WHITE ZOMBIE main man Rob Zombie (a.k.a. Robert Bartleh Cummings) released his debut solo album, 'Hellbilly Deluxe', in August 1998. The album was recorded with WHITE ZOMBIE and ex-TESTAMENT man John Tempesta, the NINE INCH NAILS duo Charlie Clouser and Danny Lohner along with MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer TOMMY LEE. For live work Zombie employed the services of guitarist Mike Riggs and Blasko, in reality ex-SUFFER, DROWN and DANZIG man Rob Nicholson.

With WHITE ZOMBIE, founded in New York during 1985, the singer had helmed what was originally a Noise Rock project into a signing with major imprint Geffen Records and two platinum selling albums. In 1996, Rob Zombie undertook his first creative efforts outside of WHITE ZOMBIE when he collaborated with ALICE COOPER on the song 'Hands Of Death (Burn Baby Burn)' included on the X-Files tie-in album 'Songs In The Key Of X'. The track was nominated for a Grammy for "Best Metal Performance" the same year.

With his personal stature rising, after the release of 'Hellbilly Deluxe', the Scott Humphrey produced opus selling over three million copies in the USA, Zombie retired WHITE ZOMBIE. The inaugural solo effort was boosted by three hit singles in 'Dragula', 'Living Dead Girl' and 'Superbeast'. Zombie toured extensively to promote the album, during which period he released 'American Made Music To Strip By' in 1999, an album of remixes culled from 'Hellbilly Deluxe'.

The 1999 'Words & Music Of Frankenstein' album is Zombie's homage soundtrack to the classic 30's horror movies. A 2000 album of remixes saw tracks mixed by Clouser and German Art-Industrialists RAMMSTEIN. Behind the scenes Zombie would be working on a $7 million horror movie 'House Of 1000 Corpses' for a June 2001 release through Universal. However, Universal deemed the film's content to graphic and backed out.

The November 2001 release 'The Sinister Urge', again produced by Scott Humphrey with the title being taken from a 1961 movie by Edward D. Wood, would see none other than OZZY OSBOURNE as a high profile guest vocalist. When launched into the public domain the album would sell just under 150'000 copies in its debut week in America landing a number 8 chart placing and eventually hitting the platinum marker. The album track 'Never Gonna Stop' would also turn up as part of the soundtrack to 2002's 'Rollerball', a remake of the cult 70s sci fi horror movie. Zombie would also have new material featured on the March 2002 'WWF Forceable Entry' compilation issued by Columbia Records donating 'Never Gonna Stop' (Edge's Theme).

For ROB ZOMBIE's early 2002 American headline dates British Punk veterans THE DAMNED were announced as support act. However, within a few shows THE DAMNED had pulled themselves from the tour, reportedly disappointed at the lukewarm crowd reaction. Later shows had Zombie stepping up to headline the second stage for the 'Ozzfest' tour.

Further studio activity found Zombie working alongside Joey Ramone on a genuine all star cast tribute album 'We're A Happy Family'. The pair brought in the expected names of the current Rock / Punk world but also such heavyweights as U2, THE PRETENDERS and METALLICA. Zombie himself donated his take on 'Blitzkrieg Bop'. It would also be learnt that Zombie was still engaged in production of his horror flick 'House Of 1000 Corpses', taking the independent route since the project was dropped by Universal. The movie would subsequently be picked up by Lions Gate Films. Zombie would also find another way of getting himself onto the screen when he was chosen to provide the voice for Dr. Curt Connors (a.k.a. 'The Lizard') in the 'Spiderman' cartoon series.

ROB ZOMBIE guitarist Riggs and longtime drummer John Tempesta joined forces in the latter half of 2002 to shop a demo for their project billed as SCUM OF THE EARTH. During November Zombie hooked up with the surviving members of DROWNING POOL in order to add guest vocals to the track 'The Man Without Fear' for inclusion on the soundtrack to the Ben Affleck movie 'Daredevil'. Zombie had been a friend to the late DROWNING POOL singer Dave Williams who died on August 14th. ROB ZOMBIE drummer Johnny Tempesta would be tapped by Thrashers TESTAMENT to fill in for the group's West Coast tour after regular drummer Jon Allen was forced to bow due to a family emergency.

Zombie, collaborating with erstwhile NINE INCH NAILS man Charlie Clouser, contributed the track 'Reload (Time To Die)' to the film soundtrack 'The Matrix: Reloaded'. ROB ZOMBIE's own movie 'House Of 1000 Corpses' finally saw a belated release in April of 2003 and surprised many by becoming an instant hit, raking in nearly three and a half million dollars in its first week. The October compilation album, 'Past, Present & Future', shifted over 90,000 copies in its first week of sale, placing it at no. 11 on the US Billboard charts. It would soon gain gold certification for shifting over half a million copies.This collection hosted cover versions of THE COMMODORES 'Brick House' and RAMONES 'Blitzkrieg Bop' plus previously unreleased songs 'Two-Lane Blacktop' and 'Girl On Fire'.

That November, another ROB ZOMBIE band member, bassist Rob Nicholson, briefly joined the ranks of OZZY OSBOURNE's band. The ex-bassist subsequently forged THE DEATH RIDERS, signing to Horror High Records for a 2005 debut album 'Soundtrack For Depression'.

2004 started with a burst of non music related projects for Zombie including casting for the sequel to 'House of 1000 Corpses' and a comic book collaboration with Steve Niles entitled 'The Nail' to be published in March by Dark Horse Comics, Inc. Back in the studio, Zombie would be working up new material with former LIMP BIZKIT guitarist Wes Borland.

ROB ZOMBIE secured the special guest position for the BLACK SABBATH and IRON MAIDEN headlined Summer 2005 'Ozzfest' US dates. Joining him on guitar would be JOHN 5 (a.k.a. John Lowery), a veteran of the DAVID LEE ROTH band, Rob Halford's TWO and MARILYN MANSON. Rob "Blasko" Nicholson rejoined on bass whilst manning the drums would be former ALICE COOPER man Tommy Clufetos. Zombie's second movie, 'The Devil's rejects', opened to theatres in July, grossing $7 million and landing at no. 8 on the national movie charts.

A November 2005 re-issue of 'Hellbilly Deluxe' added video tracks for 'Call Of The Zombie', 'Perversion 99', 'How To Make A Monster', 'Meet The Creeper', 'The Ballad Of Resurrection Joe And Rosa Whore', 'What Lurks On Channel X?' and 'The Beginning Of The End' alongside never seen before videos for remixes of 'Living Dead Girl' and 'Return Of The Phantom Stranger'.

The album 'Educated Horses', recorded at Los Angeles' Chop Shop Studios with co-producer Scott Humphrey, surfaced in March 2006. A North American tour during April would be supported by BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and Italians LACUNA COIL. Nicholson rejoined the OZZY OSBOURNE band in May, being replaced by ex-AMEN and WEDNESDAY 13 bassist Matt Montgomery (a.k.a. Piggy D.)

On 31st May 2006, Zombie fronted a one off band comprising guitarist Slash, of GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER, Ace Frehley, of KISS, on guitar, Gilby Clarke, of GUNS N' ROSES, on rhythm guitar, Scott Ian, of ANTHRAX, on bass and Tommy Lee of MÖTLEY CRÜE, for a tribute to KISS on the first annual VH1 Rock Honors Award Show. The band played 'God Of Thunder'. Subsequently Zombie took to the road on US dates partnered with OZZY OSBOURNE. Further US concert dates in August and September had the band lined up alongside GODSMACK.