Full Name | Robert Bartleh Cummings |
Age | 58 |
Birthday | January 12, 1965 |
Relationship | Married |
Net Worth | $50M |
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About
Rob Zombie is a horror/sci-fi artist with over 15 million albums sold worldwide. He is known for his unique blend of heavy metal, industrial, and punk rock paired with twisted, macabre imagery.
Though Rob is primarily a musician, he is also an accomplished filmmaker. His movies like ‘House of 1000 Corpses‘ and ‘The Devil‘s Rejects‘ have become cult classics. Rob pours his passion for classic horror and exploitation films into his multimedia work.
I‘ve been a Rob Zombie fan since I first heard White Zombie‘s ‘Astro Creep 2000‘ as a teenager. His music was like nothing I had ever heard – sinister, weirdly danceable, and with horror references galore. Since then, I‘ve eagerly followed Rob‘s entire career from White Zombie to solo stardom.
Early Music Career
Rob Zombie first gained fame as the lead singer of heavy metal band White Zombie, which he co-founded in 1985. Their early albums like ‘Soul-Crusher‘ and ‘Make Them Die Slowly‘ featured a raw punk/noise rock sound.
White Zombie‘s early tour van broke down so often that Rob named it the "Black Plague." But their D.I.Y. determination paid off. By the 90‘s White Zombie broke through to the mainstream as Rob honed his signature approach.
1992‘s ‘La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1‘ went double platinum with the smash hit ‘Thunder Kiss ‘65.‘ Rob‘s surreal lyrics and industrial beats fused with metal forged a new subgenre. White Zombie‘s soundtracks were my high school rebellion anthems.
Solo Career Launch
After White Zombie‘s amicable breakup in 1998, Rob immediately launched his solo career. His debut album ‘Hellbilly Deluxe‘ sold over 3 million copies and earned Rob his first Grammy nomination.
I‘ll never forget hearing the songs ‘Dragula,‘ ‘Living Dead Girl‘ and ‘Superbeast‘ for the first time – this was Rob Zombie unchained! His solo band‘s concerts were like visiting a depraved carnival from hell.
Filmmaking
Rob explored his passion for making horror movies throughout his music career. He directed his first feature film ‘House of 1000 Corpses‘ in 2003. The controversial movie was rejected by multiple studios for being too intense. But Rob eventually released it independently.
Despite mixed reviews, ‘House of 1000 Corpses‘ earned a devoted cult following. I personally loved Rob‘s throwback to 1970‘s exploitation films and how he gave the villains depth.
2005‘s ‘The Devil‘s Rejects‘ improved on the first film with clever social commentary veiled in grizzly horror. This cemented Rob as a serious director willing to take risks. His remake of Halloween in 2007 was a visceral take that both honored and updated the source material.
Recent Work
Rob continues to produce new music like 2021‘s ‘The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy‘ along with touring worldwide. His elaborate concerts are like mini horror movie experiences.
He also stays busy with passion projects like 2019‘s ‘3 From Hell.‘ As both a musician and filmmaker, Rob constantly reinvents himself after 30+ years of success. His creativity and work ethic are truly inspiring.
Why We Love Rob Zombie
He Fused Metal and Horror. Rob‘s twisted stage theatrics brought horror into metal in bold new ways. He made the macabre both shocking and accessible.
He Remains Prolific. How many artists can direct hit horror remakes while producing chart-topping albums for 30+ straight years? Rob is always working on something new and interesting.
He Connects Outsiders. Three decades since starting White Zombie, Rob‘s work still resonates with older and newer generations of fans who felt like oddball outcasts. His concerts are churches where weirdos worship.
He‘s Down-to-Earth. Despite his fame, Rob comes across as humble and fan-friendly. He remembers his own hardcore fandom and gives back through charity work.
He‘s a Master Showman. Rob‘s elaborate tours and multimedia projects reveal his genius for experiential horror. He pulls fans into his own hand-crafted worlds where we surrender to the madness.
5 Interesting Facts About Rob Zombie
- He started out drawing comics for Marvel, including on ‘The Punisher.‘ Rob later incorporated comic book elements into his shows.
- He designed haunted mazes for Universal Studios like ‘Rob Zombie‘s House of 1000 Corpses‘ attraction. Fans could enter his nightmare world.
- He voiced an animated character on ‘The Haunted World of El Superbeasto.‘ Animation allowed Rob to push his wild creativity even further.
- He directed a Woolite commercial featuring wool-eating creatures to showcase his talent for the bizarre.
- His first band was called ‘The Cramps‘ after the horror-themed garage band. Rob soon developed his own signature sound and style.
Rob Zombie has built a legendary career by following his passions. His work continues to inspire fellow outsiders and weirdos around the world. Rob truly is heavy metal‘s twisted horror genius!