Band Photo: Korn
From:
Bakersfield,
CA,
United States
Last Known Status: Active
Background
As a kid, Fieldy spent much of his adolescence "standing around in dirt fields, drinking beer, watching other kids fight." At some point, Fieldy and some friends decided their time would be better spent taking out their frustrations on musical instruments instead. And rock music would never be the same.
So Fieldy, James "Munky" Shaffer, David Silveria, Brian "Head" Wetch, and eventually, an assistant coroner with a troubled past named Jonathan Davis left Bakersfield for Los Angeles and collectively became known as Korn. It helped that they all had common influneces - the angry, urban stylings of hip-hip, the heavy, riff-driven angst of metal. But the sounds emanating from this band's Huntington Beach rehearsal space would soon set an entirely fresh musical precedent and set off a wave of imitators that eventually threatened to engulf the band itself.
After touring for nearly two years, Korn was signed by Immortal and released their now-classic eponymous 1994 debut. Korn opened with the prophetic, gravel-throated challenge "Are you ready?!" before kicking into the heaviest guitar sound yet heard in rock, thanks to the team of Shaffer and Welch, who tuned their already-low 7-string guitars even lower and played with no regard for the traditional harmonic consonance. The sound was metallica sludge, but tempered oddly by bassist Fieldy and drummer Silveria, who added a mix of porn-soundtrack funk and hip-hop rhythms tha was puzzlingly aggressive and chill. Next, nursery rhyme-like melodies were woven into the dark mix, helping make Korn the creepiest, heaviest debut since Black Sabbath. But Davis had no desire to sing about devils and witches; he was busy exorcising real-life demons. Songs such as "Faget" and "Shoots and Ladders" were discomfortingly personal confessions of shattered childhood, and by album's end Davis was literally in tears in the harrowing "Daddy."
And so they began to amass a following that would send their next album, 1996's brutal yet cheekily titled "Life is Peachy," into platinum sales. Years of touring followed again as the band fortified its fan-base to the degree that their next album, 1998's "Follow the Leader," would debut at No. 1 on the Billboard's Top 200, as would "Issues."
Latest Korn News
Brian "Head" Welch Recording New Album
Former Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch and his band are in Nashville recording their next album with Grammy-nominated producer Rob Graves (RED, Pillar). The album is targeted for completion February 2010, with a release shortly thereafter on his Driven Music Group label (with distribution through Ryko/Warner Music Group).
“The production on our new record is going awesome with Rob Graves,” said Welch. “Our goal is to get the record completely mixed and mastered by the first part of February, and released immediately thereafter. My band is together, helping with the recording, and we will be ready for a full U.S. tour beginning early next year.”
Earlier this year, HEAD announced that he had chosen his bandmates—Michael Valentine (bass); Scott Von Heldt (guitars); Ralph Patlan (guitars); Brian Ruedy (keyboards, programming) and Dan Johnson (drums). The band toured lightly in 2009; but is ready to hit the road full time in 2010.
In 2007, HEAD penned a New York Times best-selling (non-fiction) autobiography, “Save Me From Myself” (Harper Collins). HEAD’s debut album, also entitled SAVE ME FROM MYSELF, was released on September 9, 2008 with Driven Music Group, through Ryko Distribution/Warner Music Group, Word Entertainment (Christian market), and Warner Music International (ADA Global—Canada). The album debuted at #13 on Billboard’s “Top Hard Rock Albums” chart, and continues to impact the market.
Droid Confirmed For Halos N' Horns Fest
In addition to Korn being confirmed, Droid, the Long Beach, California metal band signed to Munky's label, Emotional Syphon Recordings, has been added to the bill of California's Halos N' Horns Fest.
Once again, here are the show details:
October 30th 2009
Hails & Horns Fest
Orange County Fairgrounds Event Center
Costa Mesa, CA
Doors: 2pm
Show Time: 5pm
Droid : 7.45pm
Korn: 9pm
All Ages
Korn Confirmed For Halos N' Horns Fest
Korn has been confirmed for the Halos N' Horns Fest in Costa Mesa, Californing at the end of this month. Here are the show details:
October 30th 2009
Hails & Horns Fest
Orange County Fairgrounds Event Center
Costa Mesa, CA
Doors: 2pm
Show Time: 5pm
Korn: 9pm
All Ages
Tickets are on sale now.
Korn Announces Garden Of Children Benefit
Korn has announced their involvement in The Garden of Childhood benefit concert. The show is an exclusive and intimate Korn concert with limited, reserved seating (450 tickets), pre-concert complimentray hors d'oeuvres and drinks. Proceeds benefit local preschool program, The Garden of Childhood. Here are the details:
October 24th 2009
Pepperdine Smothers Theatre
24255 Pacfic Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265
8.00 pm : showtime
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm : reception with drinks and hors d'oeuvres (no alcohol)
Tickets prices :
-general admission : $150 (448 seats)
-limited "pit" seating : $250 (50 seats)
Tickets are on sale now through ticketmaster.com as well as at the Pepperdine Center for the Arts box office (310.506.4522).
Meet and Greet passes are available for premium (Korn.com) members.
Korn Reveals Digital EP #1 Tracklisting
Korn has announced the tracklisting for the first free digital EP to be exclusively released to the premium members of Korn.com (sign up here) on September 28th.
1. Korn 11 (instrumental demo from the new album)
2. Starting Over early demo (Jonathan Davis and Atticus Ross)
3. Another Brick In The Wall extended version (recorded live at the Quart Festival in Kristiansand, Norway July 3rd 2009) (mixed by Jim 'Bud' Monti)
Brian "Head" Welch Responds To Munky's Comments
In light of the recent interview that went online where Korn's James “Munky” Shaffer states that the band said "No thanks" to the return of Brian "Head" Welch to the band, Head has released a statement of his own:
"I recently learned of an interview that Munky gave where he said that I came to KoRn and asked to be taken back in the band. That's definitely not a complete and accurate picture. The full truth is that for about a year, ever since Jonathan publicly said he wanted me back in KoRn, KoRn's managers have been requesting my manager to work on getting me back into KoRn. The calls were initiated by KoRn's managers, not my manager. I shut the door on their requests many, many times over the last several months, through my manager. However, Fieldy personally called me during KoRn's last tour in Europe and we talked as friends for a long time. He also told me if I ever wanted to rejoin KoRn, or open for KoRn as a solo artist, the door was always open. Since Fieldy is sober now and a Christian like me, I thought it may be a good idea to visit with Fieldy, a friend of mine, to see what he was up to and what it was all about. I had a great time re-connecting with Fieldy. I mainly went to his house to connect with an old friend. The KoRn stuff we talked about was secondary, but it was discussed. Fieldy thought that Jonathan, Munky, and I should all meet AS FRIENDS; re-connect; and maybe discuss the possibilities. Both Jonathan and Munky refused that meeting. I learned a lot visiting with Fieldy. I learned that I love and miss my friends, but the visit confirmed to me that I have a different calling in life than to reconnect musically/professionally.
"As far as Munky's comment that 'everything has been divided already' that is also not accurate. In fact, from January 2005 when I left, and for the next 4 years, KoRn failed to pay to me royalties that were due to me on records that I did with them. However, I don't believe this was done intentionally. We are trying to be patient and work with their management to get the financial issues resolved so that 'everything can be divided as we agreed long ago in our contracts.' I am optimistic that we can resolve it as friends.
"I continue to wish nothing but the best for KoRn, and that includes all of my friends there--Fieldy, Jonathan and Munky."
Headline News
Korn Tells Head "No" To Coming Back To The Band
At the Sunset Strip Music Fest this past weekend, Altitude TV down with Korn guitarist Munky for an exclusive interview. In part one Munky was asked about a possible Korn reunion. Munky stated that former guitarist Brian “Head” Welch recently asked to come back to the band….and they said NO THANKS!. Also Munky talks what happened to original drummer David Silveria. Check out the video clip below.
UPDATE: Brian "Head" Welch responds.
Korn's Fieldy Organizes "A Song For Chi"
As you may know, Chi Cheng, bass player for the Deftones, is currently in a semi-conscious state following an automobile accident in Santa Clara, CA on November 4th, 2008. Chi is slowly making progress but he needs your help.
Fieldy has organized an amazing cast of musicians from Machine Head, Metallica, Korn, Hatebreed, Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Sevendust and more to record an epic song for Chi.
You can help support Chi and his family by heading over to the A Song For Chi site where you can download your free copy of the song, watch the music video and make a donation. 100% of your donation will go to Chi and his family to help cover his ongoing medical expenses.
"A Song For Chi" featuring Jim Root (Slipknot), Sid (Slipknot), Ray Luzier (Korn), Fieldy (Korn), Dave Mc Clain (Machine Head), Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Clint Lowery (Sevendust), Morgan Rose (Sevendust), Brian "Head" Welch (formerly of Korn), Munky (Korn), Wayne Lozinak (Hatebreed), Wuv (POD), Mike Wengren (Disturbed) and Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage). The song was produced by Fieldy (Korn) and Q (Stillwell), engineered by Q (Stillwell) and Ralph Patlan, and mixed by Jim "Bud" Monti. The video, which can be seen below, was directed by Sébastien Paquet.
"A Song For Chi" Music Video
Korn To Release Exclusive Digital EPs
Korn will be releasing a free exclusive digital EP four times a year to the Premium Members of Korn.com. The first EP, to be released in early September, will feature a rough instrumental demo from the band's upcoming studio album, amongst other previously unreleased tracks. Stay tuned for more information.
You can sign up here to become a Premium Member. (If you haven't yet registered with Modlife you'll be asked to do that first, before signing up for your Premium Membership.)
Korn Added to Sunset Strip Music Festival Lineup
The second annual SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL (SSMF)--set for September 10-12, 2009--has announced the addition of KORN to the line-up for their first Los Angeles performance in two years. Fresh off their sold out European tour, the band will join CHRIS CORNELL as co-headliner for the Saturday, September 12 street festival where for the first time The Sunset Strip (between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Blvd.) will be closed to host two concert stages and is expected to draw 10,000 people.
"Although we're all from Bakersfield, the Sunset Strip is really where it all came together for Korn. It's where we had our first breakthrough gigs," states KORN frontman Jonathan Davis. "We are really excited to be the first to headline a Festival right on the Sunset Strip and we intend on making it something fans remember for a long time!"
West Hollywood's Sunset Strip has birthed countless music and entertainment careers, and it continues to blaze its own path as leading destination with a vibrant and entertaining landscape. The Strip's six signature music venues the Cat Club, House of Blues, Key Club, The Roxy Theatre, Viper Room and Whisky A Go-Go will host dozens of various musical acts (exact venue schedules to be announced soon) in addition to the aforementioned Strip street closure on the closing day of the festival. A wide variety of ticket options are on sale via Ticketmaster.
Meanwhile, the new Andaz West Hollywood has signed on to be the host hotel for the SSMF. The state-of-the-art luxury hotel enjoys a rich heritage as the legendary "Rock and Roll Hotel" on the Sunset Strip that has hosted musical talent from around the world for over 50 years. Michel Morauw, Andaz GM states, "At Andaz West Hollywood, we are particularly proud to partner with the Sunset Strip Music Festival. There is no better occasion to celebrate the music history of this hotel and the Sunset Strip."
For more information on the festival, check out sunsetstripmusicfestival.com.
Older Korn News
Note: We began associating news directly with bands in late 2003. Therefore, earlier Korn news from Metal Underground.com may not be listed on this page.
