Not What You Meant? There are 32 definitions for Zombie. Also try: WZ.

White Zombie (band)

About 8 pages (2,360 words)

Know this topic well? Help others and get FREE products!

This article does not cite any references or sources. (November 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

For the film, see White Zombie (film)



Background information
Origin	New York City, New York, USA
Genre(s)	Alternative metal Groove metal Industrial metal
Years active	1985–1998
Label(s)	Silent Explosion, Caroline, Geffen
Members
Rob Zombie Jay Noel Yuenger Sean Yseult John Tempesta
Former members
Ivan de Prume Tom Guay Ena Kostabi John Ricci Peter Landau Tim Jeffs Phil Buerstatte

White Zombie was an American band named after the 1932 film White Zombie, which starred Bela Lugosi. Based in New York, White Zombie was originally a noise rock band in the vein of fellow New York band Sonic Youth; Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and fellow alternative rock icon Kurt Cobain have professed to be fans of their early work. White Zombie was known for combining heavy metal music with driving guitar riffs, overlaid with lyrics heavily influenced by horror films and pseudo-Satanic imagery. Unlike other metal bands of the 1990s, White Zombie was almost exclusively a "fantasy" band, writing songs not about real life, but about surreal horror fantasies. The group officially disbanded in 1998 shortly after the release of singer Rob Zombie's solo album Hellbilly Deluxe.

1 History
- 1.1 The Early Years
- 1.2 Major-Label Years
2 After disbanding
3 Discography
- 3.1 Studio albums
4 Trivia
5 External links

History

The Early Years

Founded by Rob Zombie, writer, vocalist, and graphic artist, after coming up with the band idea in 1985 while attending Pratt in his Junior year. Rob's girlfriend at the time, Sean Yseult, was playing the farfisa in the band LIFE. Ena Kostabi owned a studio which he would rent out to different bands, meeting Sean, who 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 EP titled Gods on Voodoo Moon and was recorded on October 18, 1985. It was released under the band's own label Silent Explosion, 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 Prume as the replacement for Landau. 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. After only a few live shows, Jeffs was fired and quickly replaced by Tom Guay. The band released a second pressing of Pig Heaven of which the only difference from the first pressing was alternate cover art. Only 500 copies of each pressing were released on vinyl. In 1987, band released their third EP Psycho-Head Blowout. Later that year, the band released their first full length album Soul-Crusher, 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. In 1988, The band signed to Caroline Records, discontinuing their old indie label permanently. About 1000 copies of the vinyl were pressed for the original and re-release each. 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 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 metal 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 caused many songs intended for the album to not be included. When Ricci's Carpal tunnel syndrome severely affected his ability to play guitar, Jay Yuenger or "J." then 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 differences between the songs "Disaster Blaster" on Make Them Die Slowly and the re-worked version, "Disaster Blaster 2", on the God of Thunder EP. The EP featured a more groove-oriented sound that differed from anything they had released before. The EP caught the attention of Geffen Records who then offered them a record deal.

Major-Label Years

On March 17, 1992 they released La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1, the album which would break them from their underground status and launch them into mainstream recognition. White Zombie began their two-and-a-half-year-long tour for the album soon after its release, during which the band gained a large cult following. Early in the tour Ivan de Prume left the band to pursue his own interests and was replaced by Phil Buerstatte. The music video for the song "Thunder Kiss '65" went into heavy rotation on MTV in 1993. The popular TV show Beavis and Butt-head 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 Tempesta, who had previously worked with Exodus and Testament, was hired to record White Zombie's second major label album. In 1995, Astro Creep: 2000 was released, featuring "More Human Than Human" that would soon become a big hit. In 1996, an album of remixes was released under the title Supersexy Swingin' Sounds. On January 3, 2007, it was announced by Rob on his website that a box set would be released containing all the music White Zombie had ever recorded.

After disbanding

Sean Yseult, after the breakup of White Zombie, joined the surf rock band The Famous Monsters, and (as of early 2001) left the horror-themed New Orleans-based band Rock City Morgue. She is currently preparing for an upcoming tour with The Cramps John Tempesta continued his musical relationship with Rob Zombie after the White Zombie breakup, drumming for Zombie on his first two solo albums, Hellbilly Deluxe and The Sinister Urge. He is no longer with Zombie and currently plays for the Rob Zombie-esque band Scum of the Earth with his brother, Powerman 5000 guitarist Mike Tempesta, and ex-Rob Zombie guitarist Mike Riggs, 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 Cult, before which, he played with Helmet. J. produced records for stoner rock band Fu Manchu and New York City rockers Puny Human, as well as lending his guitar skills to a few other bands after the breakup of White Zombie. While Rob Zombie has mostly kept the image of his former band, fans of both White Zombie's and Rob Zombie's music have noted significant musical differences between them, notably the absence of the heavy bass and lead guitar that characterised White Zombie's musical style. Multiple layers and numerous samples are not used as often due to legal issues as the band gained mainstream recognition. In July 2006, original members Tom Five and Ivan de Prume reunited to perform with Ivan's band Healer for several concerts in Southern California for The Vans Warped Tour.[1] Ivan continues to write and record music with Healer, a middle eastern infused metal band and recording, producing, and engineering for special projects. Sony's Ghost Rider score featured Ivan's drums and percussion.

Discography

Main article: White Zombie discography

Studio albums

Date of release	Title	Label	Billboard peak	RIAA cert.
November, 1987	Soul-Crusher	Silent Explosion/Caroline	-	-
March 22, 1989	Make Them Die Slowly	Caroline	-	-
March 17, 1992	La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1	Geffen	#26	2x platinum
April 11, 1995	Astro Creep: 2000	Geffen	#6	2x platinum

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

Released in the same year (1992), White Zombie's La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1 and Poison Idea's Blank Blackout Vacant feature songs that have samples from the same Russ Meyer film, Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! Furthermore, both bands use a nearly identical sample; specifically, the samples come from the lines "I never TRY anything. I just DO it. Like I don't beat clocks, just people. Wanna try me?" that were spoken by the character Varla in the film. White Zombie's song ("Thunder Kiss '65") uses just the first two lines and the last one, whereas the Poison Idea song ("Punish Me") uses the entire sequence.
"Thunder Kiss '65" was used as the opening music for NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling/Extreme Championship Wrestling's syndicated weekly television program for much of the show's run.
The song "Thunder Kiss '65" is featured in the Playstation 2 game Guitar Hero.
The La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1 album was used as the soundtrack for the 3DO game Way of the Warrior.
In 2000, White Zombie was included on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, ranking at No. 56.
The last song recorded by the band before they disbanded was "Ratfinks, Suicide Tanks and Cannibal Girls."
The song listed above was used in Beavis and Butthead Do America, during the desert hallucination scene.
The song "I'm Your Boogieman" was featured in The Crow: City of Angels.
The song "Super Charger Heaven" contains the quote "Look, I know the supernatural is something that isn't supposed to happen, but it does happen" from the horror movie The Haunting.
The song "Thrust!" has a sample from the ultra violent hentai Urotsukidoji.
The intro to the song "I, Zombie" (scream included) is sampled from the José Mojica Marins film Awakening of the Beast.
White Zombie appeared in the movie Airheads to sing "Feed the Gods."
The song "Spiderbaby (Yeah-Yeah-Yeah)" is a movie of the same name with the actor Sid Haig who played Captain Spaulding in the movie House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects directed by Rob Zombie.
In chapter one of the manga Black Lagoon, a lead character, Revy, destroys a fleet of ships while listening to "Electric Head Pt. 1 (The Agony)."
The song "Thunderkiss '65" is the music used during Chad Hernandez's part in the skateboarding video "Opinion" by Globe shoes.
The song "More Human Than Human" is featured in the Wii version of Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam.
The song "More Human Than Human" is featured in the movie Annapolis
The song "El Phantasmo and the Chicken-Run Blast-O-Rama" was Lance Storms entrance music during his time in Extreme Championship Wrestling.
The song "More Human Than Human" plays in the beginning of the 2006 movie The Covenant.
The song "More Human Than Human" is featured in the video game The Bigs.
The song "More Human Than Human" is featured in the movie The Cable Guy.
The song "More Human Than Human" is featured in the movie Turbulence.
The song "Thunderkiss '65" was featured in the movie Bride of Chucky, as well as the soundtrack for the movie.
The song "Thunderkiss '65" was featured in the film Wild Hogs.
The song "More Human Than Human" was featured in the film The Marine.
The song "Black Sunshine" is playable in the game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
The song "More Human Than Human" was used by the QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs as a starting lineup song.
The beginning of the song "Blur the Technicolor" appeared in the film Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. It's used during the monster truck scene.
The song "Creature of the Wheel" contains samples from the 1971 Charlton Heston film, The Omega Man.
The band are featured in the movie "Airheads" starring Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, and Adam Sandler performing their song "Feed the gods" at a club.

External links

• • e White Zombie
Rob Zombie · Jay Noel Yuenger · Sean Yseult · John Tempesta Ivan de Prume · Tom Guay · Paul Kostabi · John Ricci · Peter Landau · Tim Jeffs · Phil Buerstatte
Studio albums	Soul-Crusher · Make Them Die Slowly · La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1 · Astro-Creep: 2000
Extended plays	Gods on Voodoo Moon · Pig Heaven · Psycho-Head Blowout · God of Thunder · Nightcrawlers: The KMFDM Remixes · Supersexy Swingin' Sounds
Compilations	Box-set
Singles	"Thunder Kiss '65" · "Black Sunshine" · "I Am Hell" · "Children of the Grave" · "Feed the Gods" · "More Human Than Human" · "Electric Head Pt. 2 (The Ecstasy)" · "Real Solution #9" · "Super-Charger Heaven" · "El Phantasmo and the Chicken-Run Blast-O-Rama" · "Blood, Milk and Sky" · "The One" · "I'm Your Boogieman" · "Ratfinks, Suicide Tanks and Cannibal Girls"
Related articles	Discography · Super-Charger Hell