02) Longtime Rob Zombie bassist Piggy D exits as Blasko returns

On January 30th, longtime bassist Matt Montgomery, known as Piggy D., announced his departure from Rob Zombie’s band. After being with the group for eighteen years, this marked an overall end of the Piggy D era.

Piggy D shared on his private Instagram account the following:

 “Dear Friends. My time with Zombie has come to an end. It was an honor to entertain you for the last 18 years. I look forward to the future and wish everyone the best. Peace & Love, Matt Montgomery aka Count D., Piggy D., Giggles.”

Shortly after this announcement, Rob Zombie welcomed back bassist Rob “Blasko” Nicholson. 

Zombie expressed:

“After 18 years I am thrilled to announce that Blasko has returned. The original four-string Zombie monster is back. Get ready for a crazy summer of mayhem.”

Nicholson previously played with the band from 1997 to 2006, featured in albums Hellbilly Deluxe, The Sinister Urge, and Educated Horses. Nicholson left Rob Zombie back in 2006 to join Ozzy Osbourne’s band. Piggy D picked up the pieces and made his first live debut on May 24, 2006, during CBS’s Late Night Show with David Letterman. Over the last eighteen years, Piggy D. played bass for longer album titles, Hellbilly Deluxe 2, Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor, The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser, and The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy. 

This hasn’t been the first lineup shuffle for Rob Zombie’s band. In late 2022, John 5 left the group to join Motley Crue replacing Mick Mars. The group has since recruited guitarist Mike Riggs to replace John 5.