Rob Nicholson (musician)
Encyclopedia
Rob "Blasko" Nicholson is a Heavy metal
bassist
who was born on November 24, 1969. His influences include the metal bands Iron Maiden
, Motörhead, and Corrosion of Conformity
. Rob is perhaps best known for his performances on Rob Zombie
's solo albums, and is currently part of Ozzy Osbourne's band.
Began his career playing bass for the Santa Monica, California
based speed
/thrash metal
band, performing on several of their albums.
Sang lead vocals for thrash metal band, Killing Spree.
Sang lead vocals for Suffer.
Formed in 1987 by vocalist Lauren Boquette under the name Yesterday’s Tear, Drown became one of the top drawing bands in the early 90’s Los Angeles underground music scene. The line up was rounded out by Joseph Bishara (guitars/keyboards), Rob Nicholson (bass) and Todd Allen (drums) The music was the extreme opposite of the well known “sunset strip” scene going on in LA at the time. The band signed to Elektra Records in 93’ and 94’ saw the release of the debut album “Hold On To The Hollow”. Todd Allen was then replaced by drummer Marco Forcone and the band hit the road.
Joined the popular band Danzig in September 1997, but like his last band, he did not appear on any of their albums. Departure from the band in April 1998.
Toured with Rob Zombie
, where he began using the nickname "Blasko". He went on to play on three of Rob Zombie's solo albums (Hellbilly Deluxe
, The Sinister Urge
, & Educated Horses
).
Spent some time, while with Rob Zombie, to work on a side project with the founder of Coffin Case, Johnny Coffin. The band was composed of Johnny Coffin on lead guitar, Daniel Gray on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, DC on drums, and of course Blasko on Bass. The Soundtrack to Depression (their debut album) was released by Horror High.
In 2003, Blasko replaced Robert Trujillo
as Ozzy Osbourne
's bassist. After Ozzy's band rehearsed for a fall tour, Ozzy was injured in a bad ATV accident in October 2003. The fall tour was cancelled. After Ozzy's recovery, he performed with Black Sabbath
on Ozzfest 2004, and with Ozzy on select dates for Ozzfest 2006. Rob officially marked his membership in Ozzy Osbourne's band when he was featured as bassist on Osbourne's 9th studio album Black Rain
, which was released on May 22, 2007. Since then Rob has played for Ozzy on all live shows including Ozzfest tours, and notably on an American tour with Rob Zombie. He has followed that up with Ozzy's 10th studio album Scream
, released in 2010.
. He also produced their album We Stitch These Wounds
.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
who was born on November 24, 1969. His influences include the metal bands Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Motörhead, and Corrosion of Conformity
Corrosion of Conformity
Corrosion of Conformity is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina formed in 1982. For almost the majority of its existence, the band has consisted of guitarist Woody Weatherman, bassist Mike Dean , drummer Reed Mullin and vocalist and rhythm...
. Rob is perhaps best known for his performances on Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
's solo albums, and is currently part of Ozzy Osbourne's band.
Early years
- Cryptic SlaughterCryptic SlaughterCryptic Slaughter was a Santa Monica, California-based crossover thrash band.-Biography:Cryptic Slaughter was formed in 1984 by Les Evans , Scott Peterson and Adam Scott , who met through their mutual participation in the American Youth Soccer League . Soon they were joined by Bill Crooks , a...
1986-1988
Began his career playing bass for the Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
based speed
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
/thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band, performing on several of their albums.
- Killing Spree
Sang lead vocals for thrash metal band, Killing Spree.
- Suffer
Sang lead vocals for Suffer.
- Drown 1993-1994
Formed in 1987 by vocalist Lauren Boquette under the name Yesterday’s Tear, Drown became one of the top drawing bands in the early 90’s Los Angeles underground music scene. The line up was rounded out by Joseph Bishara (guitars/keyboards), Rob Nicholson (bass) and Todd Allen (drums) The music was the extreme opposite of the well known “sunset strip” scene going on in LA at the time. The band signed to Elektra Records in 93’ and 94’ saw the release of the debut album “Hold On To The Hollow”. Todd Allen was then replaced by drummer Marco Forcone and the band hit the road.
Danzig
- 1997-1998
Joined the popular band Danzig in September 1997, but like his last band, he did not appear on any of their albums. Departure from the band in April 1998.
Rob Zombie
- 1998-2006
Toured with Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
, where he began using the nickname "Blasko". He went on to play on three of Rob Zombie's solo albums (Hellbilly Deluxe
Hellbilly Deluxe
* Danny Lohner - Additional Guitar on Meet the Creeper.* Tommy Lee - Drums on Meet the Creeper.-Chart positions:AlbumSingles...
, The Sinister Urge
The Sinister Urge (album)
-Credits:* Tom Baker - Mastering* Evelyne Bennu - Female Vocals* Blasko - Bass* Dan Burns - Assistant Engineer* Chris Chaney - Additional Bass* Marina Chavez - Photos* Josh Freese - Additional Drums* Gary Grant - Horns* Emm Gryner - Female Vocals...
, & Educated Horses
Educated Horses
-Personnel:* Tom Baker - Mastering* Chris Baseford - Engineer* Blasko - Bass, Background Vocals* Kristin Burns - Photos* Tommy Clufetos - Drums, Background Vocals* Drew Fitgerald - Art Direction* Josh Freese - Additional Drums...
).
The Death Riders
- 2005
Spent some time, while with Rob Zombie, to work on a side project with the founder of Coffin Case, Johnny Coffin. The band was composed of Johnny Coffin on lead guitar, Daniel Gray on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, DC on drums, and of course Blasko on Bass. The Soundtrack to Depression (their debut album) was released by Horror High.
Ozzy Osbourne
- 2003-current
In 2003, Blasko replaced Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo is an American bassist who currently plays bass in Metallica. He has also played in Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society, and with Jerry Cantrell and Ozzy Osbourne.-Career:...
as Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
's bassist. After Ozzy's band rehearsed for a fall tour, Ozzy was injured in a bad ATV accident in October 2003. The fall tour was cancelled. After Ozzy's recovery, he performed with Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
on Ozzfest 2004, and with Ozzy on select dates for Ozzfest 2006. Rob officially marked his membership in Ozzy Osbourne's band when he was featured as bassist on Osbourne's 9th studio album Black Rain
Black Rain (Ozzy Osbourne album)
-'Tour Edition' disc 2:- Album sales :Black Rain debuted at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 152,000 copies in its first week; making it Osbourne's highest debut to date. It peaked at number 37 on the Australian ARIA Album Chart...
, which was released on May 22, 2007. Since then Rob has played for Ozzy on all live shows including Ozzfest tours, and notably on an American tour with Rob Zombie. He has followed that up with Ozzy's 10th studio album Scream
Black Rain (Ozzy Osbourne album)
-'Tour Edition' disc 2:- Album sales :Black Rain debuted at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 152,000 copies in its first week; making it Osbourne's highest debut to date. It peaked at number 37 on the Australian ARIA Album Chart...
, released in 2010.
Management
Blasko is currently the manager of the band Black Veil BridesBlack Veil Brides
Black Veil Brides is an American rock band based out of Hollywood, California. The group is composed of Andrew Biersack , Ashley Purdy , Jake Pitts , Jinxx , and Christian "CC" Coma...
. He also produced their album We Stitch These Wounds
We Stitch These Wounds
We Stitch These Wounds is the debut studio album by American band Black Veil Brides, released through StandBy Records on July 20, 2010...
.
With Cryptic Slaughter
- 1986: Convicted
- 1987: Money TalksMoney Talks (album)Released on Stax Records in the October of 1978 to capitalize on The Bar-Kays newfound success. This album would chart at number twenty one on the Billboard Soul Album charts...
- 1988: Stream of Consciousness
With Rob Zombie
- 1998: Hellbilly DeluxeHellbilly Deluxe* Danny Lohner - Additional Guitar on Meet the Creeper.* Tommy Lee - Drums on Meet the Creeper.-Chart positions:AlbumSingles...
- 1999: American Made Music to Strip ByAmerican Made Music to Strip By-Personnel:* Rob Zombie - Vocals, Lyricist, Producer, Art Direction* Scott Humphrey - Producer* Frank Gryner - Additional Engineering on Tracks 6 & 9* Riggs - Guitar* Blasko - Bass* Tempesta - Drums-Remixing:* Charlie Clouser - Tracks 1, 4, & 11...
- 2001: The Sinister UrgeThe Sinister Urge (album)-Credits:* Tom Baker - Mastering* Evelyne Bennu - Female Vocals* Blasko - Bass* Dan Burns - Assistant Engineer* Chris Chaney - Additional Bass* Marina Chavez - Photos* Josh Freese - Additional Drums* Gary Grant - Horns* Emm Gryner - Female Vocals...
- 2006: Educated HorsesEducated Horses-Personnel:* Tom Baker - Mastering* Chris Baseford - Engineer* Blasko - Bass, Background Vocals* Kristin Burns - Photos* Tommy Clufetos - Drums, Background Vocals* Drew Fitgerald - Art Direction* Josh Freese - Additional Drums...
With The Death Riders
- 2005: Soundtrack for Depression
- TBA: And Then Came the Rain...
With Ozzy Osbourne
- 2007: Black RainBlack Rain (Ozzy Osbourne album)-'Tour Edition' disc 2:- Album sales :Black Rain debuted at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 152,000 copies in its first week; making it Osbourne's highest debut to date. It peaked at number 37 on the Australian ARIA Album Chart...
- 2010: ScreamScream (Ozzy Osbourne album)-Tour Edition CD2:-Personnel:Musicians*Ozzy Osbourne – vocals, production*Gus G – guitars*Rob "Blasko" Nicholson – bass*Tommy Clufetos – drums, percussion*Adam Wakeman – keyboardsAdditional personnel*Kevin Churko – production, engineering, mixing...