Ex-WHITE ZOMBIE Bassist Discusses 'I'm In The Band' Book In New Interview

Lina Lecaro of LA Weekly recently conducted an interview with former WHITE ZOMBIE bassist Sean Yseult about Sean's new book, "I'm In The Band - Backstage Notes From The Chick In White Zombie". A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

LA Weekly: Why did you decide to do the book?

Yseult: It was inspired by our WHITE ZOMBIE box set. A couple of years ago I was informed that we were finally releasing a box set with all of our history — the very first seven-inch to the last record. Management asked me for all of my ZOMBIE video footage to add a DVD, and I began to dig out the boxes out of storage. After more than ten years, what I found was mind-blowing. I not only had saved all of our old vinyl and bootleg videos, but there were piles of tour diaries, photo albums, laminates, notebooks, my old journals of booking tours, everything that covered the history of our career. When we met in design school, I was a photo major, so I took photos of the band and me and Rob since day one. While I was sorting through this treasure trove, [guitarist] J. and I were told the box set was already in print without our input — no liner notes, no history, nothing. That was a shame, because J. also had 10 boxes of amazing history. Shortly after the release, I began receiving tons of mail from fans who felt robbed — they had been waiting so long for something comprehensive, some insight into the freakshow that was ZOMBIE, and they received none. I knew I had to do something with all of my material, and tell my story of WHITE ZOMBIE. Having been the other co-founder of the band, I was the only person besides Rob who could tell the story from beginning to end. Of course it's from my perspective, but I also include input from many members and ex-members of WHITE ZOMBIE, as well as some key players along the way. I spent the first year writing, photographing, and scanning items to create the book, and the second year writing more and gathering writings and photos from others. It is exactly how I envisioned it: a collaged coffee table book, with a lot of commentary.

LA Weekly: Why did WHITE ZOMBIE really break up?

Yseult: Why does any band break up? Members aren't getting along, everyone's worn out, lead singers want to go solo, all of the stereotypical reasons. J. and I felt like we had more riffs and songs in us, but Rob was already finishing up his solo record when we had "the phone call."

LA Weekly: What was it like playing in a band with your boyfriend and then ex-boyfriend?

Yseult: When we were a couple for the first seven years, it was us against the world. We worked hard together 24/7 — me doing logos, typography, and layout, him drawing imagery, me writing riffs, him writing lyrics. Pressing our own records, booking our own tours. It never stopped. All four of us were like a gang. We practiced constantly, toured in a van that we all slept in when there wasn't a floor, went flyering with wheat paste at 4 a.m. Notice how quickly I include the band — that reflects our relationship — it was all Zombie, all work, and exactly what we wanted. Once members of our fucked-up family started getting replaced, and the label started taking over many of our jobs, things weren't quite the same. We [Rob and I] broke up, and touring together was still fine. But shortly after, Rob met a fan and things changed. I didn't mind at first, but it escalated into childish nonsense and "Spinal Tap" moments that none of us want to relive — haha!

LA Weekly: What is your relationship with Rob now and how do you think he'll feel about the book?

Yseult: He hasn't spoken to any of us for years — his choice, not ours — so I have no idea what he thinks of this book. After his solo record, the press asked him a similar question in regards to me and J., and he responded with a rather negative retort, "I don't give a rat's ass." I guess I would have to return the sentiment if he had any issues with the book, really. I have no idea if he will like it or hate it or just ignore it since I decided not to "let sleeping corpses lie," as he seemed to have wanted with the box set.

Read the entire interview from LA Weekly.