I'm In the Band: Backstage Notes from the Chick in White Zombie

I love this book. I'd been a fan of White Zombie for quite some time, and was very sad that they broke up (since Rob Zombie never fulfilled his potential as a solo artist, in my opinion). Sean's book is fantastic, in that it's the first autobiography from any musician of any of the great heavy bands of her era (Sonic Youth, Raging Slab, Corrosion Of Conformity, Warrior Soul, eyehategod, Pantera, the Cramps, etc); it's also in a cool format, being half-text, half photo collage, and with a weird horizontal flip format! Yes, stylish/garish to the max, everything we'd expect from a good zombie girl!My one complaint with the book is the one that hit me first - why does the book need a very long 30-page introduction that covers a lot of the same turf that the rest of the book also e covers? But that doesn't matter, as throughout the whole work the text is fun, light-hearted, and always positive (even in the "guest" sections that were written by others). Sean tends to downplay the hard times (describing them for what they are, without being judgmental, whiney or downbeat), but revels in the good times and the friendships. And while she doesn't deny that she went through a hard break-up with her boyfriend/lead singer in the band that she co-founded with him (awkward touring and recording and all that), she doesn't ever properly diss Rob Zombie at all, and even includes him in a few pictures (and a few solo shots!). Not sure what went on between the two, which is a shame as an autobiography is supposed to bring key issues to light (Keith Richards and Al Jourgensen addressed their arrests and heroin addictions in his autobiographies didn't they?), but the volume still has tons to offer nonetheless.The books can be broken into three parts: her childhood as an arts princess, the struggling years in New York City with Rob and a young White Zombie, and the nutty big-tour fun that hit them by storm when the band hit the big time (with a little help from Beavis and Butthead - you can actually see the progression of how money came into the compound as the once starchy white band adds tattoos); there's also an "aftermath" section where she talks about what she's doing today, none of which is on the same scale as her former life, of course. We also don't get sex, or drugs (Sean and Rob were vegetarians, and the one temporary band member that did them got booted from the tour - there's only mentions of booze, and occasionally "funny" mushrooms)… but we do get limitless rock 'n' roll, which is how it should be; and we get plenty of style and substance with it as well! And, Keith Richards-style, she also gives pages to friends and collaborators like filmmaker Steven Blush, former guitarist Tom Five, former drummer Ivan De Prume, musician Daniel Rey, the Geffen A&R guy who signed them Michael Alago, guitarist J Yuenger, latter drummer Joey Tempesta, CJ Ramone and production manager Chris Kansy (only no Rob Zombie, of course) to add their say to the legend that was White Zombie. The anecdotes are enormous, and they go on and on and on and on and on...So those are the words, how about the images? The photos and layouts are gorgeous, with nearly every photo including Sean (as an infant, a pre-teen ballerina, as a raven-haired bass goddess/university student in New York, and as the funky bass chick we know and love), but also lots of other memorabilia - flyers, backstage passes, anything you can imagine… this is the ultimate rock girl scrapbook!! We get fantastic pictures of the band with those cool musicians that they toured with - the Ramones, Glenn Danzig, Marilyn Manson, Trouble, Michael Stipe, the Supersuckers, Monster Magnet, Voivod, the Cramps and Pantera. The best pic is definitely the one of Sean with Lemmy and Joey Ramone! Another one has the band in the studio with Iggy Pop, probably at the time that they did "Thunderkiss '65" with them (easy enough - he was already a fan right?).There's a picture of her with Rob from 1985, the year the band put out their first recording, there are pics of her many bass guitars, ticket stubs, sheet music (she was a trained musician and could read and write musical notation), limitless photo booth strip-of-four pics, toy monsters, pics of her parents, newspaper ads (CBGB, etc), media coverage, band notebook entries, early tour pics, postcards, concert fliers (White Zombie, Prong and The Obsessed on the same bill!!!), White Zombie's entry on the Top Lists, album art, set lists, reproductions of the White Zombie fanzine, belt buckles, guitar straps, fashion design pages, pics in the studio, notes, tour diaries, passport pages, art photos, guitar designs, and tons of other stuff.Interestingly/coincidentally, I ordered this book from Amazon in the same shipment that I ordered the new Al Jourgensen autobiography, and there are three interesting overlaps in the book - both were close to Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, with Sean touring with the band and Jourgensen playing Columbus, Ohio the same day that Dime was killed (Jourgensen claims the gunman even turned up at his gig thinking he was at Dime's show, then leaving for hit appointment with fate).The other similarity is that the two dated. And while she's very gracious, talking about how she had a blast hanging out with Al and Timothy Leary and all of the interesting people that were around at the time, Al is a bit more honest, talking about what a messed up guy he was to her at the time, and how the break-up came when he made a serious mess-up. Interesting couple - what with Al and Rob having similar looks, and similar vocal sounds!Final overlap… both also have Schechter tombstone guitars. How did that happen?In fact, Sean is very discreet throughout her book, mentioning Al more as a friend than a lover, and who knows who she dated after the break-up with Rob Zombie, and how many were only guy friends; but she WAS the only rock chick in the boys club (something she plays up in her intro), and it must have been a lot of fun as long as it didn't get ugly. She mentions her current husband from time to time, and it sounds like she's happy with her life.Rock 'n' roll, Sean Ysault, rock 'n' roll!!!

Really love the photos Sean has shared. Great details on their up and coming and great documentary style book. Don’t hesitate to support her and pick this up it is a must have for White Zombie fans.

So much great insight and I was kind of shocked by the visuals, the tactile experience it all reminds me of buying NIN cd foldouts back in the 90’s. Can’t recommend enough.

Regretfully, one of the hard rock/metal bands that I did not get to see in the early 90's was White Zombie. What a shame. Admittedly, I really wasn't a fan although I did like a couple of their songs. An online friend was posting about Sean's book and highly recommended it. I thought I would give it a read and purchased the book, which to my delight was AUTOGRAPHED!!! (This was not stated in the purchasing description) Sean's book layout with minor explanation, original notes, and personal photos invites one to dream of what it must have been like to be on-stage and backstage with the hottest hard rock/metal bands in the late 80's early 90's. A fantastic visual treat reviving forgotten memories from one's hard rock/metal scene days.

I never realized just what a creative force Sean was. It was interesting that in such a guy-heavy genre and group that this band would have one of the few woman. It's kind of weird there aren't more woman rockers, but there aren't. For some reason, they just are not taken seriously. Anyway, Sean is obviously very creative as the way she lays out this book attests. She sets it up like a scrapbook and explains why each photo or list was important to her. It is a fascinating look into any band that is just starting out to the cusp of stardom. She left the band not long before White Zombie hit it huge. Because she is such a pack rat, there is a virtual treasure trove of history of the band in this book with old artwork, tour posters, itineraries, contracts, photos, letters and much, much else.I only have two small criticisms of the whole thing. I love White Zombie. I became a fan right when they hit it big with Astro Creep 2000, but I don't to this day know much history of the band. She narrates it as if you lived the life with them, or at least have an intimate understanding of all the people involved in the story. I was left scratching my head more than a few times by not understanding some of the context of what she was saying. Also, it is obvious she and Rob had a huge falling out, because she makes no bones about the fact they were dating and it ended badly. But it is maddeningly vague. I understand the reasons for the vagueness, but for a person reading it, it is extremely annoying. My feeling is if you are going to bring it up, you should address it directly, or just don't bring it up at all. Anyway, these are only small criticisms of an otherwise fun romp through history with one of my favorite bands.

Everything Sean Yseult put's her mind to she seems to do not just well, but perfectly! Not only did her years at Parson's serve her well, but laid the pavement for her to walk forward onto any creative ground she choses. White Zombie showed Sean the kickass bass player!!! She has gone on to create beautiful silk scarf designs (which Barney's picked up! ) they are beautiful and whimsical. Her collaborative art works with Louis Saint Louis show her early training as an artist. Now she has created a book, journal, photo collage, and memoir that pieces together all that is wonderful and massively talented about Sean Yseult! How many people in bands from the eighties do we know who kept concise and legible journals? She has put together an incredible array of images, thoughts and journal entries. She takes us down a journey of what it must have been like to have been a part of a band that was definitely one of the early innovators of it's genre at the time. If you want to feel what it must have been like to ride the roller coaster of fun, craziness, emotional and out there experiences that were Sean's in the White Zombie years then go buy this book! It won't disappoint ~~~~Lisa Conrad

This book is filled with interesting notes of trivia and the photos really illuminate a career of success and fun. I really enjoyed it and especially loved the presentation on her Schecter Casket bass, of which I recently purchased my own. Top notch book!

Ich hatte mich sehr auf das Buch gefreut, da ich ein großer Fan von ihr und White Zombie bin.Aber leider habe ich kein Buch erhalten. Was soll's, wenigstens hab ich es bezahlt

Excellent book. If you love White Zombie and Pantera, then def get this. Has excerpts from Seans diary and the photos are amazing. Early shots of Zombie and Pantera on tour. A backstage pass to the early 90s metal scene. From Donington to LA and back.

This is a gem of a book with a beautiful layout and great tales from a pivotal point in rock history told by a member of a pivotal band.If rock history is your thing, your bookshelf can not go without a copy of this book.

Nice book. Great pictures and a real insight into the brief life of White Zombie and why it split. A must for any White/Rob Zombie fans.