Rob Nicholson (musician)
The steady, low-end force behind some of hard rock and metal's most theatrical frontmen, from Ozzy Osbourne to Rob Zombie.
Born 1969 (age 57)·American bassist·Birthday: November 24·Generation X
Biography
Known to the metal world as Blasko, Rob Nicholson built a career not on flashy solos, but on providing the unshakeable rhythmic foundation for larger-than-life performers. His path wound through thrash with Cryptic Slaughter before landing him the coveted role as Ozzy Osbourne's touring bassist, a gig that placed him in the heart of heavy metal's aristocracy. His most enduring partnership, however, has been with shock-rocker turned filmmaker Rob Zombie, whose macabre carnival of sound relies on Nicholson's locked-in, driving bass lines. Beyond performing, Nicholson has leveraged his industry savvy into management, guiding the career of bands like Black Veil Brides, proving his understanding of the music business extends far beyond the stage.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rob was born in 1969, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the touring bassist for Ozzy Osbourne from 2003 to 2010.
- Has been the full-time bassist for Rob Zombie since 2006, appearing on multiple albums and tours.
- Managed the band Black Veil Brides, helping guide their commercial success.
Did You Know?
He got his stage name 'Blasko' from a character in the 1931 film 'Dracula'.
He was a member of the crossover thrash band Cryptic Slaughter in the late 1980s.
He has a side project called 'Blasko' where he handles vocals and guitar.
“The bass is the anchor; it's my job to hold the ship steady in the storm.”
