raw, alternative (before that word was over used) underground music. Kind of like the MC5 and the Stooges were in their time. But in reality it is the furthest thing from the truth. Grunge in reality was one of the most commercialized and processed corporate rock genre of all times. By the 90's though the record industry was just better at disguising there manipulation then they were in the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's. Now in 2016 looking back a lot of that 90's grunge seems even more pretentious then the LA metal scene of the 80's. The Metal scene knew what it was and didn't apologize for being what it is/was. Grunge thought it was "smarter" and more "important". it probably was smarter but almost more annoying in a way. If you didn't like Metal you could have easily avoided it. MTV and Rolling Stone was shoving Grunge down our throats at a steady pace.
I am officially a 40 year old-I have a love/hate relationship with my own era and generation!
Jane's - I would not call ;'Grunge' - but they are one of my all-time favorites. They were very good at keeping the myth of the untouchable rockstar alive. The underground film 'Gift' was great.
It's very hard to keep this rockstar thing going in the 24/7 info age
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
HonkeyTonkFlash
()
Date: May 5, 2016 23:05
Quote
Palace Revolution 2000LOL, there they are - in the final post: Screaming Trees. I was scrolling down, getting ready to mention the only Grunge-era band that I really liked. They didn't get all that much credit but man were they good.Quote
TumblinDice76
Dan-You are a wise man my friend. I actually liked a lot of Screaming Trees' stuff too but when you physically look at bands like the Trees and Tad, they weren't as "pretty" as PJ or the others. I agree with ya spot on about Green River.
I guess my biggest complaint with Grunge is that it was viewed in the 90's as being this raw, alternative (before that word was over used) underground music. Kind of like the MC5 and the Stooges were in their time. But in reality it is the furthest thing from the truth. Grunge in reality was one of the most commercialized and processed corporate rock genre of all times. By the 90's though the record industry was just better at disguising there manipulation then they were in the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's. Now in 2016 looking back a lot of that 90's grunge seems even more pretentious then the LA metal scene of the 80's. The Metal scene knew what it was and didn't apologize for being what it is/was. Grunge thought it was "smarter" and more "important". it probably was smarter but almost more annoying in a way. If you didn't like Metal you could have easily avoided it. MTV and Rolling Stone was shoving Grunge down our throats at a steady pace.
I am officially a 40 year old-I have a love/hate relationship with my own era and generation!
Jane's - I would not call ;'Grunge' - but they are one of my all-time favorites. They were very good at keeping the myth of the untouchable rockstar alive. The underground film 'Gift' was great.
It's very hard to keep this rockstar thing going in the 24/7 info age
Yep, overexposure is the culprit, first with videos and now the internet. Even a band like the Stones have lost a lot of mystery. You can just go on youtube and see them 1000 times in a row. Even concerts aren't as big a deal because you can sit home and watch a periscope feed. Back in the early seventies, seeing a band like the Stones on TV was an EVENT!
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
Dan
()
Date: May 5, 2016 23:33
Quote
TumblinDice76
Dan-You are a wise man my friend. I actually liked a lot of Screaming Trees' stuff too but when you physically look at bands like the Trees and Tad, they weren't as "pretty" as PJ or the others. I agree with ya spot on about Green River.
I guess my biggest complaint with Grunge is that it was viewed in the 90's as being this raw, alternative (before that word was over used) underground music. Kind of like the MC5 and the Stooges were in their time. But in reality it is the furthest thing from the truth. Grunge in reality was one of the most commercialized and processed corporate rock genre of all times. By the 90's though the record industry was just better at disguising there manipulation then they were in the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's. Now in 2016 looking back a lot of that 90's grunge seems even more pretentious then the LA metal scene of the 80's. The Metal scene knew what it was and didn't apologize for being what it is/was. Grunge thought it was "smarter" and more "important". it probably was smarter but almost more annoying in a way. If you didn't like Metal you could have easily avoided it. MTV and Rolling Stone was shoving Grunge down our throats at a steady pace.
I am officially a 40 year old-I have a love/hate relationship with my own era and generation!
It was shoved your down throat. That was the role of MTV and Rolling Stone and Spin back in the day. I am pretty sure there would have been bands that sounded like Nirvana and Mudhoney playing bars in Seattle without it. But MTV's focus was all about the image and look at what Nirvana did. The actual music being made by most of the bands was the lowest priority for exposure. None of it actually helped any of the other bands who would have likely had a similiar level of success in the underground. At least Pearl Jam and Nirvana were doing what they could to help their contemporaries with opening act slots and generous mentions in interviews so people who actually appreciate music for it's own sake might have something further to investigate.
Remember, the biggest bands in the world at the time were still Metallica, Guns N Roses and U2.
I would disagree that it was contrived, at least the first wave up til Nirvana breaking. After that, pop bands and the profiteers just outside the limelight were doing what they were expected to do which is find some way to cash in.
Re: OT: Rob Zombie Points to Grunge Era as the End of the ‘Larger Than Life Rock Star’
Posted by:
TumblinDice76
()
Date: May 6, 2016 00:30
The Music wasn't contrived but the genre in a way was, which wasn't really it's fault (or any of the band's faults per say. MTV, Rolling Stone, Spin, Etc. were ready to find a replacement for the metal genre that they despised. It just happened to be Seattle that they picked. I'm not really an REM fan but their documentary is really good. They say that before Document was even finished and released MTV was already creating a Buzz because by 1987 there was a bit of a void in "genre" music. MTV just hand picked REM and Athens as their next "it" band/city. Even in 1987 REM thought it was odd that MTV was excited about an album they haven't even heard yet.
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