Actors - Rob Zombie

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	Actors - Rob Zombie

Rob Zombie (born Robert Cummings on January 12, 1966 in Haverhill, Massachusetts) is a singer, director, and writer. His dreadlocks, gruff vocal style and fascination with B-movies have helped him become a distinctive element in American heavy metal. He is best known as founder, lead singer and songwriter for White Zombie. In recent years he has also established himself as a solo singer and as a director. His directorial career began with the horror exploitation feature, House of 1000 Corpses
, and its sequel, The Devil's Rejects
, released July 22nd, 2005. He is also coming out with another movie called El Superbeasto due out June 1, 2006 based on his comic book series The Haunted World of El Superbeasto. For reference to that movie visit http://www.ElSuperbeasto.com

He is the older brother of Powerman 5000 vocalist Spider One (Michael Cummings).

Early years

From a young age Zombie and his younger brother, Michael, immersed themselves in a heady mixture of classic monsters, pro-wrestling, EC Comics, 1960s counter-culture, gore movies and the weirder, more esoteric corners of the American artistic map. Both became interested in design, but Michael dropped out of art school to pursue an interest in music. Rob, however, moved to New York to pursue a career in publishing.

Formation of White Zombie

Zombie, still known at this time as Cummings, supported himself through multiple jobs, including working as a cycle courier. Most famously he was a production assistant on Pee-wee's Playhouse, but he also worked as a designer on pornographic magazines. In this time, he became involved with Shauna Reynolds, another up-and-coming designer. Together they shared a love of classic horror and sci-fi, heavy music and the weirder corners of American underground culture. They finally decided to form a band that would draw upon all these influences and White Zombie was formed. Named after the classic Bela Lugosi black-and-white shocker White Zombie
, it combined the theatrics of goth-metal acts like Danzig with the loose, loud groove of Red Hot Chili Peppers and the greaser biker image of Cummings and Reynolds. There were only two minor problems – neither Cummings nor Reynolds was a musician. They split duties between them – Rob took vocals and the name Rob Zombie, while Reynolds became the bassist and was known as Sean Yseult. They became the only constants in the often-fluctuating band line-up.

White Zombie achieved a cult status in New York. With the line-up as Zombie (sometimes credited as Rob Straker), guitarist Tom Guay, bassist Yseult and drummer Ivan de Prume, they released three EPs through indie label Silent Explosion – 1985’s Gods on Voodoo Moon, 1986’s Pig Heaven and 1987’s Psycho-Head Blowout. In 1987, they released their debut album Soul-Crusher through Silent Explosion, re-releasing it the following year through punk label Caroline Records: importantly, this saw the first regular use of the name Rob Zombie. 1989 saw the release of their follow-up album, Make Them Die Slowly, again through Caroline, but with John Ricci replacing Guay. Both of these albums have since been deleted. This was followed by God of Thunder ep, the first release with Jay Noel Yuenger, aka J, taking over guitar duties from Ricci. It was this line-up – Zombie, Yuenger, Yseult and DePrume – that finally attracted major label attention and was signed to Geffen. However, there was little doubt that, as sole lyricist and designer of all the band's art work, Rob was the prime force behind the band.

Major label years

White Zombie only released two major studio albums, but their impact was enormous and their fan base loyal. In 1992 La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1 became an underground smash, shifting more than 1 million units in America alone. Released through Geffen, its combination of low-slung bass, metal guitars, industrial production and Zombie’s half-growled, half-barked lyrics about monsters, liquor and souped-up street racers caught the public imagination. Along with Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM and My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, White Zombie mixed heaviness with a shamelessly danceable beat and a sleazy sensibility. Yseult became an inspirational figure to a generation of young female rock and metal fans by not playing on her sexuality, only her bass. Zombie, on the other hand, became a more unique figure than ever. With the financial backing of a major label, he could take his vision further than ever before, and play to a bigger audience. White Zombie live shows became famous for big visuals and amazing showmanship, helping to catapult them from cult status to stadiums. However, during this round of touring, Zombie and Yseult split up.

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Actors - Rob Zombie

Early years

Formation of White Zombie

Major label years

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