Week 24: ROB ZOMBIE (420 to 30: A Music Retrospective)

By jozefkrichards | jozefkrichards | 14 Jul 2021

One of a rare breed to achieve respect as both a musician and a filmmaker, in the horror genre no less, Rob Zombie first achieved success as a member of the heavy metal band, White Zombie, before becoming a successful solo artist and film director as well. Growing up, Rob Zombie's brand was ever-present.

420 to 30: A Music Retrospective

60 Weeks to 30 Years-Old, with 420 Songs by 60 Different Artists

Here's 7 of my favorites from Rob Zombie and White Zombie.

Week 24: ROB ZOMBIE/WHITE ZOMBIE

#162/420 - Rob Zombie, “Superbeast”

(originally from 1999, Hellbilly Deluxe)

Very over-the-top, but great. Rob Zombie came out guns blazing on his debut solo album and this is one of the many horror-themed classics to appear on it.

I used this once to great effect (in my opinion) for a commercial parody where Satan was screaming at everyone to buy his “Hell PC”s while this played. It was one of my favorite skits we ever did on the original “Friday Night Weekly” series we made during my high school years and this remains one of my favorites from Rob Zombie as well.

#163/420 - Rob Zombie, “Feel So Numb”

(originally from 2001, “Feel So Numb”)

I didn’t get into Rob Zombie much past Hellbilly Deluxe, but the lead single from his follow-up to that grinds it out up to par. It has a nice arena quality to it, which I can imagine would be a highlight of a live set, and while it doesn’t capture the imagination quite like some of his best monster music, it’s got being catchier going for it, with high production value and a great sound.

“Prometo solemnemente defender el bien y luchar contra la injusticia y la maldad.”

#164/420 - Rob Zombie feat. Howard Stern, “The Great American Nightmare”

(originally from 1997, Private Parts: The Album)

Rob Zombie and Howard Stern unite as two of the 90s' longest-haired envelope pushers on the soundtrack for Stern’s film, Private Parts, to create one of Rob Zombie’s best songs, which has kept up appearances on both Rob Zombie’s compilation albums and as a bumper on Howard Stern’s show.

It’s a rowdy song that repeats, “yeah, motherfucker!” and, “who do you love?” and, …um… “oh-gi-oh-gi… Yogi?” ...but, well, whatever he’s saying, it’s a good, charged-up song to beat your hairy chest to. The chugging guitar, also great.

And Happy Halloween.

#165/420 - White Zombie, “I, Zombie”

(originally from 1995, Astro-Creep: 2000)

One of the great fake-out tracks out there.

#166/420 - Rob Zombie, “Living Dead Girl”

(originally from 1999, Hellbilly Deluxe)

One of the best from Rob Zombie. The samples from Lady Frankenstein and The Last House on the Left are elegantly used among a hodgepodge of cult classic references and everything really comes together here to make for an iconic song in metal horror. Rob Zombie’s wife Sheri Moon Zombie is credited as the Living Dead Girl on this track. I’m not sure if that meant she did the female vocals, but they are quite awesome nonetheless next to the lead from Rob and the heavy industrial instrumentation.

This was my go-to Rob Zombie/metal song back in the day and it has aged very nicely, remaining towards the top of its genre for me. Adding in those old film samples really goes a long way, just ask Wu-Tang Clan.

#167/420 - Rob Zombie, “Dragula”

(originally from 1998, “Dragula/Super Monster Sex Action”)

My favorite Rob Zombie solo track, named for Grandpa Munster’s drag racer from the TV show, “The Munsters”, it’s also Rob Zombie’s most successful single as a solo artist and rightfully so in my opinion. It’s got some great, twisting, aggressive power behind it, and his most memorable chorus.

Dig through the ditches
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
Dragula!

Right on. I bet plenty of horror nerds have fucked in the back of their car to this song too. Even Grandpa Munster would blush. A true classic from the master!

#168/420 - White Zombie, “More Human Than Human”

(originally from 1995, Astro-Creep: 2000)

The best Rob Zombie song is the best White Zombie song. Rob’s most all-around great song, this one really has it all, except for horror… but science fiction, close enough. And he does refer to a “skeleton hand” at one point so I mean, skeleton hands are scary, right? It’s got awesome slide guitar, pulsating industrial sounds, sex moans, grumbling vocals, etc. and fits into the 90s rock pantheon nicely, right in the center from 1995. What’s not to like?

It almost inescapably sounds like the 90s to a degree that something like “Living Dead Girl” does not sound so attached its era, but this song ultimately has always been the White Zombie/Rob Zombie song I come back to the most and I honestly really like the 90s sound in this case.

While I am generally in too mild a disposition to invest too much time in listening to metal, Rob Zombie has been one to break the trend for me, probably because of the thematic approach which appealed to me as a fan of horror, and also probably because it’s borderline alternative rock, but either way, rock on Rob Zombie and rock on White Zombie.

For the rest of November, it’s The Beatles without The Beatles. 4 weeks of artists from within The Beatles when they were without The Beatles. To start, a real favorite of mine who I have been so lucky to see in concert THRICE… we’ll start with the master himself, Sir Paul McCartney. (And Wings.)