Ongoing History Daily: When Rob Zombie worked with Lionel Ritchie

April 17, 2023 Alan Cross 0 Comments 0 min read

Rob Zombie is one of the most intense individuals in music, but he’s open to making friends with anyone. When he was directing his horror film, Land of 1,000 Corpses back in 2003, Zombie decided he needed a 1977 funk hit by The Commodores called “Brick House” on the soundtrack. But instead of using the original, he wanted to re-record it Rob Zombie style.

When it was done, he called up the former Commodores lead singer—that’s Lionel Ritchie—to tell him what he’d done and if he’d like to hear the results. Ritchie drove over the Zombie’s place and politely listened to the recording. Then he said “You’re not quite singing this part right. Give me the mic and I’ll do it.”

So he did—which is how we have the unlikely musical collaboration between Rob Zombie and Lionel Ritchie.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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