Rob with the ladies of THE LORDS OF SALEM.
As mentioned in the interview, I first met Rob Zombie in 2005 at Thomas Jane’s house for Tom’s 40th birthday. What was surprising to me at the time was how much Rob and I had in common, and how laid back he was in conversation. My perception of the man back then, like many, was that of the White Zombie singer in heavy makeup singing hard rock songs and looking menacing. In person, Rob is nothing like that image, and is in all honesty quite pleasant. He’s made quite a career for himself outside the music scene as a filmmaker, directing and writing films like HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES, THE DEVIL’S REJECTS, and the update of HALLOWEEN.
His most recent project is the movie THE LORDS OF SALEM, and his new album Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor, both hitting this month (THE LORDS OF SALEM opens this weekend).
I had a chance to chat with Rob over the phone about both efforts, and as before I found him to be very insightful and self-aware. We talk about casting, and his tendency to use great character actors and actresses that Hollywood sometimes overlooks, along with how he wanted to give this latest film a timeless quality. We also discuss the new album and some of the inspirations behind the songs. It’s a fun, candid discussion. You can listen to the full MP3 interview HERE – just click on the link or right-click and download the MP3 file. Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor will be released April 23, 2013, but you can order it HERE.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
