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I'm in the Band: Backstage Notes from the Chick in White Zombie
"A fascinating scrapbook documenting a time in the life of a female musician. . . Tales of tours, blowouts, relationships with names such as The Cramps, Pantera, Ramones, Alice Cooper, Kyuss, Monster Magnet, Marilyn Manson, Coffin Joe and Danzig make this book essential as a time capsule of a certain era in the world of hard rock." ―Uber Rock
Art rock? Noise rock? Punk-metal? Alternative? White Zombie may have been unclassifiable, but it didn't stop them from carving out a place for themselves in music history. The band became a multiplatinum, two-time Grammy nominee with the release of their 1992 album, La Sexorcisto . But while most people will remember their bizarre look and macabre lyrics, what many failed to realize was that their lanky, high-octane bass player was a woman.
I'm In the Band combines eleven years of tour diaries, flyers, and personal photos and ephemera to chart White Zombie's rise from the gritty music scene of New York's Lower East Side in the eighties to arena headliners during the nineties. It also shares the unlikely story of a female musician who won the respect and adoration of male metal musicians and fans. From 1985 to 1996, Sean Yseult was the sole woman not only in White Zombie, but in the entire metal scene.
With I'm In the Band , Yseult has created both a coffee table book and a striking visual memoir. Her personal memorabilia offers fans a unique vantage on the life of a mega-band during rock's last golden age.
Art rock? Noise rock? Punk-metal? Alternative? White Zombie may have been unclassifiable, but it didn't stop them from carving out a place for themselves in music history. The band became a multiplatinum, two-time Grammy nominee with the release of their 1992 album, La Sexorcisto . But while most people will remember their bizarre look and macabre lyrics, what many failed to realize was that their lanky, high-octane bass player was a woman.
I'm In the Band combines eleven years of tour diaries, flyers, and personal photos and ephemera to chart White Zombie's rise from the gritty music scene of New York's Lower East Side in the eighties to arena headliners during the nineties. It also shares the unlikely story of a female musician who won the respect and adoration of male metal musicians and fans. From 1985 to 1996, Sean Yseult was the sole woman not only in White Zombie, but in the entire metal scene.
With I'm In the Band , Yseult has created both a coffee table book and a striking visual memoir. Her personal memorabilia offers fans a unique vantage on the life of a mega-band during rock's last golden age.
- GenresMusicNonfictionMemoirArt
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
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253 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 8, 2022
Loved it and love WZ! What a bunch of fun pictures and the coolest history! With her being a little prankster along the road to her starving for success. What a good Rock N Roll influence. Favorite!
October 28, 2023
Chaotic but informative, just a lot of fun to read, with plenty of great photos included as well.
May 29, 2011
Actually picked this up for my teen, multi-instrument-playing daughter, but am a fan of White Zombie, so decided to give it a read/look. There are a number of interesting things in it. I liked Yseult's brief story of her life growing up and how she was involved in dance, music and art at a pretty intense level from a young age. I enjoyed some of her observations on building up a following in the pre-You-Tube world, and on living in abject poverty while going to art school and playing in a band. It was also fun to see a lot of the posters and memorabilia. But ultimately, this was basically a scrapbook. Some cool pictures and things to look at, and brief stories about those things and where they came from. And Yseult admits it is very spotty coverage of the band's career--lots of info about some parts, and nothing at all about others that were equally important. There are a few stories from other people connected to the White Zombie world as well. Overall, the writing is okay, but frequently sounds like liner notes.
August 16, 2020
White Zombie was a very formative band for me, and this book is an incredible look into their relatively brief history. Everything about the early years was amazing, my only criticism is that I would have loved the same detail about the later years. Although, based on the journal pages they may have been hard to remember. Also bear in mind that this is strictly Sean’s perspective, with a few inserts from the non-Rob band members and friends. WZ was not just Rob, Sean and J were integral to their sound and songwriting, and it’s good to see anything giving them their due.
June 12, 2023
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.
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.
September 22, 2017
If you grew up in the 90s and are a fan of Rock, this book is for you! I enjoyed every page and was easily (and happily) transported back to the daze I was coming of age in the mid-90s. I was a huge fan of WZ and Sean as a teen, and picked up the bass because of her. In reading her history, I was surprised to find she also started out on violin and took dance. The more I read, the more I remembered what a big deal she was, and rightfully so! Her honest and often amusing accounts of WZ's ride to the top, then unfortunate dissolution, only go to show that she still is the real deal. Never boastful or nasty, (even though she had every reason to be) I was happy to find out what she's done after this band and to find she continues to pursue her passions. This genuine spirit is what keeps her a star in my eyes! Time to dust off LaSexorcisto!
January 12, 2012
White Zombie being one of the major influences in my life I could not wait to get my hands on this book.
I immediately fell in love with the rock ancedotes and loads of early band posters, photos and art. As a rabid fan of this band since Make Them Die Slowly even I found out back story that I don't think has been printed anywhere else (IE Sean had dated AL JOURGENSEN!).The pictures and ancedotes about Dimebag Darrell are especially great to see.
Basically, this is what the recent White Zombie box set should included for the fans but failed to deliver.
It also gave some insight into what may have caused the bands eventual break up, without turning the whole ordeal into tabloid fonder. No pointing fingers, over-the-top drama or hard feelings.
I immediately fell in love with the rock ancedotes and loads of early band posters, photos and art. As a rabid fan of this band since Make Them Die Slowly even I found out back story that I don't think has been printed anywhere else (IE Sean had dated AL JOURGENSEN!).The pictures and ancedotes about Dimebag Darrell are especially great to see.
Basically, this is what the recent White Zombie box set should included for the fans but failed to deliver.
It also gave some insight into what may have caused the bands eventual break up, without turning the whole ordeal into tabloid fonder. No pointing fingers, over-the-top drama or hard feelings.
January 9, 2024
Read this a long time ago but I guess I never added it. I remember it being excellent - Yseult doesn't pull any punches when she talks about being unceremoniously dumped along with her bandmates from White Zombie.
I also remember her being very entertaining, talking about the difficulties being in a relationship with other rock stars - opposing tour schedules usually lead to break-ups.
She also talks about how the start of White Zombie was a collaborative thing between Rob Zombie and herself, but Zombie eventually took it over and got rid of everyone else. A common theme with a lot of bands - Alice Cooper is the one that most immediately springs to mind.
A very good book. It made me want to check out her subsequent band Famous Monsters - I can't remember it I did or not in the end.
I also remember her being very entertaining, talking about the difficulties being in a relationship with other rock stars - opposing tour schedules usually lead to break-ups.
She also talks about how the start of White Zombie was a collaborative thing between Rob Zombie and herself, but Zombie eventually took it over and got rid of everyone else. A common theme with a lot of bands - Alice Cooper is the one that most immediately springs to mind.
A very good book. It made me want to check out her subsequent band Famous Monsters - I can't remember it I did or not in the end.
July 31, 2022
Fantastic! \m/ \m/
Feels like it was yesterday. Miss them and Pantera! Fun seeing what was going on behind the curtains!
Feels like it was yesterday. Miss them and Pantera! Fun seeing what was going on behind the curtains!
December 25, 2024
i need to be her
May 31, 2025
Such a cool glimpse into the brief (but also long) history of THE cult horror metal band White Zombie and the coolest bassist to ever exist.
December 3, 2025
I realized, perhaps too late, that this is really more of a scrapbook of pictures than a diary. Having said that, it was enjoyable to revisit that time in music history.
September 5, 2014
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I mean, I actually didn't know White Zombie had a female bass player. I didn't know any of the bands in that genre had female members. Rock is STILL so much a boy's club. Go into any guitar shop and you'll learn that. Like the time I was amp shopping with a male bandmate, and everytime I asked a question, the guy gave my friend the answer. It was infuriating.
Surely Sean Yseult has had plenty of experiences like that. She even hints at occasionally missing or nearly missing her stage cue because someone at the venue assumes she's a groupie.
I was hoping for more insight on what it was like being a female rock musican in a man's world. Mostly she seems to say it was great. And maybe it was mostly - but I kind of hoped she would go a little deeper than that. If a lot of those guys (and she seemed to have great friendships from the touring years) treated her as an equal, I wanted her thoughts on why that was. Did they treat her as an equal after she proved she was awesome on bass and belonged there? Did the way the groupies were treated ever bother her as a woman? (She mentions in passing that they were called tulsa - a slut backwards.) Did she have any thoughts on how the venues treated her?
Later on she seemed to have some friendships with the few female musicians that were around (like Melissa Auf der Mar). How did those relationships compare? What were those women's experiences?
The parts about Sean's background in ballet and piano and how she got into art and ultimately created White Zombie with boyfriend Rob were interesting - even if I'm not a metal fan. But the rest of the book was a touring scrapbook that read (as someone else here mentioned) like liner notes. It's cool that she journaled everything and had such a great time on tour - but it's a book on a really interesting (to me) topic. I wanted to know what was in her head. And we never really find out.
If you want tour photos and journals and art from the band, then this is for you. It wasn't what I was hoping for though.
Surely Sean Yseult has had plenty of experiences like that. She even hints at occasionally missing or nearly missing her stage cue because someone at the venue assumes she's a groupie.
I was hoping for more insight on what it was like being a female rock musican in a man's world. Mostly she seems to say it was great. And maybe it was mostly - but I kind of hoped she would go a little deeper than that. If a lot of those guys (and she seemed to have great friendships from the touring years) treated her as an equal, I wanted her thoughts on why that was. Did they treat her as an equal after she proved she was awesome on bass and belonged there? Did the way the groupies were treated ever bother her as a woman? (She mentions in passing that they were called tulsa - a slut backwards.) Did she have any thoughts on how the venues treated her?
Later on she seemed to have some friendships with the few female musicians that were around (like Melissa Auf der Mar). How did those relationships compare? What were those women's experiences?
The parts about Sean's background in ballet and piano and how she got into art and ultimately created White Zombie with boyfriend Rob were interesting - even if I'm not a metal fan. But the rest of the book was a touring scrapbook that read (as someone else here mentioned) like liner notes. It's cool that she journaled everything and had such a great time on tour - but it's a book on a really interesting (to me) topic. I wanted to know what was in her head. And we never really find out.
If you want tour photos and journals and art from the band, then this is for you. It wasn't what I was hoping for though.
March 23, 2014
Written by my favorite member of one of my all-time favorite bands, Sean Yseult of White Zombie. I still have my cut-off jean shorts from high school that I customized with a bunch of different patches in my efforts to look/be more like her. I still wear them on occasion, but alas, I still haven't achieved her level of coolness. Then again, who can? I was lucky enough to see the band once, with the Ramones opening(!?!), and it was one of the best concert experiences of my life. Wish I could've seen them more, especially a Halloween show mentioned in the book that they played in California with The Cramps and The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black, emceed by Elvira and special guest appearance by Alice Cooper!!! Just the pics of that are an awesome-overload.
Sean Yseult also happened to be one of the only (THE only?) women playing in a big-time heavy metal band in the 90s, so it was doubly interesting to read her perspective on that world, which seemed surprisingly un-sexist. After reading her reminiscences and poring over the ephemera that fills the pages of this book, I'm left feeling that my pre-conceived notion about her is true: she is amazing and completely worthy of idolization. I'm so glad White Zombie was around in my musical taste-forming years and that Sean Yseult kept such great notes, photos, and mementos! I highly recommend this book to any White Zombie fan, fans of 90s metal, or those interested in women in rock.
Sean Yseult also happened to be one of the only (THE only?) women playing in a big-time heavy metal band in the 90s, so it was doubly interesting to read her perspective on that world, which seemed surprisingly un-sexist. After reading her reminiscences and poring over the ephemera that fills the pages of this book, I'm left feeling that my pre-conceived notion about her is true: she is amazing and completely worthy of idolization. I'm so glad White Zombie was around in my musical taste-forming years and that Sean Yseult kept such great notes, photos, and mementos! I highly recommend this book to any White Zombie fan, fans of 90s metal, or those interested in women in rock.
March 27, 2014
I started reading this after Googling "what is it like to be the only girl in the band?"...because I was recently asked that and I had NO IDEA how to answer thoughtfully without sounding like a weirdo. On a forum discussing that topic, someone recommended this book. It was definitely interesting to follow the White Zombie story (though I've never really listened to White Zombie) and how they made it from rags to riches with some crazy stories along the way. Made me want to go on tour with my band (maybe one day!).
December 2, 2013
A Quick Glimpse Behind The Scenes
There are a lot of great pictures, but I could have used more writing. There's not a lot of depth beyond, "This happened and it was cool." It's nice that there's a lot of weight on the early days leading up to superstardom, and there's a bit of insight into how they moved from weird art punk band to pop metal heroes.
There are a lot of great pictures, but I could have used more writing. There's not a lot of depth beyond, "This happened and it was cool." It's nice that there's a lot of weight on the early days leading up to superstardom, and there's a bit of insight into how they moved from weird art punk band to pop metal heroes.
April 24, 2012
Interesting to learn they actually wrote out their music in notes. Other stuff is all a glazed over band tour. Boring.
July 23, 2012
Sean Yseult!!!
November 23, 2016
Really entertaining look into the career of someone who is a bit of a legend to me, having grown up during the height of White Zombie's popularity. Tons of great pictures, too.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews