As you already know, I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to interview the Horror Groove Metal bassist, Sean Yseult from the band, White Zombie.
There were some complications before, during, and after our interview. I explained 2 weeks ago.
Today's blog is more like a Q&A blog. Those of you, who have been subscribed to yours truly these last 2-3 years, already know how I publish Q&A blogs.
If there is enough time during this summer, I may do another personal Q&A blog.
Since our interview was NOT recorded like I expected (Then again, it was better to have not been recorded; The sound quality was garbage.), I have summarized Sean's answers.
The following are questions I asked Sean Yseult, during our interview on Tuesday, May 24th:
Question #1: You are immensely talented and juggle many different careers. Do you ever have to struggle with your increasing success in general? If so, what challenges and/or struggles are you facing?
Answer: According to bassist Sean Yseult, there are no struggles that she is facing. Right now, everything is going swimmingly well with music and her artwork.
Question #2: Have you ever considered doing your own animation?
Answer: Sean is uninterested in creating her own animation. She is only interested in single image artwork, which consists of photography, designs, and designing her own scarves.
Question #3: Since you design your own scarves, is there any chance that you will design your own Horror or Goth clothing line?
Answer: This answer is similar to the 2nd question. Sean Yseult is NOT interested in releasing her own Horror or Goth clothing line.
Question #4: With the passing of another legendary music icon (that being Prince), almost everyone knew that purple was his signature color. Do you have your own signature color(s)?
Answer: Sean does NOT have her own signature color. However, what she and I BOTH have in common is that we LOVE blue and turquoise. Shauna laughed when I told her about how much turquoise dominates my wardrobe.
I am BOMBARDED with TURQUOISE clothing by the women in my immediate family for birthday AND Christmas presents. Emerald Green, pink, and red are my other favorite colors.
Anyway, Sean Yseult's answer is blue and turquoise.
Question #5: Out of curiosity, have you ever sat down and watched the Adult Swim animated series, Metalocalypse? If so, what are your thoughts about the show?
With the inclusion of Dark Humor, Macabre Horror, inside jokes, and music references to other Metal bands that ONLY Metal fans and bands will understand, do you feel Brendan Small and Tommy Blacha (the creators) do a fantastic job of depicting what it is like to be in the Metal Industry?
Answer: Sean Yseult also LOVES Metalocalypse (something else we have in common) and feels that the creators depict the Metal Industry very well.
Question #6: What are your general thoughts about today's Metal bands getting the most radio airplay on traditional Rock stations? Feel free to also mention your thoughts about Rob Zombie's direction, as a soloist if you would like.
Answer: Sean is NOT following what is being aired on today's stations right now, much like yours truly. I spent time explaining to her about how politically TOXIC entertainment has been over these last 10-12 years, which was partly why I quit hosting my own radio show.
Sean Yseult mentioned, that White Zombie's songs were not played on Rock stations until their Geffen releases. This is something I can confirm.
When I was a teenager during the 1990's, my local Rock stations normally played White Zombie at midnight, when most people were asleep. I let Sean know that every time I saw White Zombie being advertised for a movie soundtrack, I bought those soundtracks as well as White Zombie's albums.
Sean currently enjoys frequenting live concert performances, in order to get a better idea of what the bands sound like musically.
Question #7: I have always seen Spider One from the band, Powerman 5000 with spiky, dyed, yellow hair, wearing eye goggles, and space suits. Otherwise, I've seen him wearing Punk Rock garb, while somewhat resembling Billy Idol.
As a White Zombie fan, I was unaware of Rob's younger brother, Spider One being in the music video for "I'm Your Boogie Man." The song was featured on The Crow: City Of Angels Soundtrack, 20 years ago. Spider playing the role of "Dr. Spooky" REALLY surprised me.
Out of curiosity, what is Spider One really like as a person?
Answer: When asking Sean Yseult this question, she seemed really surprised that Spider One had any involvement in the music video for the cover of KC's "I'm Your Boogie Man."
White Zombie's 1996 cover of KC and The Sunshine Band's, "I'm Your Boogieman" was released JUST before White Zombie disbanded that same year.
Considering that Rob Zombie directed every White Zombie music video, I get the impression that the rest of the band was edited to be in it. Anyway, Sean hasn't seen Spider One from Powerman 5000 in years. Although, she does remember Spider as being someone, who did his own thing.
Basically, Spider One is very individualistic; Sean Yseult referred to him as being a "smart and witty kid," when they all were younger, years ago.
Question #8: Over the last 20 years or so, I have noticed that Rob Zombie tends to have women gyrating in his music videos, including his wife Sheri Moon. When you were in White Zombie, did you EVER feel that Rob wanted you to have a much "sexier" image or to give up your self-respect by acting like a stereotypical bimbo to appease he and your fanbase?
Answer: According to Sean Yseult, this was NEVER a problem for her. Sean was always "one of the guys" and treated with the utmost respect; Sean was allowed to be herself and never had to worry about changing her image for the music industry or Rob Zombie.
Question #9: Throughout your years of being White Zombie's bassist, did you EVER have any male and/or possibly female groupies, who already knew that you were a woman, while trying to meet you backstage?
Answer: Sean explained a funny story about having a gay groupie for a White Zombie fan. The fan assumed she was a man in the band. Then, he discovered that she was a woman after meeting her backstage in New Orleans.
When you really think about it, it makes sense that her groupie assumed that she was a man. Most women don't have the name, "Sean."
Question #10: Did you change your name from Shauna Reynolds to "Sean Yseult" to be taken more seriously and to gain more respect by a male-dominated Rock Industry?
Answer: Since the time of growing up, Sean was always called "Sean Yseult" (her first and last name) by her parents.
Sometimes people called her "Shauna" but anyone, who knew her or has been close to her, has always called her "Sean."
Sean Yseult's parents added an "a" on the end of her name, when she was born; They were expecting to have a son and changed the spelling from traditional Irish because the name was unusual in the The South, 50 years ago.
In addition, Sean's parents thought it would be difficult for people to pronounce her name. When she was in high school, Sean changed her name back. Personally, I like calling her "Shauna."
Question #11: Do you still keep in contact with your surviving bandmates from White Zombie or did you all part on really volatile terms?
Answer: When we were talking, Sean Yseult said that she, Jay, and Johnny Tempesta still keep in contact with each other whereas Rob Zombie does NOT try to initiate any contact with them.
I let Sean know I think it sucks that most of White Zombie's bandmates STILL keep in contact with each other except for ROB ZOMBIE. It really would NOT surprise me, if she felt the most hurt out of the group.
Question #12: So, I keep hearing and reading about an actual White Zombie Reunion. Will there be a reunion or is the media spreading rumors and lying to us White Zombie fans for publicity?
Answer: As of right now, the media is ONLY spreading rumors about an actual White Zombie Reunion. However, there is NOT that possibility, according to Rob Zombie.
There is a White Zombie box set, which JUST released on June 4th.
Those with very little knowledge about White Zombie have no idea, that Rob Zombie and Sean Yseult have a long time history with each other, which dates all the way back to their Art School days at Parsons School of Design.
Not only was Sean Yseult the co-founder of the band White Zombie, but she and Rob Zombie were also a COUPLE for 7 YEARS. If memory serves me right, Rob made his roommate act as his wing man to ask out Sean, when they were attending Parsons.
Out of respect for Rob Zombie, Sean Yseult, and their spouses, I did not want to pry too much into Rob and Sean's romantic history. I felt that it would've triggered some painful memories, which was something I really did NOT want to do to Sean Yseult.
It was such an honor having the opportunity to speak to a musician, who was a major part of my adolescence during the '90s.
Sean told me she appreciates the fact, that I spent the time and money buying White Zombie's albums and the movie soundtracks their band was featured on.
Rob Zombie wrote the lyrics, while Sean and Jay wrote the riffs.
Most people don't know, that Beavis and Butt-Head was 1 reason White Zombie became famous.
Maybe someday Rob Zombie will stop alienating his former Horror Groove Metal band, that made him rich and famous more than 20 years ago. This was YEARS before he became a solo act and a supposed Horror "filmmaker."
Anyway, thank you so much for reading! Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, +1 on Google Plus, and leave your feedback in the comments section below!
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