Early career

Van Winkle's first foray into the music industry is the little-known album Hooked, released in 1989 on an independent label. Just 48,000 copies were sold, making it a rarity and something of a collector's item among fans.

Rebranded image

Van Winkle returned to music in 1994 with Mind Blowin'. His image had been changed to a dreadlocked, marijuana-obsessed, tattooed gangsta, insisting that his former sound and image had been pressed on him by his record company. Shifting public tastes in music and fashion, the perception that he had shifted his image to suit current trends, as well as the fallout from negative press in the interim between albums, led to the commercial failure of the album. On July 4, 1994, Van Winkle attempted to commit suicide and made another attempt later that same year, citing drug abuse and anxiety surrounding his flagging career.

Recent career

Van Winkle's latest album is Platinum Underground, released in August 2005. Containing some new material, some remakes of his older works, and a cover of the Destiny's Child song "Survivor", the album has received mixed reviews and limited sales. Along with the album's release, Van Winkle performed with Insane Clown Posse at Hallowicked 2005, during which he announced that he was now signed to their record label, Psychopathic Records. He also held a series of European concerts in November and December of the same year.

Trivia

• Catching up with... Vanilla Ice - Washington Post (February 17, 2006)

External links

• VanillaIce.com official website
• Dallas Music Guide Interview With Rob, Summer 2004
• Lyricsdir.com Lyrics to Vanilla Ice songs
• Vanillarama.com A collection of Vanilla Ice links
• Review of Cool As Ice movie with animated screenshots and video footage
• vanice.jpg Rob with his wallaroo
• Jim Carrey's impression of Vanilla Ice from the 1990-91 season of In Living Color
• Word to Your Wallaroo
• Vanilla Ice features an interview with Ice
• Vanilla Ice Polish fan site
• Rap Encyclopedia - Vanilla Ice