Rob Zombie (Born Robert Cummings) is an American heavy metal vocalist. In 1985, he formed the band White Zombie with guitarist Paul "Ena" Kostabi, bassist Sean Yseult and drummer Peter Landau. The group remained active until 1998, with its final lineup featuring Cummings and Yseult alongside guitarist Jay "J." Yuenger and drummer John Tempesta. In 1997, Zombie formed the first lineup of a solo band with Tempesta, guitarist Mike Riggs, and bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson. The current lineup of Rob Zombie's band includes Riggs, Blasko, and drummer Ryan Goff.
History White Zombie White Zombie was formed in 1985 by vocalist Rob Zombie (then known as Rob Straker), guitarist Paul "Ena" Kostabi, bassist Sean Yseult and drummer Peter Landau, who recorded the group's debut EP Gods on Voodoo Moon that October. By early 1986, Kostabi and Landau had been replaced by Tim Jeffs and Ivan de Prume, respectively, for the recording of Pig Heaven/Slaughter the Grey and their first live performances. After touring for around a year, Jeffs was replaced by Tom Five (real name Tom Guay), who debuted on the band's third release Psycho-Head Blowout. The group released their debut full-length album Soul-Crusher at the end of 1987, touring until the following summer before Guay was replaced by John Ricci. With their new guitarist, White Zombie recorded their second album Make Them Die Slowly in November 1988. Ricci reportedly left on the last day of the album's recording, with Zombie claiming that "He didn't show up and nobody really cared." Make Them Die Slowly was released in February 1989.
Around the release of Make Them Die Slowly, Jay "J." Yuenger took over as White Zombie's guitarist. The new lineup issued the EP God of Thunder later in 1989, followed by third album La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One in 1992, shortly after which de Prume left the band and was replaced by Phil Buerstatte. After contributing to the band's recordings of "I Am Hell" for The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience, "Children of the Grave" for Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath and "Feed the Gods" for the Airheads soundtrack, Buerstatte left White Zombie. He was replaced temporarily for a Japanese tour in May 1994 by Mark Poland. A few months later, former Exodus and Testament drummer John Tempesta took over permanently. White Zombie released its final album Astro-Creep: 2000 – Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head in 1995. After a final tour which finished in August 1996, the group disbanded. However, the breakup was not made official until September 1998.
Rob Zombie Rob Zombie began recording his debut solo album Hellbilly Deluxe in 1997, when White Zombie were technically still together. The core personnel for the recording included White Zombie drummer John Tempesta, plus guitarist Mike Riggs and bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson. This lineup remained intact for the 2001 follow-up The Sinister Urge, before Zombie took a break to focus on his filmmaking career, leading to the departures of Riggs and Tempesta who formed Scum of the Earth. In March 2005, Rob Zombie announced a new lineup featuring guitarist John 5 (real name John Lowery), bassist Blasko and drummer Tommy Clufetos. The new lineup released Educated Horses in March 2006, before Blasko left in May to join Ozzy Osbourne's band, replaced by Piggy D. (real name Matthew Montgomery).
In March 2010, after the release of Zombie's fourth solo album Hellbilly Deluxe 2, Clufetos was replaced by Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison after leaving to join Blasko in Ozzy Osbourne's band. During his short tenure with the band, Jordison recorded drums for three tracks released on the reissue of Hellbilly Deluxe 2 in September 2010. In February 2011, Jordison was replaced by outgoing Marilyn Manson drummer Ginger Fish (real name Kenneth Wilson). With this current lineup, Rob Zombie has released three more studio albums: Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor in 2013, The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser in 2016 and The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy in 2021. In October 2022 it was announced that John 5 had left the band to become the touring guitarist for Mötley Crüe following the retirement of Mick Mars and that original guitarist Mike Riggs has returned. On January 30, 2024, Piggy D. announced that he left the band after 18 years. Later that day, it was announced that Blasko had returned. After the release of 2026's The Great Satan, Ryan Goff replaced Fish on drums (Goff had previously contributed additional drums to The Great Satan).
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRob Zombie1985–presentlead vocalsall White Zombie and Rob Zombie releasesMike RiggsRob "Blasko" NicholsonRyan Goff2026–presentThe Great Satan (2026)
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsSean Yseult1985–1998bassall White Zombie releasesPaul "Ena" Kostabi1985–1986guitarsGods on Voodoo Moon (1985)Peter LandaudrumsIvan de Prume1986–1992all White Zombie releases from Pig Heaven/Slaughter the Grey (1986) to La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One (1992)Tim Jeffs1986–1987guitarsPig Heaven/Slaughter the Grey (1986)Tom Five1987–1988John Ricci1988Make Them Die Slowly (1989)Jay "J." Yuenger1989–1998all White Zombie releases from God of Thunder (1989) onwardsPhil Buerstatte1992–1994 drumsMark Poland1994 noneJohn Tempesta1994–2003Tommy Clufetos2005–2010John 52005–2022all Rob Zombie releases from Educated Horses (2006) to The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy (2021)Piggy D.2006–2024all Rob Zombie releases from Zombie Live (2007) to The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy (2021)Joey Jordison2010–2011 drumsHellbilly Deluxe 2 (2010) Ginger Fish2011–2026all Rob Zombie releases from Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor (2013) to The Great Satan (2026)
Timeline
Lineups White Zombie PeriodMembersReleases1985 – early 1986Rob Straker – vocals Sean Yseult – bass Ena Kostabi – guitars Peter Landau – drumsGods on Voodoo Moon (1985)Early 1986 – early 1987Rob Straker – vocals Sean Yseult – bass Ivan de Prume – drums Tim Jeffs – guitarsPig Heaven/Slaughter the Grey (1986)Early 1987 – June 1988Rob Straker – vocals Sean Yseult – bass Ivan de Prume – drums Tom Five – guitarsPsycho-Head Blowout (1987) Soul-Crusher (1987)July – November 1988Rob Zombie – vocals Sean Yseult – bass Ivan de Prume – drums John Ricci – guitarsMake Them Die Slowly (1989)Early 1989 – summer 1992Rob Zombie – vocals Sean Yseult – bass Ivan de Prume – drums Jay Yuenger – guitarsGod of Thunder (1989) La Sexorcisto (1992)Summer 1992 – April 1994Rob Zombie – vocals Sean Yseult – bass Jay Yuenger – guitars Phil Buerstatte – drums"I Am Hell" (1993) "Children of the Grave" (1994) "Feed the Gods" (1994)May 1994Rob Zombie – vocals Sean Yseult – bass Jay Yuenger – guitars Mark Poland – drums Summer 1994 – September 1998Rob Zombie – vocals Sean Yseult – bass Jay Yuenger – guitars John Tempesta – drumsAstro-Creep: 2000 (1995) "The One" (1996) "I'm Your Boogieman" (1996) "Ratfinks, Suicide Tanks andCannibal Girls" (1996)
Rob Zombie PeriodMembersReleasesAugust 1997 – late 2003Rob Zombie – lead vocals John Tempesta – drums, backing vocals Blasko – bass, backing vocals Mike Riggs – guitars, backing vocalsHellbilly Deluxe (1998) The Sinister Urge (2001)Band on hiatus late 2003 – March 2005March 2005 – May 2006Rob Zombie – lead vocals Blasko – bass, backing vocals John 5 – guitars, backing vocals Tommy Clufetos – drums, backing vocalsEducated Horses (2006)May 2006 – March 2010Rob Zombie – lead vocals John 5 – guitars, backing vocals Tommy Clufetos – drums, backing vocals Piggy D. – bass, backing vocalsZombie Live (2007) Hellbilly Deluxe 2 (2010)March 2010 – February 2011Rob Zombie – lead vocals John 5 – guitars, backing vocals Piggy D. – bass, backing vocals Joey Jordison – drumsHellbilly Deluxe 2 (2010) February 2011 – October 2022Rob Zombie – lead vocals John 5 – guitars, backing vocals Piggy D. – bass, backing vocals Ginger Fish – drumsVenomous Rat Regeneration Vendor (2013) The Zombie Horror Picture Show (2014) Spookshow International Live (2015) The Electric Warlock Acid Witch SatanicOrgy Celebration Dispenser (2016) Astro-Creep: 2000 Live (2018) "Helter Skelter" (2018) The Lunar Injection Kool Aid EclipseConspiracy (2021) October 2022 – January 2024Rob Zombie – lead vocals Piggy D. – bass, backing vocals Ginger Fish – drums Mike Riggs – guitars, backing vocalsJanuary 2024 – July 2026Rob Zombie – lead vocals Ginger Fish – drums Mike Riggs – guitars, backing vocals Blasko – bass, backing vocalsThe Great Satan (2026)July 2026 – presentRob Zombie – lead vocals Mike Riggs – guitars, backing vocals Blasko – bass, backing vocals Ryan Goff – drums
References
External links White Zombie official website Rob Zombie official website