Named after the 1932 Bela Lugosi film, White Zombie's musical style was sample-heavy, based around groovy riffs and Rob Zombie's snarling vocals. The samples that filled their records were mostly from obscure horror films, but used creatively to create a kind of carnival freak-show vibe.
Rob Zombie, still known at this time as Rob Cummings, supported himself through multiple jobs, including working as a cycle courier. Most famously, he was a production assistant on Pee-Wee's Playhouse, but he also worked as a designer on pornographic magazines. At this time, he became involved with Shauna Reynolds, another up-and-coming designer. Together they shared a love of classic horror and sci-fi, heavy music, and the weirder corners of American underground culture. They decided to form a band that would draw upon all these influences and White Zombie was formed. Rob took vocals and the name Rob Straker (later changed to Rob Zombie), while Reynolds became the bassist and assumed the name of Sean Yseult. They became the only constants in the often-fluctuating band line-up.
White Zombie best showed their signature style on their final two studio albums. La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1 and Astro-Creep: 2000 Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head were impressive displays of their sample/riff style, thanks to higher production values.
In 1998, Rob Zombie founded his own label, Zombie-A-Go-Go, signing surf and horror acts like The Bomboras and The Ghastly Ones, as well as compiling the mix album Halloween Hootenany. He was managing the new band of his brother Michael, now known as Spider One, the punk-tinged Powerman 5000, but also looked to his own solo career.
After huge opening week sales of his first solo album, Hellbilly Deluxe that dwarfed those of any White Zombie release, it was announced that the band had split up. Bassist Sean Yseult left to form female horror-rockers Famous Monsters and, later, Rock City Morgue. Rob Zombie went on to continued success with his solo music project, and new acclaim as a successful film director.
Real Solution #9
White Zombie Lyrics
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Apocalyptic dreams see the ordinary madness
Who will survive and what will be left of them?
I never lock the dogs when the wolf is in the darkness
Come on, come on the motherfucker's on fire
He cut through the bone, he cut through the wire
Come on, come on the motherfucker's on fire
He cut through the bone, he cut through the wire
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Who will survive and what will be left of them?
Into another world number nine bring the death in
Who will survive and what will be left of them?
Loser take it all, getting high on the kick in
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Who will survive and what will be left of them?
Got 24 hours of psychoholic magic
Who will survive and what will be left of them?
Illuminate the face and the eye of the serpent
Come on, come on the motherfucker's on fire
He cut through the bone, he cut through the wire
Come on, come on the motherfucker's on fire
He cut through the bone, he cut through the wire
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm already dead
The lyrics in White Zombie's song Real Solution #9 touch on apocalyptic themes and question who will survive and what will be left of them. The tone is ominous and foreboding, as the singer intones about dreams of ordinary madness and the danger of wolves lurking in the darkness. The chorus repeats the question of who will survive and what will be left of them, implying that some sort of catastrophic event has occurred.
The second verse introduces the idea of moving into another world (number nine), and the phrase "bring the death in" suggests that this is not a desirable place to be. The lyrics also touch on addiction and the idea of "getting high on the kick in," portraying a sense of desperation and perhaps a lack of hope. The final verse brings in the notion of magic and illumination, adding an otherworldly dimension to the song's unsettling themes.
Overall, Real Solution #9 presents a bleak and unsettling vision of the future, with the repeated refrain of "who will survive and what will be left of them" suggesting that the answer may not be a happy one.
Line by Line Meaning
Who will survive and what will be left of them?
What will happen to those who endure and who will remain after the apocalypse?
Apocalyptic dreams see the ordinary madness
The nightmares of impending doom reflect the insanity and chaos that already exist in everyday life.
I never lock the dogs when the wolf is in the darkness
I don't take precautions when danger is near, putting myself and others at risk.
Come on, come on the motherfucker's on fire
Hurry, hurry! This person is raging with intense heat and energy.
He cut through the bone, he cut through the wire
This person is unstoppable, slicing through anything in their path with ease.
Into another world number nine bring the death in
Moving into a parallel universe, the number nine symbolizes death and destruction.
Loser take it all, getting high on the kick in
Even the loser who is left with nothing can find pleasure in the rush of chaos and adrenaline.
Got 24 hours of psychoholic magic
There is a full day's worth of frenzied and addictive madness to experience.
Illuminate the face and the eye of the serpent
Shining light on the face and eyes of a snake, representing a deceptive and dangerous force.
I'm already dead
I am already a part of the lifeless chaos and insanity that surrounds us all.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAY NOEL YUENGER, JOHN TEMPESTA, ROB ZOMBIE, ROB WOLFGANG ZOMBIE, SHAUNA YSEULT REYNOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind