Book Review: I’m In the Band by Sean Yseult
Title: I’m In the Band: Backstage Notes from the Chick in White Zombie
Author: Sean Yseult
Release date: November 1st, 2010
Way back in 1992, White Zombie’s album ‘La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One’ was released. Eleven-year-old Steve didn’t buy the album right away, but his neighbor, Bob Moody Jr. did and, so it was, during that summer, as he so often did, he had a party. Bob was probably ten years older than me or so, and fuck did I think he was the coolest guy I’d ever met. He could wheelie his BMX up and down the road in front of our place, he always had the hottest chicks over and he would blast the best music. He introduced me to Rainbow Butt Monkeys (who’d become Finger Eleven not long after), Cypress Hill, Metallica, Megadeth and so, so many more. I didn’t have an older brother (or any brothers for that matter) but Bob filled that place in my mind, even if he didn’t know that. Well, back to that party in the summer. I heard an album come on, and against my mothers rule that I wasn’t allowed to go over to the neighbors when they were partying – they would drink and smoke dope (scandalous I know!) – I went. Because ‘Thunder Kiss ’65’ and ‘Black Sunshine’ and ‘I Am Legend’ were being blasted on repeat. Bob stopped the CD and told me to go home and listen to it as much as I wanted. It was a transformative moment in my life. White Zombie has occupied a special place since that July day in 1992. I wasn’t allowed to order that album from Columbia House EVER. Even though I was ordering Cannibal Corpse, Six Feet Under and Marilyn Manson albums from Columbia House. Nope, something was different in my mom’s eyes about White Zombie and she refused to let me order it. Which is funny now, because she likes ‘Dragula’ from Rob Zombie.
When ‘Astro-Creep: 2000 – Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head’ came out in 1995, I desperately wanted to buy it, ‘More Human Than Human’ dominating Loud on MuchMusic on Saturday nights, but not only was I not allowed to buy it, I couldn’t find it anywhere to secretly get it. When ‘Supersexy Swingin’ Sounds’ came out in 1996, I bought that on a soccer tournament trip, knowing that there was no way I wasn’t going to be allowed to keep it. Not long after, in Trail, BC, I was able to track down a copy of ‘Astro Creep’ and buy it, along with a White Zombie shirt, which I had for years.
All of this is to say, White Zombie has been and will continue to be a band that brings me joy, fills my heart with warmth and bludgeons my ears – most likely until the day I can’t hear anything every again. My vehicle still has a CD player in it, and I keep a copy of ‘Astro Creep’ in the car as I listen to it ALL the time.
But it’s funny, because as time has gone on, there’s been a shift for me. At first, when Rob Zombie began his solo career, I was over the moon. I bought all his albums, saw him in concert – as I was never able to see White Zombie in concert – and loved a lot of what he put out. But as the years have past, I’ve found my music ear has subtly shifted. A lot of Rob’s new music is either too cartoony for me, or just not enjoyable. As I’ve re-listened to his older stuff, I’ve found the same. I tend to enjoy a handful of songs off the early albums but the rest feels like filler.
When Sean Yseult released this book, the book I’m supposed to be writing a review for and not some long piece on my love of White Zombie (!), I wanted to buy it, but nobody was carrying it in Abbotsford, where I lived at the time, and none of the usual suspects were even able to order it in.
It wasn’t until a few months ago that Brandi, the owner of Daisy Chain Bookstore here in Edmonton, said she would be willing to try and track it down for me. And she did! And not only that – it wasn’t ridiculously expensive, especially considering it is a 150pg book of glorious photos, journals and retrospectives.
What I liked: The book is exactly as marketed. It begins with sharing Sean’s childhood, her musical, theatrical and design leaners, before her chance meeting with Rob and the development of their relationship and the band, White Zombie. From there, we get to follow along as they rose from rat-infested apartments to one of the biggest metal bands in the 90’s, a band that released one of the best albums ever made and blew up like rocket as they ascended to their peak.
Sean does a wonderful job of showing the chaos of the early days, the chaos of the formative musical period and the absolute chaos of when ‘La Sexorcisto’ hit and Beavis and Butthead propelled them into the mainstream.
The photos are just phenomenal. I’ve already began flipping through the book again, seeing the different moments, bands and places they went to and toured with. Sean stays fairly neutral throughout, only touching briefly on her and Rob’s break up and the subsequent tension between the two of them.
The book is also interspersed with insight from J and Tempesta, the guitar player and drummer respectively from ‘Astro Creep’ as well as from some of the former members of the band throughout the years. It was a neat way to showcase just how much of a jumbled mess it was and how the noise band that didn’t fit in with any genre became a metal band that crushed all who came before them.
Sean wraps it all up by showcasing where her life had went (at that time) following the break up of White Zombie. How they said they were on hiatus, even as Rob secretly recorded Hellbilly Deluxe.
For White Zombie fans, this is such a gloriously done look at the history of the band that it is absolutely a MUST read.
What I didn’t like: As Sean even says in the author’s note/acknowledgements – this isn’t a comprehensive biography. It is a look at different moments, throughout their decade long career of rising up, getting to the top and walking away from each other, so there are things fans of the band will want to know but that won’t be answered.
As well, anything with White Zombie’s history not featuring anything from Rob will always be considered incomplete. Saying that – this is Sean’s story and while it would be great to one day get something from Rob (and maybe even a one off reunion show), I wouldn’t hold my breath and you won’t find it in here.
Why you should buy this: If you love White Zombie or just really enjoy the behind-the-scenes look into bands that rise up and dominate, this is a fantastic book that does just that. It shows how a rag tag group of misfits overcame the odds and made it to the top, all the while looking like the exact opposite of who was popular at the time.
I loved this book and it’s a book I’ll continuously revisit over the years, and one I’ll cherish as a massive fan of White Zombie.
5/5
