Last month, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of White Zombie’s classic album Astro-Creep 2000 with an in-depth look back at it. We managed to get the attention of half of the band – guitarist J. Yuenger and Bassist/co-founder Sean Yseult. We recently caught up with Yuenger who told us about what he’s been up to (which includes mastering for Waxwork Records), and now we’re happy to to share our conversation with the legendary Yseult, who remains involved with music while also offering her many other artistic gifts to the world.

iHorror: Give us a brief rundown of your career between White Zombie and now. What have you enjoyed doing the most in that time?

Sean Yseult: New Orleans, in general! I moved here when White Zombie broke up, and spent a year house hunting and just soaking up the culture, history and architecture. A short run-down of my various businesses, bands and endeavours since then: started Famous Monsters, put out two records and toured England and Japan and the US; started Rock City Morgue with friends, put out a few records and toured in the US and Europe; opened the bar The Saint with my (then) future husband in 2002; also began showing my photography in galleries in 2002; started my design company Yseult Designs in 2006; started the band Star & Dagger with friends in 2009; had a book published with my photos and stories about White Zombie titled “I’m In The Band” in 2010; started doing solo photography gallery shows in 2012. I’m very much enjoying the photography at present as it is what I originally moved to NYC for, coming full circle.

iH: Tell us about your photo show and the “murder and mayhem” involved.

SY: My new show that is currently on display at the Scott Edwards Gallery is titled “Soiree D’Evolution: Tableaux Vivants et Nature Mortes.” It tells a story in seven panels of a debaucherous party in New Orleans 1870’s; shown in 40”x60” photographs that emulate Dutch Masters photo realism, a bit ironically. The story is fictitious but based on much research: these secret societies did exist in New Orleans, and the politics and decadence was through the roof! I don’t think any visual I have created, involving naked ladies or tiny devils or taxidermy on the trashed banquet table is a reach from what really went on.

iH: J. mentioned a White Zombie vinyl set the two of you have been working on. What can you tell us about that?

SY: Yes – a company called Numero Group is rereleasing all of our early vinyl on 12” vinyl – even the 7”s! They are doing a very comprehensive job, from tons of images and photos from the era (I know because they spent a day digging through my vaults) to detailed liner notes – none of which any of our fans have ever seen. Also, they found extra tracks from recording sessions that date so far back, they weren’t even familiar to me! Jay has been remastering everything here in New Orleans, and hearing these tracks are a revelation. I spent all of those years 24/7 with Rob, and as soon as we did anything, he hated it, and shelved it. I took on the same attitude, but now that I am hearing them, they are actually awesome and so reflective of the era! It’s great to unbury these tracks.

iH: What other projects are you currently working on?

SY: Besides my photography, my band Star & Dagger has a full album we need to record; we’re just trying to find the time and the right location!

iH: Astro-Creep is 20 years old. Are you still happy with it? Anything you’d change or wish you’d done differently?

SY: No I’m still happy with it.

iH: What is your favorite White Zombie album and why? 

SY: La Sexorcisto, just because we were really a band at our peak right then and all 100% involved in every aspect of it. With Astro-Creep, Rob had made it difficult for me to be in the studio, so after we finished writing the record, I got into the recording room, did my tracks and got out. That said, I think he did an amazing job incorporating all of the samples and electronic bits. I later grew to dislike this new aspect of the band, but it’s the perfect mix on Astro-Creep.

iH: What do you miss most about your days in White Zombie?

SY: I don’t exactly miss anything, although it was a great time while it lasted: but I have to say our live shows were electric and our fans were the best!

iH: What was your most memorable tour?

SY: Japan. The fans there are like no other, the culture, the food, the insane futuristic city of Tokyo – it was like being on Mars. I loved it!

iH: What are some of your favorite horror movies?

SY: I love the classics – Frankenstein, Dracula, of course White Zombie, Mad Love – then I love the atmospheric Italian films – Bava and Argento, Suspiria being a top one . . . Hammer films are so great, I love Vampire Circus and anything with Christopher Lee; anything by Jodorowsky (not technically horror but more horrifying than most films I’ve seen!); Herschell Gordon Lewis – Blood Sucking Freaks! So trashy and fucked up. If it’s gore, it’s got to be cheesy – I don’t relish actual blood and guts!

You can find much of Yseult’s work on her website here.