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Korn Bassist Releasing Memoir "Got The Life"

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Band Photo: Korn (?)

Korn bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu is releasing a memoir of his life. Korn released the following statement about the upcoming book:

"FROM KORN’S LEGENDARY BASSIST COMES A NO-HOLDS-BARRED LOOK AT THE EXTREME HIGHS AND DRUG-AND-BOOZE-FUELED LOWS OF THE BIGGEST HEAVY METAL BAND OF OUR ERA

"Music was in his bones. From the time he was an infant, Fieldy watched his dad’s band perform, and soon enough he found his own calling: the bass. After high school, with a guitar and little else, he left his small California town for the music scene in L.A. Before long, Fieldy, Brian “Head” Welch, James “Munky” Shaffer, drummer David Silveria, and Jonathan Davis would gel together and form a band with a completely new sound—Korn. What happened next was something Fieldy had always dreamed of but was totally unprepared for: Korn exploded, skyrocketing to the top of the charts and fronting the nu metal phenomenon. Fieldy was thrust into the fast-paced, hard-rocking spotlight. Korn began to tour incessantly, creating intense live shows fueled by wild offstage antics. Fieldy became a rock star, and he acted like one, notorious not only for his one-of-a-kind bass lines, but also for his hard-partying, womanizing, bad-boy ways. The more drugs he took, the more booze he drank, the worse he became: He was unfaithful, abusive, mean, and sometimes violent.

"By all appearances, Fieldy had the life. But he was on the dark path of excess, alienating friends, families, and loved ones, nearly destroying himself and the band. It took an unexpected tragedy to straighten him out: the death of his father, a born again Christian, to a mysterious illness. Following his father’s dying wish, Fieldy found God. Filled with the spirit of his new faith, Fieldy quit drugs and drinking cold turkey, and found the best part of himself. With never-before-seen photos, and never-before-heard stories, Got the Life is raw, candid, and inspiring—the ultimate story of rock and redemption."

What's Next?


32 Comments on "Korn Bassist Releasing Memoir 'Got The Life'"

bbristowe's avatar

Member

1. bbristowe writes:

Sigh.....let's all band together and not buy this memoir. Lol korns legendary bassist.

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 2:55 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
xFiruath's avatar

Former Contributor

2. xFiruath writes:

I also had to giggle at the phrase "Biggest heavy metal band of our era."

And Jesus Christ, why are all of the members of this band slowly becoming Christians? Let that be a lesson to you kids - doing drugs leads to bad, bad things!

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 2:59 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Diamond Oz's avatar

Senior News Correspondent

3. Diamond Oz writes:

"Fieldy found God. Filled with the spirit of his new faith, Fieldy quit drugs and drinking cold turkey, and found the best part of himself"

Head 2: The Korn Fieldys

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 3:01 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Blindgreed1's avatar

Member

4. Blindgreed1 writes:

Wow! I never saw that comming.

Oz: Lol. You just lost your metal street cred! You big fat stupid head!

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 3:12 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

5. no one writes:

^ big fat stupid head! Best quote ever!
I keep thinking every time I hear about Fieldy finding god/religion, its a slam against Head. Like, hey I got god too, but I didn't quit the band.
I don't know. I really like the band, but I think they need to break it off for a while and maybe try again later on or something.

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 3:25 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Diamond Oz's avatar

Senior News Correspondent

6. Diamond Oz writes:

I thought it was a joke when I read it at first until I really thought about it. I don't really have a problem with people becoming Christians or finding a religion in general, I just don't like it when they try and force their beliefs on people which Fieldy doesn't seem to be doing so more power to him. I agree that Korn need to take a break from writing for awhile which I believe is happening. They're doing the festivals this year which is all well and good, I look forward to hearing Fieldy's new band Stillwell with Q Unique. Plus Jonathan Davis is doing a solo album and Munky's releasing his side project, Fear And The Nervous System's album this year.

Now listening: Limp Bizkit- Rollin' (my cred is gone now so what does it matter?)

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 3:32 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
xFiruath's avatar

Former Contributor

7. xFiruath writes:

^ Hah, I can see this awesome girly slapping match between Fieldy and Head with one going "You are going to hell because you still play the devil's music!" while the other goes "Nu uh, you are going to hell because you aren't following God's call to spread the word inside the lions' den!"

Actually, I retract my previous statement about doing tons of drugs leading to bad things. All you have to do is claim to have found God and then you can make loads of money selling your memoir. f***ing genius.

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 3:33 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
bassmaster!'s avatar

Member

8. bassmaster! writes:

thier not taking a break from writing at all. their about to do a new record with ross robinson and they said their gunna do a old school korn record like their fist 2 . sorry guys lol ,but Iam a korn fan it's cool me and the other fans!

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 3:54 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Blindgreed1's avatar

Member

9. Blindgreed1 writes:

Oz: Lol. Keep rollin' brother. Your metal street cred is good with me man.

BM: Every band that is on the skids say's that. Just look at that other band that came out with an album last year... Oh hell... What was their name again?... Oh yeah, Metallica. Did it sound anything like their first two albums? NOT. I honestly don't have anything against Korn, but they'll never reach the same level as their fist two albums. They're just not that hungry and pi$$ed off anymore.

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 4:06 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

10. zakkwylde writes:

limp bizkit still sucks c***!

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 7:57 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
cyanotic's avatar

Member

11. cyanotic writes:

Blindgreed: i agree, jonathan has gotten out his anger from his past in his early CDs and they all make crazy money now, so theres not much to be p***ed about. but i also think there's other inspiration that they can draw from, and grow as a band musicaly and lyricly. but yes i do fear that they wont stop when their ahead. i thought they had reached that point with "see you on the other side", but "Untitled" was okay (nothing compared to the early stuff)

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 8:14 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
KORNDOGG's avatar

Member

12. KORNDOGG writes:

Face it, they are the biggest band of our era! Period! They changed music forever. Not many bands do that. And im glad fieldy found god before the lifestyle killed him! But i agree that they dont have the hunger they once had! Not to many bands do once them dollars roll in! I mean i know they still enjoy making music, but its hard to find motivation when you have money falling out your ass!

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 8:30 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
psythe's avatar

Writer, Reviewer

13. psythe writes:

I just yawned. It was more exciting than this news story.

# Feb 12, 2009 @ 11:31 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
IrishMetal's avatar

Member

14. IrishMetal writes:

Post 12 - "biggest band of our era" - I lol'd, then I srsd.

Just no. That statement is complete bullsh1t

# Feb 13, 2009 @ 8:10 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Blindgreed1's avatar

Member

15. Blindgreed1 writes:

Irish: Lol. Changed music forever. Another classic KORNDOGG'ism.

KORNDOGG: Go on with yo bad self.

# Feb 13, 2009 @ 10:25 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Red's avatar

Member

16. Red writes:

Ladies and gentleman, we have another close minded idiot anti-Christian moron in this thread...he's easy to find and I wish him a brain...

# Feb 13, 2009 @ 10:40 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
KanadianKoRn's avatar

Member

17. KanadianKoRn writes:

LOL well i agree with OZ.... Atleast hes not forcing that stuff on anyone else, not to mention atleast he didnt quit the band to do so. I also agree they do need a break, KoRn will always be one of my favs, they hooked me early. I just hope they can come out with something that fulfills Davis's love for death metal. I would love that. Im interested in hearing what FATNS will be like, they were suppose to have the album ready last summer.

# Feb 13, 2009 @ 10:53 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Twitch_HateCrew's avatar

Member

18. Twitch_HateCrew writes:

LMAO!! I work at a bookstore and saw this like a year ago. It is STILL a f***ing riot. I didn't even know Fieldy can write! Ah well... what is a guy to do once his band goes down the f***ing tube.

# Feb 13, 2009 @ 4:16 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
psythe's avatar

Writer, Reviewer

19. psythe writes:

^He would'v commissioned a professional autobiographer to collaberate with him and write it for him. Most everyone does that.

# Feb 13, 2009 @ 10:33 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

20. Viki writes:

Did the bassist from Korn OD and die?

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 10:27 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

21. gllghl writes:

what? no.....

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 10:32 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Netromancer's avatar

Member

22. Netromancer writes:

Yeah, legendary. Wish I'd known that all I had to do was slap my strings against the fretboard to achieve that status.

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 10:36 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

23. viki writes:

Someone here at work said that and I panicked!! Thanks

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 10:43 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Leprosy101's avatar

Member

24. Leprosy101 writes:

if you really think about it fieldy is the most technical player in the band him and the original drummer david. They both had a good rhythm section going on Fieldy didnt always slap his bass he would switch off doing that and david had a lot of jazz influence in his work. Those two did a lot more than Munky and Head

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 10:54 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Netromancer's avatar

Member

25. Netromancer writes:

While I do agree, Leprosy, I still can't say that what he was doing was all THAT technical. David is a good drummer though, I'll give him that. Just saying "Legendary Bassist" is a bit of a stretch.

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 11:05 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
bananaterracottapie1's avatar

Member

26. bananaterracottapie1 writes:

#24 : Yeah man, I dig the 'chick-chika-click-chicka-churrrrrr' of 90's-era korn. Fieldy's good at conjuring up some foot-tappin' grooves, but its all drowned by Davis' school-girls moans and Munky's ultra-simple 3-chord guitar feces of today.

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 11:09 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
bananaterracottapie1's avatar

Member

27. bananaterracottapie1 writes:

And the book's gonna suck. Fieldy was never exactly the introspective type.

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 11:11 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Jackrum's avatar

Supporter

28. Jackrum writes:

dear korndog. im fairly sure that there are bigger bands, machine head, pantera slayer anthrax carcass type o negative, in fact most metal bands of the 90's who didnt decide to go crap.

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 11:20 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader

29. Jamez writes:

What annoyed me more than "legendary" or "the biggest Heavy Metal band of our era" was the usual crybaby stuff about alcohol and drugs. Right.... the same old story. Are we supposed to feel bad or pity for this guy for taking drugs and drinking like a fish? Who cares!! It's all up to you how u live your life. Cant be in a band without using drugs? Really? Blame yourself, you big baby

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 12:20 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Dark_Funeral's avatar

Member

30. Dark_Funeral writes:

you know i'd think becoming a bible thumping christian is just about as close to suicide as you can get, but that's just me..

np: 1349- sculptor of flesh

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 12:28 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
BrianSD's avatar

Member

31. BrianSD writes:

Yo Korndogg,
I'd say they are one of the bigger bands of our era, but not the biggest. When you say "our era" then I would say Metallica is because I'm 28 and last I checked Metallica has been playing sold out arenas since probably 1987, that includes extensive touring and album sales around the world. I will say that both bands seem to get worse as time goes on. I was only a fan of the first 2-3 Korn discs and Metallica has had couple decent songs on each disc since the self-titled.

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 4:47 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
BrianSD's avatar

Member

32. BrianSD writes:

oh yeah, i won't be reading the book.

# Feb 17, 2009 @ 4:47 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address

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