This Zombie Craves the Sunshine

Rob Zombie has parlayed gruesome horror into a pretty nice career, always seeming to top himself in terms of shock value. But now he’s come up with something almost unspeakable for this summer’s Ozzfest tour.

He’s going to play on the tour’s second stage ... in daylight!

Well, the notion shocked tour namesake Ozzy Osbourne.

“I came up with the idea while I was on the Merry Mayhem tour recently with Ozzy,� Zombie says. “I was sitting on the Osbournes’ bus with Ozzy and [Osbourne’s wife and manager] Sharon, talking about Ozzfest. I’d done the main stage in 1999. It was good, but those venues are so uptight, those huge corporate amphitheaters. I’d go watch the bands on the second stage out in the parking lot or wherever they’d put them sometimes, and it looked like so much fun.

“So I said, ‘How about if we headline the second stage?’� Zombie continues. “Ozzy at first was, ‘No, I won’t let you! You’ll be miserable. Don’t do it.’ But it seemed like a fun, different thing to do--not bring the big show, everything stripped down with just the band, play in the sunlight. I haven’t done anything like that in 12 years or something.�

Sharon Osbourne, Zombie says, was enthusiastic about the idea as well, and plans were made. Now, with the breakup of the new Rage Against the Machine lineup just two days after it was announced as co-headliner for Ozzfest, Zombie’s presence seems even larger in a bill topped by Osbourne and P.O.D.

Among Zombie’s best memories as a fan are seeing Alice Cooper and KISS--the archetypes for big-production rock shows--do special concerts with no effects and staging, focusing on the music.

“As much as I love the big show and all the production, it becomes this huge thing of its own,� he says. “Sometimes the show is so huge everything else gets lost.�

Zombie’s presence could draw more people than usual to the second stage, helping the lesser-known acts get the exposure that is a major point of playing there.

“The second stage is often bands that don’t even have records, or buzz bands in the scene,� Zombie says. “So hopefully, yeah, this will bring people over who might not spend much time there normally. We’ll close the second stage, and when we finish, then they’ll start the main stage, so you can see everything, if you’re up to the challenge.�

RAGE OFF: A lot of questions were raised with word that Chris Cornell had left the new band he formed with Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk. But one that may prove the most complicated to resolve concerns the contractual disposition of the band’s upcoming album.

The original arrangement had Epic Records (Rage’s label) releasing the record, with a planned eventual second record to come out through Interscope (Cornell records for the company’s A&M; label). Now there’s almost certainly not going to be a second. So what happens to the delicate inter-corporate arrangement?

As with everything else in this matter, the principal parties are not commenting. The buzz, though, is that from the beginning, the original contracts already had profits split. However, will Interscope be willing to let Epic have all the credit for releasing the album? Or maybe Interscope will be happy to let Epic have the album, given that there will be no active band to promote it.

HOLLYWOOD SWINGIN’: With a new $50-million global deal with EMI reportedly in hand, English superstar Robbie Williams is set for the U.S. launch of his Frank Sinatra tribute, “Swing When You’re Winning.� That album, which has sold 5 million copies worldwide, isn’t coming out here because it’s been available as an import since November, but Williams is releasing a DVD featuring his concert last year at London’s Royal Albert Hall. A theatrical screening is set for April 15 at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.

The DVD, due April 23, features live versions of all the songs from the “Swing� album, and a bonus video of Williams’ studio duet with Nicole Kidman on “Somethin’ Stupid,� the Frank and Nancy Sinatra hit. The concert portion includes an introduction and linking skits featuring Rupert Everett, an appearance by Jon Lovitz, and a Williams “duet� with old footage of Sinatra. Other bonus segments include a “making of� the concert, album and video features.

Williams, still seeking a U.S. breakthrough to give him a profile anything close to his mega-fame in most of the world, is starting work on his next album of original pop and rock songs.

SMALL FACES: Snoop Dogg is doing a new version of the old Parliament hit “We Got the Funk� for the upcoming movie “Undercover Brother.� Snoop is using the original recording for the framework and performing new rap verses, with original Parliament members Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell and Fred Wesley adding new instrumental tracks. The soundtrack album is due May 21 from Hollywood Records, with the movie opening May 31....

A mutual fan club met when the re-formed Breeders did a recent photo session for Flaunt magazine with photographer Kevin Kerslake, one of pop’s top video directors who has worked with Nirvana, the Smashing Pumpkins and the Rolling Stones, among many others. It turns out Kerslake named his company, Gigantic, after a Breeders song, and when it was mentioned that the group needed a director for the first video from its upcoming album “Title TK,� Kerslake offered to do it for a fraction of his usual fee. The album is due from Elektra Records on May 21, with the single, “Huffer,� due in late April....

Former ‘80s pop queen Tiffany, fresh from her Playboy magazine appearance, has shot a guest appearance on--what else?--Fox’s “That ‘80s Show.� She doesn’t sing but plays a punk-styled character in an episode scheduled for April 17.