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Black Cats, Dark Metal: Rock-Star Bassist Blasko Discusses His Cat Advocacy [Exclusive]

Blasko discusses the stigma surrounding black cats, the realities of pet ownership, and his mission to help rescue abandoned animals.

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Mr. Rob “Blasko” is a Renaissance man, whose many hats over the years have included rock star, hugely successful manager, music career coach, entrepreneur, marketing wizard, and so forth. As arguably one of the finest and coolest bassists in metal, he currently lends his supremacy to Rob Zombie, though he is also revered for his involvement with Cryptic Slaughter, Danzig, Prong, and the immortal Ozzy Osbourne. However, today, we are celebrating Blasko’s heroic and tireless efforts to ensure the best lives possible for cats. As we thank Blasko for his advocacy, we hope that his exemplary devotion will inspire readers.

In 2019, Blasko became the recipient of the Advocacy Award at Kitten Rescue’s annual fundraiser and gala, Fur Ball. Radio personality Jason Ellis introduced him that glorious evening, which was attended by heavyweights, as actress Miranda Cosgrove, ex-Deep Purple’s Glenn Hughes, Gloria Butler, and the Black Sabbath co-founding legend Geezer Butler. The Butlers were honored with the very same award in 2016, and their ongoing altruistic deeds in service of animals have been endless. The charitable power couple actually connected Blasko with Kitten Rescue — Blasko now sits on this LA-based organization’s Board of Directors. Blasko’s friend Rob Halford of Judas Priest is yet another icon championing Kitten Rescue and proving that cats are born “Rocka Rolla[s].” As we will explore, Blasko has assumed the special role of black cat advocate, which, as he points out, fits perfectly with his dark brand.

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to catch up with the kind and humble Blasko, who proudly states, “The Fur Ball just happened [on October 3], and that was a great success, as always. So, we feel very-very happy about that. It’s a big moment for us each year. There’s obviously a stigma attached to black cats. A lot of it stems from their association with witches and black magic in folklore. The stigma carries over into other kinds of adoptable pets — black dogs tend to be the last ones adopted, which is ridiculous. One reason is that people seem to think they don’t show up well in photos, and we’re living in a social media world, where everything is all about documenting your life — the fact that’s even a consideration is difficult for me to wrap my head around. If anyone has ever seen photos of my black cat, they’re amazing. […] Cats don’t pick the color of their fur, and at the end of the day, they’re still just cats. If you want one, what color it is really has no bearing on how it interacts with humans.” Blasko’s photos prove that black cats are, in fact, dangerous, but only in their bewitching adorableness.

The lethal hired gun onstage and lifesaver offstage praises his rescue community, “We have such a big network of TNR volunteers, who trap out of the love of doing it and protecting the cat colonies in their neighborhoods. There’s so much that goes into that sort of work. It’s really commendable. I stand on the shoulders of giants in that regard. Kitten Rescue and Heaven on Earth, the other rescue I work with, are non-profit organizations that rely on support from the community — foster families and donations. It’s very important that people support them, whether from a financial standpoint or a volunteer standpoint, because cats do come to us in various stages. Sometimes, they can be rehabilitated and are ready for adoption, and........

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