Trying to understand the runaway enigma that is White Zombie is like sitting in a moviehouse, packed with movie-goers, while a grotesque display of carnage flickers on the screen. Some viewers may cover their eyes, possibly peeking through their fingers in curiosity. Others will writhe in their seats in shock, yet keep their eyes riveted. A few patrons will shout out affirmations to the evil beast and cheer the gore. The reactions may differ, but they're all there for basically the same reasons: to consume the effect, and indulge in the morbid images oozing from the dark chasms of the special effects artists' and writers' minds. White Zombie, through their bizarre mix of rhythmic, jaw-clenching music, B-movie sound clips, and stranglehold style of lyrics, are considered by most heavy music fans as true masters of the illusion. The forging of White Zombie began in New York City, 1985. A brief stint in art school brought Rob Straker aka vocalist/brains-of-the outfit Rob Zombie and bassist Sean Yseult together. A relationship was born and through mutual musical vision, transformed into a working band that was soon ripping through the Big Apple's club circuit. Not only did Rob and Sean perform music and slum together but, after a short period of time as a bike messenger, Rob began to work with Sean for a soft-core porn mag entitled Celebrity Sleuth. Rob's eye for humorously sleazy graphics became finely honed, and he would later be the twisted cartoonist for numerous White Zombie album designs. Meanwhile, Zombie's unique sonic onslaught of heavy rhythms blended with sampled noises and distorted vocalizations, creating a strong following amongst fans of all musical tastes. Heavy metal fans, punks, and even techno and hip-hop fanatics embraced White Zombie. Their audience grew, and with the additions of guitarist Jay Yuenger, formerly of Chicago's Rights of the Accused, and drummer Ivan de Prume, the band gelled into a legitimate musical force.
A humble string of releases, Psycho-Head Blowout EP (1986), SoulCrusher (1987), Make Them Die Slowly (1989) and God of Thunder(1989), were merely cornerstones for the tower of power on White Zombie's horizon. The clubs of New York were proving far too pitiful and redundant. Constant gigs scheduled at the same old venues meant growth-time lost for the Zombie crew. A drastic change of geography to the sunglasses and palm trees of Southern California was the kick they needed. Geffen Records, attracted to the difference in the White Zombie sound, took them under their corporate wing. Soon after, in March 1992, Zombie released the album that stirred the waters and started the maelstrom: La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume 1.
While Zombie went on the road for 350 shows over two and a half years supporting the album. La Sexorcisto received mixed reviews. The critics heralded it as the most evil yet intriguing recording in years, the Grammy's nominated them as Best Hard Rock Performance of 1993. On the other side of the fence, religious groups, seeing the Devil's work, banned it and "concerned" parents prevented their kids from attending the "potentially harmful" concerts. White Zombie remained oblivious to the critics, good and bad, and trudged ahead with new found enthusiasm. Ivan played over 100 shows lasting about four months before he left the band and was replaced with the short-lived Phil Buerstatte, who in turn stepped down after the final show to make way for ex-Testament drummer John Tempesta. Within weeks the Zombie cast reentered the studio to put their collective nose back to the grindstone. With gleeful support from Geffen, Rob Zombie and crew took full liberties, and ground away for seven months of writing and recording.
All of the tedious labor and toiling culminated in what would be considered as White Zombie's tour de force: Astro Creep: 2000 Songs of Love, Destruction and other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head. Astro Creep 2000, since its much anticipated release, saturated the charts and slapped critics and unsuspecting fans in the face with a new, darker attitude unlike anything White Zombie has done before. Astro-Creep: 2000 became White Zombie's all-time highest charting album, peaking at number six on the U.S. Billboard charts. But the album's success couldn't hide the fact that Rob Zombie was getting fed up with the group and longed to launch a solo career of his own. So after the album's supporting tour wrapped up and a remix album was issued, 1996's Supersexy Swingin' Sounds, White Zombie split up...
