Brian 'Head' Welch: There Was Too Much Drama Between Korn Band Members
Band Photo: Korn (?)
Guitar World magazine recently conducted an in-depth interview with former KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:
Guitar World: What triggered your decision to quit KORN?
Brian "Head" Welch: "When I started playing in KORN, I began drifting downward spiritually. I became addicted to drugs like methamphetamine. I became rich and famous, although I never thought of myself as a rock star or as being bigger and better than anyone. I loved music, but I found myself at the point where I wanted to die. I didn't care about life.
"I think I hit the bottom when my wife left me while I was on the road. She started partying, bailed out with some dudes, and took my money and left me with our daughter. Then I had to take my daughter on the road with me. The band agreed to pay my daughter a dollar every time someone cussed in front of her. Before I knew it, my daughter was making, like, $100 a day, and I told people to try to chill in front of her. She was getting excited about making all this money, and it wasn't working. I had to put my kid before my career and all the money I was making. I decided to do the right thing. I was dying inside. If I didn't have my daughter, I would be dead right now, for sure.
"On top of that, I got my heart broken over the last few years. My friends were starting to be mean to each other and started to hate each other. There was too much drama going on between all the members of KORN. One guy hated another guy's guts; one guy couldn't go into the dressing room when the other guy was in there; this other guy would gossip about another guy in the band. These dudes were 30 years old, and they would compete about getting the best chick. That came before their friendships. Some of them treat women like they're objects. I never felt like that.
"It just broke my heart, and I had to get away from it. I love them to death, but they know how bad it got. It's not their fault, but I couldn't do that any longer. My family at home fell apart, and my family on the road fell apart. I had nothing. I've had a big heart my whole life; all the KORN fans know that. A lot of people told me that I was different. I was about love my whole life. I wanted to go track love down because I lost it."
Guitar World: How did your separation from your wife affect you?
Brian "Head" Welch: "Things kept getting worse with my ex-wife. She had a couple of kids with two different dudes, and I wanted to kill her. I really thought about killing her a couple of times when I was heavy on drugs. I just wanted her dead. I thought she was worthless to this world. She was having all these babies and not even being a mom.
"As soon as I cleaned up I called her and told her that I was sorry for allowing drugs in my house. I feel like she wouldn't have gotten hooked on drugs if I had been a man and stood up and not let them in my house. It was my fault. I brought them home from tour. I told her that I was sorry, that I loved her and that we'd always be friends. She was in jail when I called her. She got busted for holding meth. I took my daughter to see her for the first time in four years. I documented it; I'm making a documentary about how my life has changed and how God produced all this stuff. It's the most beautiful thing. My ex-wife and I are best friends now. I can't believe it. He's put back together relationships that I thought I had lost forever."
Guitar World: You recorded a tribute to Dimebag Darrell. What inspired it?
Brian "Head" Welch: "Munky and I used to hang out with him in Dallas. He always told us that we needed to put solos on our records. Last November, when Munky and I were on tour with KORN, I reminded him of what Dimebag had said. I told him that we should put an instrumental guitar song on our next record. Of course, now I've left the band, so I decided to do that on my record instead. There's really no guitar on the record I'm making now. The only song that has any guitar is this one that I wrote for Dimebag. There aren't any words — it's just guitar solos, grabbing the emotions that I felt when he died. All the stuff that happened to him was so sad. It just talks to me; it says it all. The emotion of the song is crazy.
"That guy killed Dimebag just because he thought that Dimebag broke up PANTERA. Now me leaving KORN kinda puts a target on my back. But I'm not afraid. The peace and joy that I feel from this life give me peace with everything else. I could die today. I'm not afraid to die at all. Whatever my purpose is, I trust God to take care of it. I think I'm here to teach. A lot of people think that Christians are sissies, but it's not like that. It doesn't have to be like that anymore. Things are going to change."
Source: Blabbermouth
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157 Comments on "Welch: Too Much Drama Between Korn Band Members"
3. writes:
When I first heard that Head left the band to be a jesus freak I was like WTF but now that I heard about all the crap and drama, its no wonder he had to find some kinda spirituality or some stability in his life. My first choice wouldnt be god but I do see god as an option for turning someones life around. So if Head wants to turn his back on a band that is making him miserable, then so be it. He already has fame, money and all that, He doesnt need to fulfill anything else except his well being.
Member
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7. writes:
surprise surprise.
This kind of thing signifies the end of most bands, and Korn have been coming undone since Follow the Leader anyway. Drugs, egos, and $$$ are the ultimate test and it's obvious that Korn have been in freefall since 98. They need to put out a farewell record do a neverending adios tour and take a 13 year break like Motley Crue. Thats about the only way they can salvage their...."legacy" which if they had stopped at Issues or Untouchables might have been respectable.....
But this is going to be sad....sad in the same way that Metallica are, Janes Addiction were(half assed reunion disk and tour), and Smashing Pumpkins (most likely) will be.....all great bands, but their past the expiration date....Not everyone can fossilize like the Rollingstones and Aerosmith....even their more funny than cool and they "did" have some staying power.
Supporter
10. writes:
TO KORNFAN94... IF YOU KILL HIM, HE WILL HAVE ETERNAL PEACE IN HEAVEN WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY WON'T BE SAID ABOUT YOU, JUDGING BY YOUR STUPID PISTOL COMMENT. I AM A CHRISTIAN AND I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE JUDGEMENT ON YOU BY ME IS VERY HYPOCRITICAL. SO SHOOT ME , PISTOL BOY!
12. writes:
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18. writes:
I have no problem with Head quitting the band for whatever frickin' reason he wants, that is his choice, so be it. But when he goes on this 'crusade' to try to 'convert' people to his beliefs, then screw him. Let people find their own way. We don't need a$$ wipes like head to try to show us whatever way he 'thinks' is the path.
(I have no love for 'rap-artists' like 50 cent, but let the guy make his own decisions.)
Member
20. writes:
kornfan94 ... just shut the fukk up dude ... if you ever have a kid (which seems highly unlikely) you would realize that there is more important things than $$$ and fame and pleasing fans ... leaving for his daughter is just about the most respectable reason that he could use to abandon the band .... DID U READ THE ARTICLE ?? .... he was stuck with an 8 year old daughter, who had been abandoned by her mother, touring with korn ... GREAT FUKKIN PLACE FOR A KID HUH ? ... no ! ... before you speak think about how insignificant you are (as a korn fan) compared to his daughter ...
Former Contributor
21. writes:
well, not in so many words but I agree with deadmetal on this one. Your kid should supercede everything else in your life including "the band".........
Kornfan 94 your either the most childish adult I've come across online, or your the the most infantile teenager breathing.
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23. writes:
That would make you a bad parent to let the kid who might not even be old enough for gradeschool see all that sh**. You were still watching Mr. Rogers, or Barney the Dinosaur at that kids age. Not "KoRn Uncensored" like his daughter.
Kornfan your'e selfish, grow up.
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27. writes:
it was "her" daddy's new job .... JUST STOP FUKKING TALKING KORNFAN !! .... on tour with a rock band (especially a band that frequents groupies/hookers/drugs/alcohol) is probably considered legally negligent in some states ... you cannot expose a child to rampant drug abuse and sexual excursions and feel OK about it .... UNTIL you have a kid kornfan .... shut up ! ... it was very respectable that in his situation (making tons of $$$) he would leave the band to provide a better situation for his daughter ...
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28. writes:
KoRnFaN94 your opinion is your opinion but it's WRONG ! J.D's girlfriend is Porn Queen for Christ's sake.She's one of the ones I've never met so I can't comment on what she would or would not do in front of a child(I've seen a couple tapes she's quite nasty !) but that should speak volumes about the thing's they get up to on tour and backstage.It's no place for a child.
29. writes:
WHAT IS YOUR DEAL, KORNFAN? KORN CAN STILL CONTINUE W/O HEAD. YOUR NAME IS KORNFAN NOT HEAD FAN (ALTHOUGH I'M SURE YOU LOVE TO GIVE HEAD). I'M DUMBING MYSELF DOWN TO YOUR IGNORANT LEVEL BY USING A SIMILAR "HEAD" JOKE THAT YOU USED YESTERDAY. hOw Is ThIs FoR uSiNg ThE cApS lOcK bUtToN? YOU JUST NEED TO SHUT THE f*** UP. TO SCRIBB... I AM A CHRISTIAN AND I AM A SINNER. I DO NOT HIDE THE FACT.
Former Contributor
30. writes:
Youre not much into the aspect of life that is reading kornfan94....Head has a daughter not a son.
If your such a Korn fan and formerly such a fan of Head you might know that...
Im not even a fan of Korn...I have tremendous respect for their first 2 efforts but I think that was the best Korn really had to offer....Anything metal about their sound was streamlined for the masses on FTL just like Metallicas Black Album....Comparing those two bands is something that isnt smiled upon but the phenomenon holds true.....Like Hopesfall making "Satelite Years" a hardcore album and then selling out on "A-Types" with a pop-punk album.
Korn are done......and Head left for the right reasons whether I agree with his new mission or not..... He's doing whats right for his daughter and turning his back on all that money, which takes a bigger man than you Kornfan.
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48. writes:
HERE IS HOW IT IS:
Yes Head left. That sucks, but thats life.
He has a kid, which is dumb in the first place, but he had to leave
because he was/is crazy, hyped up on meth.
Korn kicks ass, but if they do some bull**** rap album,which
somewhat is close to the last albums PLAY ME
then i wont but it. Nu Metal is the sh**, and Rap is gay in general.
Am i the only *ucking one who is in this state of mind?
FUKK!
51. writes:
Well i totally agree with ur last sentence: U CANT KILL WHAT U DIDNT CREATE, head wasnt the heart of KoRN he play guitar wel enough but not amazing, so r Munkey, none of the band members except Silveria is especially good at his respective instrument. and sure Davis' scream of "AARE U RREADY?!" set the music world on fire!
54. writes:
At first i hated head but after reading his comments it makes alot of sense that he left. I would never want my child to be in that kind of situation especially after her whore of a mother left her with her druggie father. Yeah it angers me to know that he bailed out on his band but obviously there was more important sh** to handle then trying to stay rich and famous. And f*** that Korn is not going to die because Head left the band. f*** all you c*** suckers that believe that and have lost faith in Korn. They've been around long enough and have had platinum selling albums like Untouchables so they won't be going anywhere. Head does deserve respect, not for leaving the band but for being able to set his priorities straight. It would be very hyprocritical of us korn fans to say he never did any good for Korn. Yeah the last couple of albums Munky had to write his music ( Duce) but as we know Korn has kicked a$$ for this long and who knows maybe Head leaving will be an opportunity for Korn to replace Head with someone better. Do you know how hard it is to quit meth, leave your band that you have been with for over 15 years, and become a true father figure after living like a rockstar? Move away from your computers for a while and go live in the real f***in world. Don't be so quick to feel sorry for yourself when you have not lost anything but your morals, if you have any, for posting selfish comments such as he let us all down. He doesn't even f***in know who you are so stop all the b****ing becuase he's the one who lost almost everything he has worked for. Speak for yourself Jon is still here so they haven't let this korn kid down. My faith is still in Korn and always will be. f*** all the religion bullsh**, that;s what helped him out but music has always been my escape from pain and always will.
55. writes:
i was reading a comment strand where people were talking about how deftones brought us korn brought limp bizkit brought staind brought puddle of mud. have we forgotten about COLD?!..... im a big fan of korn always will be but lets not forget cold they are a kick @$$ band and shouldnt be left out of the chain of who's who ya know?
Former Contributor
56. writes:
hey Iammetal (post 48).......
Nu-metal has one foot steeped in hip-hop beat wise and for a couple years their vocals too!!!
Rap-metal (aka LimpBizkit, Linkin Park, (Hed)PE, Crazy Town, etc.) is hopelessly awful.
what I'm getting at is to love Nu-metal and hate hip-hops influcence on it kind of borders on hypocrisy.
Supporter
60. writes:
We listen to what we want. It doesnt matter what other people think. KoRn is a good band. My DAD took me to one of their concerts and it was awesome. Even without Head in the band, they are still making a new album. I dont know why though. KoRn isnt bad. And SOME of us know what were listening to. Not everyone is as stiff as you and sees kids as stupid and unintelligent.
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63. writes:
I think Dimebag would have rather quit banging out licks for fans than getting shot in the head by one while onstage-no less, his time has run out, your time is running out. The clock is atomic and it never stops ticking, That some day is on it's way and Brain is ready for it. Alot of the guy's we consider guitar hero's will be nashing their teeth in hell never to hear music again. Brian will be hearing music he's never known and as a master musician will be able to appreciate it more than us. I'm sure I'd let Brian down at some time and so would you, but God never will and that's a promise ........................
64. writes:
I would figure that the hardcore Korn fans would be the most understanding. I'm willing to bet most people start jammin cause it's f***in fun, not to impress people. So, yeah, leaving a band for your kid's well-being is pretty f***in cool.
As for the religious sh**. well... it's like music; some people dig it, some people don't. To me it's no worse than Metallica putting out the Black Album... which p***ed a lot of us off ... especially those of us who made it their first priority to check out the first airing of the video for Enter Sandman back in '91, the first thing they'd done since ...Justice... that was hard to swallow (which is a word I probably shouldn't use considering all the "head" jokes goin around).
But I digress... those of off p***ed at Metallica had to square with the fact that they're not here for us. Our devotion to a band is just a side effect of the undefinable "reality" that cool f***in music represents.
So go ahead and shoot him, see where that f***in gets you.
65. writes:
i've always like korn they are my favorite band, i think religion is stupid but, the way i think of this is that if head left for religion then it's a good thing he left because they wont have to have him there to mess up the music, and shoot down munky when he suggests a solo.
word.
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70. writes:
I think the deal is KORn had a way of grasping that edge of anger that Head himself finally got burned out on. Life can't just be about being p***ed off at every thing all the time or going around shooting people just because they quit jamming for you.... after all Head's not a trained munky......he's just chillin, Enjoying and taking a new road.........To me that's cool and I think that those of you who can't take it should just let it go.....remember bands always lose members, they break up, they fall apart. but sometimes a few of the members go on to become more and produce more.........so let it be............who know's this could really be the best thing that could of ever happened for Head and his little girl...............cause when you think about it half of what i've read here is coming from a bunch of village idiot's who I'm sure made him want to totally give up playing guitar anyhow....................................
75. writes:
78. writes:
Okay look..the leaving for the religion thing is fine..i dont see why Head cant be a christian and still be in the band..korn arent anti christ ..they never speak religion...ok and as far as his daughter..hes not the only single parent in america..find a nanny or a babysitter.
79. writes:
as for post 70, i mosly agree, because all in all no-matter what nothing is going to lead head back to korn but himself, and i dont think that he ever will at that , and does ANYONE know about a replacement yet? I have herd so many rumors none mean sh** to me.....They must have someone in mind because they are already setting up tour dates.....????
Supporter
82. writes:
Like many of us have already said Head doesn't f***in now any of us and probably doesn't give a f*** that fa**ots r talking sh**. He already knows where he stands. He left the band and became a Christian so what big f***in deal. Leave the guy alone as long as he doesn't try to brainwash everyone into his religion i'm straight and things are never going to change so i hope he knows he's not going to be anything bigger than what he was while he was in Korn.
84. writes:
Im not really a korn fan i dont mind a few songs, the ones with more of a metal element to them, im also not a religious person i dont believe in god or satan or anything not because i think its a fa**ot thing to beleive in but because i dont have time to spend on something that doesnt benifit my life at all. But i do have respect for brian in the fact that after all the years with korn, touring doing drugs fukin groupies, getting up to all sorts or sh** that he has managed to see a positive side to life and not ignore the fact that he has the reponsiblities of a father to consider, the repsponsiblities of raising another human being and teaching them the rights from wrongs ect ect
I know alot of us are drug users. drug dealers, in a band, play an instrument and are passionate about our preferred music but if you stop and think of how drugs and your own pasion to get your band goin takes up alot of your life and takes up a high priority in life image how hard it would of been for brian who had the millions of dollars to support his habits and lifestyle and to realise that he had had enough of that and that he had more important personal issues to deal with. Do you really think it woudl be easy to give up the fame and fortune and RESPECT of legions of Korn fans around the world, to give up a drug habit that would of done a fair amount of damage by now and turn your back on people who although maybe not now but once were your best friends, your family who you had shared every moment with since the first jam in some garage or reheral room or whatever.
I dont give a f*** if anyone wants to give me sh** about what ive said im just trying to point out that even the rich and famous arnt invicible, after all they are people aswell, peope with weaknesses and emotions.Brian would of known how many people he would piss off in making the choice he had but i do agree that taking care of your own offspring especially if she is someone he loves with all his heart would be more important that keeping million or 2 people he doesnt even know or give a f*** about happy, considering that in 10 years from now korn or no korn no-one will remember who he was, we will always remember korn as a band but not brian as an individual. and disagree with me or woteva but i think remember korn for the good the did rather than the bad is more important.
Each to their own.... \m/ \m/
Member
85. writes:
head in a interveiw on the news...
head:"feildy, out bass player from korn, sent me a text message saying, "are you positive with your decision, their gonna put u on mtv and everyone is gonna laugh at u"...and i text messaged him back saying.."i dont care if people are laughing at me.....god isnt laughing at me"
Former Contributor
86. writes:
well it was his call to make.....
here the way to look at it whether you love OR hate Korn.
For Korn fans:
This is likely the best thing for Korn....If Head wasn't feeling the music he was not going to be giving 110% to the bands next record, so why want him in the fold at all....Being bitter about him leaving is spending your time dwelling on something you can't change. "Move on", Korn are better off minus an axe-man than WITH one who isn't "feeling the music".
For Korn loathers:
Celebrate. The band you've been hating for X number of years is that much closer to packing it in and calling it a day. Laughing at Korn fans for being upset about this is like kicking a starving puppy whose ribs are showing, no good can come of it. As with the Korn kids..."Move on".
Former Contributor
88. writes:
heh.
Hate to burst your bubble friend but I actually own and like the first two Korn albums. I'm not too crazy about the albums that follow that, though "Untouchables" was decent. "Issues" was crap, "Take a look in the mirror" was septic sludge and "FTL" a deliberate attempt at the mighty cashin, was spotty at best.
I have every right to play "devils advocate" you whiney sack of sh**, stock up Kleenex or stop bawling.
91. writes:
will all I got's to say is that the man has a point in every thing. let him do his wisdom thang and get on with his life!!!!! That's some crapy bullsh** that the guy killed dime cuz he thought they broke up some f***ed up guy!!!!!!!!!!! stupid a$$ physco b**** will anyways rockk on dude and if you get sniped my love goes to you and dime!!!!!! L8ters!!!!!!!!!!!
RIP DIME WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
92. writes:
remembermetal? everyone in the f***ing world owns the first two korn albums, they were great original semi-heavy and a definite break from the garbage hair mtal that was out at the time. you are in fact not a true korn fan because you couldn't have called 75% of their albums crap if you actually really ever enjoyed korn. they essentially styaed the same and made minor changes to the music that reinvented the sound each time. go to hell if you don't like the new sh** and quit posting on the korn thread like you're a real korn fan. you're not !you are here to bag on korn fans just like all these other old f***ing b****es.
Former Contributor
94. writes:
I'm not a Korn fan....nor am I old unless youre ten which wouldnt surprise me....
I never said "75% of thier albums are crap" either you f***ing braindead vegetable.
I said 2 are crap ("Issues" and "Take a Look in the Mirror")....The lyrics were just plain bad.....rushed perhaps, since they spent next to no time making those records.
One is hit and miss ("Follow the Leader") and one is decent ("Untouchables")...Their debut was "classic" and "Life is peachy" was pretty well done.....
Bear in mind this is my opinion, not some fact you have to fume about and respond to.
Lastly one can be a fan of a band and HATE one or more of their albums....I consider myself a fan of Metallica but I know better than to throw my money away on "Load", "Reload" and "St. Anger".
I
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125. writes:
anyone that calls a korn fan gay, simply for the fact that they like korn, just reinforces the fact that you are an ignorant retarded b****. HAVE YOU EVER ACTUALLY HEARD A KORN ALBUM ?? while i much prefer slayer and anthrax to korn, if you listen to their lyrics you realize that your "i am really metal' act is just a farce, half of the songs are about jd getting ready to unleash some hell on someone that is trying to tear him down. SAME HERE. gaymadd (who must have absolutely no life by the way) is a piece of sh** brainless f*** and so is brokenwings and so is brad and so is angrystoner. YOU CAN ALL SUCK MY DIKK AND FUKKING LIKE IT !!
127. writes:
Hahaha! I've returned to read my fanmail. 13 did I ever say I liked Tori Amos? And
even if brad does like certain music he is more metal than half of the korntards that
post on this site. And before korn became a gangsta rap metal band I actually
had the first cd and life is peachy but after that there music became a hip hop tribute
to duran duran. Hey I told breaking benjamin how bad they suck and I wouldn't be
afraid to tell jd and co how much they are joke now. Later fukwads.
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132. writes:
Doesnt gangsta' rap involve hookers, drugs and babies in the cross fire???.....
I dont think Korn have said anything to that effect, might be funny if they did though....
If Korn are gangsta rap then Willie Nelson is black Metal and Pigdestroyer are polka. Pure and simple.
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138. writes:
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140. writes:
i keep coming to this site thinking or hoping for something new to be and it's just everybody dogging on a good band that they hate. why would you visit a message board and keep coming back to a band that you hate. this just like me going and doing nothing but talking on a kenny chesney mesageboard. we need real fans like kornfan and i
Former Contributor
142. writes:
Korn sucks. They are not metal. Never were and never will be. I don't know why this is even on a site called "Metal Underground". Oh, and another thing, nu-metel sucked and I and everyone I know know that its very close to finally dying. Just like hair metal and grunge. peace
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145. writes:
deadguy is just a loser f*** who has nothing better to do than f*** with people.
first he sighns on as fecies&fireworks to say how good korn is then he sighns on as DEADGUY and disses them.
you have no life no one will talk to you and girls won't f*** you oh well get use to it thats what the rest of your life looks like di ck head.
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1. SouthernGrind21 writes:
All i can say is Right on man, Do what you have to do.