- For the film, see White Zombie (film)
White Zombie is a American independent horror film directed and produced by brothers Victor Halperin and Edward Halperin respectively. The film stars Béla Lugosi as Murder Legendre, Madge Bellamy as Madeline Short, Joseph Cawthorn as Dr. Bruner and Robert W. Frazer as Charles Beaumont...
White Zombie was a
Grammy AwardThe Grammy Awards —or Grammys—are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry...
-nominated
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rockRock music is a genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the 1960s. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country music and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music....
band named after
the 1932 film
of the same nameWhite Zombie is a American independent horror film directed and produced by brothers Victor Halperin and Edward Halperin respectively. The film stars Béla Lugosi as Murder Legendre, Madge Bellamy as Madeline Short, Joseph Cawthorn as Dr. Bruner and Robert W. Frazer as Charles Beaumont...
, which starred
Béla LugosiBéla Lugosi was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen, well known for playing Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version...
.
Based in
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, White Zombie was originally a
noise rockNoise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.- Visual and...
band. White Zombie are better-known for their later
heavy metalHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in England and the United States...
-oriented sound, with lyrics heavily influenced by horror films. Unlike other metal bands of the 1990s, White Zombie was almost exclusively a "fantasy" band, writing songs not based on their aspirations or experiences, but about surreal horror fantasies.
The group officially disbanded in 1998 shortly after the release of singer
Rob ZombieRobert Bartleh Cummings , better known by his stage name, Rob Zombie, is a Grammy-nominated American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the metal band White Zombie....
's solo album
Hellbilly DeluxeHellbilly Deluxe is the debut solo album by the former White Zombie singer Rob Zombie, released on August 25, 1998. The album's title is a play on the Dwight Yoakam album Hillbilly Deluxe...
.
The Early Years
White Zombie was founded by writer, vocalist, and graphic artist,
Rob ZombieRobert Bartleh Cummings , better known by his stage name, Rob Zombie, is a Grammy-nominated American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the metal band White Zombie....
, after coming up with the band idea in 1985 while attending Pratt in his Junior year. Rob's girlfriend at the time,
Sean YseultSean Yseult is an American rock musician. She has played various instruments with different bands over the years, most notably her bass work with the band White Zombie. Her father, Michael S. Reynolds, was a noted biographer of Ernest Hemingway...
, was playing the
farfisaFarfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Italy. The Farfisa brand name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organ, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizer. At the height of their production, Farfisa operated 3 factories to produce instruments, in Ancona in...
keyboard in the band LIFE.
Ena KostabiPaul Indrek Kostabi is an American artist, musician, and producer.Going by the nickname "ENA", he is the son of Estonian war refugees who fled to the United States following the Soviet occupation of Estonia...
owned a studio which he would rent out to different bands. When he met Sean, she asked if he could teach her to play bass. They then recruited Peter Landau to play drums and began to write and record songs. White Zombie's first release was an
EPAn extended play is a vinyl record, CD, or music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as an LP. Usually, a CD single has around 10–28 minutes of music, an EP has up to 36 minutes, and an album generally has 30–80 minutes. Mini-LPs generally contain 20–30...
titled
Gods on Voodoo MoonGods on Voodoo Moon is the first recording and release by White Zombie, released as an EP in 1985 under their own indie label Silent Explosion.-Production:...
and was recorded on October 18, 1985. It was released under the band's own label
Silent ExplosionSilent Explosion was an independent record label founded by the band White Zombie in 1985 and discontinued in 1987.-History:The record label was started in order for the few indie albums that the band White Zombie recorded to be released under. White Zombie's albums were the only releases to bear...
, under which they would release most of their early work. Only 300 copies were pressed, of which only 100 were sold — the band members still retain possession of the remaining 200.
In 1986, Rob hired Tim Jeffs as the replacement for Kostabi, and
Ivan de PrumeIvan de Prume is a heavy metal drummer whose music became famous in the groove metal band White Zombie.Born in Brooklyn, New York, de Prume comes from a rich history of artists. Ivan's sister, Cathryn is a successful actress and they've collaborated on two short films together. But it is his...
as the replacement for Landau. It was at this time the band started touring, making their live performance debut at
CBGB'sCBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
on April 28th. White Zombie released their second EP
Pig Heaven that year. The release contained only two songs, "Pig Heaven" and "Slaughter the Grey", and retained the same sound as their previous effort. It was at this time the band started touring locally for the first time. After only a few live shows, Jeffs left the band and was quickly replaced by
Tom GuayTom Guay is a guitar player who joined White Zombie while studying art at Parsons School of Design which he attended from 1985 to 1989. He played guitar for the metal band ANGEL ROT from 1989 to 2003 and performed as singer for the Black Sabbath tribute band RAT SALAD.He currently sings and plays...
. The band released a second pressing of
Pig Heaven with different cover art. Only 500 copies of each pressing were released on vinyl.
In 1987, the band released their third EP,
Psycho-Head Blowout. Later that year, the band released their first full length album
Soul-CrusherSoul-Crusher is the debut album of noise rock band White Zombie. It was released in November 1987 on LP under White Zombie's own label "Silent Explosion". In 1988, the album was adopted and re-edited by Caroline Records. Each label pressed 2000 copies making it a rarity among collectors...
, which was their first release to feature sound clips from movies in the songs, a trademark that would continue for the remainder of the band's lifespan. John Ricci replaced Tom Guay shortly after the release of
Soul-Crusher. This is also the first album crediting "Rob Zombie," instead of his previous stage name "Rob 'Dirt' Straker."
In 1988, the band signed to
Caroline RecordsCaroline Records started out as a subsidiary of Richard Branson's Virgin Records label during the early to mid 1970s. The label originally specialized in putting out budget price LPs by mainly progressive rock and jazz artists generally not considered to have a great deal of 'mainstream' or...
, permanently discontinuing their old indie label. About 1,000 copies of the vinyl were pressed for both the original and the re-release. After the re-release of the album in 1988, White Zombie began to tour outside of their northeast home, gaining slightly more recognition. In 1989, the band released their second LP
Make Them Die SlowlyMake Them Die Slowly is the second album by White Zombie released in 1989. It is presumably named after the 1981 cannibal movie Cannibal Ferox, which was originally released in the US as Make Them Die Slowly...
. The album was a huge musical shift for White Zombie. While their previous releases had been strictly punk influenced noise rock,
Make Them Die Slowly had more of a
heavy metalHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in England and the United States...
sound. The band stated that they wanted to play more of what they were influenced by and to keep it simple. It was also evident that Rob's vocals had grown deeper and he was no longer shrieking the lyrics in a high pitched tone. Unfortunately, lack of funds and shoddy production rendered many songs intended for the album to be unusable.
When Ricci's
carpal tunnel syndromeCarpal tunnel syndrome , or median neuropathy at the wrist, is a medical condition in which the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, leading to paresthesias, numbness and muscle weakness in the hand. Night symptoms and waking at night is a characteristic of established carpal tunnel syndrome...
severely affected his ability to play guitar,
Jay YuengerJay Noel Yuenger , also known simply as "J.", is a rock guitarist best known for his work with the Grammy nominated groove metal/alternative metal band White Zombie.-Early life:...
, or "J", replaced him for the remainder of the band's years, which took them in a more metal/groove-influenced direction. One of the most obvious examples of this direction is the difference between the songs "Disaster Blaster" on
Make Them Die Slowly and the re-worked version, "Disaster Blaster 2", on the
God of ThunderGod of Thunder is an EP by the band White Zombie.-Music:The release was a shift from the thrash style of Make Them Die Slowly to the more groove oriented sound of their next release La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol...
EPAn extended play is a vinyl record, CD, or music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as an LP. Usually, a CD single has around 10–28 minutes of music, an EP has up to 36 minutes, and an album generally has 30–80 minutes. Mini-LPs generally contain 20–30...
. The EP featured a more groove-oriented sound that differed from anything they had released before.
Major-Label Years
After searching for a record label and being turned down multiple times, the band finally turned to
RCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1983 and a partner from 1983 to 1986.-The RCA family of labels:RCA is the name of three different co-owned record...
. However, Rob opted more for a contract with Geffen. Michael Alago, a representative of Geffen Records, watched one of their shows at Pyramid Club and liked them, mostly for their song "Soul-Crusher". He suggested that the band record a demo composed of original unrecorded songs. They produced the demo with the help of
J. G. ThirlwellJames George Thirlwell , aka Clint Ruin, aka Frank Want, aka Foetus, is an Australian vocalist, composer and record producer...
of Foetus and were signed to Geffen.
On March 17, 1992, White Zombie released
La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1 is the third album by metal band White Zombie.-Album information:The album's sound is a mix of Groove metal and Funk metal with lots of B-movie samples. Rob Zombie explained he "wanted to keep a groovable dance element in the music", a trait which is often absent...
, the album which launched them into mainstream recognition. White Zombie began a two-and-a-half-year-long tour for the album soon after its release, during which the band gained a large
cult followingA cult following is used to refer to a small or large group of fans that are either somewhat or highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture.-Cult media:...
. Early in the tour,
Ivan de PrumeIvan de Prume is a heavy metal drummer whose music became famous in the groove metal band White Zombie.Born in Brooklyn, New York, de Prume comes from a rich history of artists. Ivan's sister, Cathryn is a successful actress and they've collaborated on two short films together. But it is his...
left the band to pursue his own interests, and was replaced by Phil Buerstatte. The
music videoA music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music/song. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings. Although the origins of music videos go back much further, they came into their own in the...
for the song "
Thunder Kiss '65"Thunder Kiss '65" is the first and only official single off the album La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1 by White Zombie. The song can also be found on Rob Zombie's Past, Present & Future and the greatest hits album The Best of Rob Zombie.-Music:...
" went into heavy rotation on
MTVMTV is a cable television network based in New York City and launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs...
in 1993. The popular TV show
Beavis and Butt-headBeavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. Judge's short film "Frog Baseball", starring the characters Beavis and Butt-head was featured on Liquid Television, a show featuring short animated and live action material that could be considered the precursor...
began reviewing the band's music videos, boosting the band's popularity. By the end of 1993, the album had been certified Gold by the RIAA. By the time the tour ended in December 1994, Rob and Sean had broken up, and
La Sexorcisto had gone Platinum. Due to artistic differences, Buerstatte was let go, and
John TempestaJohn Tempesta is a metal drummer who has worked several bands, namely Exodus, Testament, and White Zombie. He also played with former White Zombie singer Rob Zombie as a solo artist, and served as drum tech for thrash outfit Anthrax for a while...
, who had previously worked with
ExodusExodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in San Francisco, California by guitarist Gary Holt, current Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, and drummer Tom Hunting....
and
TestamentTestament is an American thrash metal band from Oakland, California, formed in 1983. Testament has two Top 40 albums and one Top 50 album to its credit in the UK. Their 2008 album entered the Top 20 in Germany at #15. The 1999 album The Gathering also entered the Top 50 in Germany...
, was hired to record White Zombie's second major label album. In 1995,
Astro Creep: 2000 was released, featuring "
More Human than Human"More Human than Human" is the second official single off the Astro-Creep: 2000 album by White Zombie. The song can also be found on Rob Zombie's Past, Present & Future, the greatest hits album The Best of Rob Zombie, and a remix is included on Supersexy Swingin' Sounds.-Music and lyrics:The title,...
" which would soon become a big hit. In 1996, an album of remixes was released under the title
Supersexy Swingin' SoundsSupersexy Swingin' Sounds is a remix album by White Zombie. It was released through Geffen Records in 1996 and was the band's final album. The Wal-Mart and K-Mart version of the album depict the cover model in a blue bikini rather than totally nude....
.
After disbanding
After the breakup of White Zombie,
Sean YseultSean Yseult is an American rock musician. She has played various instruments with different bands over the years, most notably her bass work with the band White Zombie. Her father, Michael S. Reynolds, was a noted biographer of Ernest Hemingway...
joined the surf rock band, The Famous Monsters, and started playing bass for horror-themed
New OrleansNew Orleans is a major U.S. port and the largest city in the state of Louisiana. New Orleans is the center of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area, the largest metro area in the state....
-based band, Rock City Morgue. She also briefly played bass for
The CrampsThe Cramps were an American punk band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009 with the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
.
John TempestaJohn Tempesta is a metal drummer who has worked several bands, namely Exodus, Testament, and White Zombie. He also played with former White Zombie singer Rob Zombie as a solo artist, and served as drum tech for thrash outfit Anthrax for a while...
continued his musical relationship with Rob Zombie after the White Zombie breakup, drumming for Zombie on his first two solo albums,
Hellbilly DeluxeHellbilly Deluxe is the debut solo album by the former White Zombie singer Rob Zombie, released on August 25, 1998. The album's title is a play on the Dwight Yoakam album Hillbilly Deluxe...
and
The Sinister UrgeThe Sinister Urge may refer to:* The Sinister Urge , a film by Edward D. Wood, Jr.* The Sinister Urge , an album by Rob Zombie....
. He is no longer with Zombie, and has gone on to play for the Rob Zombie-esque band Scum of the Earth with his brother,
Powerman 5000Powerman 5000 is a Boston-based rock band formed in 1991. Through the span of over a decade, the group has released several albums and gained their highest commercial success with 1999's science fiction themed Tonight the Stars Revolt!...
guitarist Mike Tempesta, and ex-Rob Zombie guitarist
Mike RiggsMike Riggs, a.k.a. Riggs, is a heavy-metal guitarist born April 23, 1971 in Arkansas. Highlights in career include his guitar work for Rob Zombie's first two solo albums and currently his skills as a guitarist, vocalist, and producer for Scum of the Earth.-Career History:His career as a musician...
, and has recently toured with Testament (as shown on Testament's DVD,
Live In London). On February 14, 2006, he was hired as the new drummer for
The CultThe Cult are an English rock band, formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk and gothic rock band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as...
, before which, he played with
HelmetHelmet is an American alternative metal/post-hardcore band from New York formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist/guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....
.
J.Jay Noel Yuenger , also known simply as "J.", is a rock guitarist best known for his work with the Grammy nominated groove metal/alternative metal band White Zombie.-Early life:...
produced records for
stoner rockStoner rock and stoner metal are interchangeable terms describing sub-genres of rock and heavy metal music. It combines elements of psychedelic rock, blues-rock and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features low-tuned guitars, a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro'...
band
Fu ManchuFu Manchu is a Southern Californian stoner rock band, who released their debut single "Kept Between Trees" in 1990. Fu Manchu's lyrics tend to stick to typical rock themes such as pinball, muscle cars, drugs, women and skateboarding...
and
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
rockers Puny Human, as well as lending his guitar skills to a few other bands.
In July 2006, original members
Tom FiveTom Guay is a guitar player who joined White Zombie while studying art at Parsons School of Design which he attended from 1985 to 1989. He played guitar for the metal band ANGEL ROT from 1989 to 2003 and performed as singer for the Black Sabbath tribute band RAT SALAD.He currently sings and plays...
and
Ivan de PrumeIvan de Prume is a heavy metal drummer whose music became famous in the groove metal band White Zombie.Born in Brooklyn, New York, de Prume comes from a rich history of artists. Ivan's sister, Cathryn is a successful actress and they've collaborated on two short films together. But it is his...
reunited to perform with Ivan's band, Healer, a middle eastern infused metal band, for several concerts in
Southern CaliforniaSouthern California, or SoCal, is defined as the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population centers around three major metropolitan areas, each of which have over 3 million people; the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area with over 12 million inhabitants, the San Bernardino-Riverside...
for The Vans Warped Tour.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54694 Ivan continues to write and record music with Healer, as well as recording, producing, and engineering for special projects. Sony's Ghost Rider score featured Ivan's drums and percussion.
In November 2008 Geffen/UME released
Let Sleeping Corpses LieLet Sleeping Corpses Lie , alsoknown as The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue is a 1974 horror film written and directed by Jorge Grau and starring Ray Lovelock, Arthur Kennedy and Cristina Galbó.-Plot:The film begins with George on a trip from his Antique shop in Manchester to the Lake...
, a 4 CD/1 DVD boxed set which includes all 64 original studio recordings from White Zombie's career. The package also contains nine music videos (including their breakthrough Grammy-nominated hit "Thunder Kiss '65"), and 10 live performances of such classics as "I Am Hell" from The Beavis & Butt-Head Experience. In an interview to promote the release of Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, Rob Zombie made it clear that a reunion with his White Zombie band mates was unlikely, saying, "I don't want fans to think it's the beginning of anything."
Band members
Final lineup
- Rob Zombie
Robert Bartleh Cummings , better known by his stage name, Rob Zombie, is a Grammy-nominated American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the metal band White Zombie....
– lead vocals (1985–1998)
- Jay Yuenger – guitars (1989–1998)
- Sean Yseult
Sean Yseult is an American rock musician. She has played various instruments with different bands over the years, most notably her bass work with the band White Zombie. Her father, Michael S. Reynolds, was a noted biographer of Ernest Hemingway...
– bass (1985–1998)
- John Tempesta
John Tempesta is a metal drummer who has worked several bands, namely Exodus, Testament, and White Zombie. He also played with former White Zombie singer Rob Zombie as a solo artist, and served as drum tech for thrash outfit Anthrax for a while...
– drums, percussion (1994–1998)
Previous members
- Ena Kostabi
Paul Indrek Kostabi is an American artist, musician, and producer.Going by the nickname "ENA", he is the son of Estonian war refugees who fled to the United States following the Soviet occupation of Estonia...
– guitars (1985–1986)
- Peter Landau – drums, percussion (1985–1986)
- Tim Jeffs – guitars (1986)
- Tom Guay
Tom Guay is a guitar player who joined White Zombie while studying art at Parsons School of Design which he attended from 1985 to 1989. He played guitar for the metal band ANGEL ROT from 1989 to 2003 and performed as singer for the Black Sabbath tribute band RAT SALAD.He currently sings and plays...
– guitars (1986–1988)
- John Ricci – guitars (1988–1989)
- Ivan de Prume
Ivan de Prume is a heavy metal drummer whose music became famous in the groove metal band White Zombie.Born in Brooklyn, New York, de Prume comes from a rich history of artists. Ivan's sister, Cathryn is a successful actress and they've collaborated on two short films together. But it is his...
– drums, percussion (1986–1992)
- Phil Buerstatte – drums, percussion (1992–1994)
Studio albums
| Date of release |
Title |
Label |
Billboard peak The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
|
RIAA cert. In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
|
| November 1987 |
Soul-Crusher Soul-Crusher is the debut album of noise rock band White Zombie. It was released in November 1987 on LP under White Zombie's own label "Silent Explosion". In 1988, the album was adopted and re-edited by Caroline Records. Each label pressed 2000 copies making it a rarity among collectors...
|
Silent Explosion Silent Explosion was an independent record label founded by the band White Zombie in 1985 and discontinued in 1987.-History:The record label was started in order for the few indie albums that the band White Zombie recorded to be released under. White Zombie's albums were the only releases to bear...
/CarolineCaroline Records started out as a subsidiary of Richard Branson's Virgin Records label during the early to mid 1970s. The label originally specialized in putting out budget price LPs by mainly progressive rock and jazz artists generally not considered to have a great deal of 'mainstream' or...
|
— |
— |
| March 22, 1989 |
Make Them Die Slowly Make Them Die Slowly is the second album by White Zombie released in 1989. It is presumably named after the 1981 cannibal movie Cannibal Ferox, which was originally released in the US as Make Them Die Slowly...
|
Caroline |
— |
— |
| March 17, 1992 |
La Sexorcisto:
Devil Music, Vol. 1La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1 is the third album by metal band White Zombie.-Album information:The album's sound is a mix of Groove metal and Funk metal with lots of B-movie samples. Rob Zombie explained he "wanted to keep a groovable dance element in the music", a trait which is often absent...
|
GeffenGeffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
|
#26 |
2x Platinum |
| April 11, 1995 |
Astro Creep: 2000 Astro-Creep: 2000 - Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head is the fourth and final studio album by White Zombie, released on April 11, 1995 through Geffen Records...
|
GeffenGeffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
|
#6 |
2x Platinum |
External links