In a model new interview with Jackson, Mississippi’s Rock 93.1 radio station, KORN guitarist Brian “Head” Welch — a former drug addict and reformed Christian — spoke about what it was like rejoining the band in early 2013, eight years after first leaving the group. He stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I used to be on tour with P.O.D. [in 2012] I used to be opening for them with my different band. They usually had a competition and KORN was taking part in, [as was] EVANESCENCE, all these bands. My daughter was with me. She was 12. So I shocked her. I used to be, like, ‘I am gonna bounce on P.O.D.‘s bus and go to the competition,’ as a result of we had a time off. My band wasn’t taking part in. P.O.D. tour simply occurred to go by that competition to play actual fast. And we went in, and I used to be, like, ‘That is loopy,’ ‘trigger I hadn’t actually seen the fellows. I would seen Jonathan [Davis, KORN singer] a month earlier than that. He got here to observe me sing in my band. I am, like, ‘That is horrible. I can barely sing reside and here is top-of-the-line singers on the market watching me.’ And I used to be so nervous and embarrassed. However we hadn’t seen one another in seven years or one thing, so we simply cried and stated howdy. After which, at that competition, I used to be simply gonna be type of low key, perhaps say hello to him after. However phrase obtained round that I used to be there, and I went and noticed ’em. They stated, ‘Come do the meet-and-greet with us.’ So I went and stated hello to followers. After which they stated, ‘Play some songs with us.’ I used to be, like, ‘No, man. I do not keep in mind all of the elements. I would like pedals.’ They usually stated, ‘Simply play one. Play ‘Blind’ with us.’ I used to be, like, ‘Cool.’ And I performed it, and the entire place simply… It was simply this emotional factor led by Jonathan, ‘trigger he had his brothers that he knew since childhood on stage. So he broke down and advised the group, ‘I would like a minute.’ Then he got here to me and stated, ‘If that is the final reminiscence you gave me, thanks for this reminiscence.’ ‘Trigger he did not assume, ‘Oh, that is it. He is coming again.’ Or he did not in all probability know if he wished me again. However I left in such a horrible means that… It wasn’t horrible — it was bitter. And we have been all on medicine besides Jonathan, which is humorous, however have been all on medicine or alcohol — we have been all on each — and so after I left, it was actually ugly. And so I felt it was closure to do this one present with them. And I am, like, ‘Okay, cool. I am gonna go tough and hard it on the aspect and barely make it, and that is cool. And I am good with that.’ And I really feel like that is what a number of the folks within the Bible did; they did not have all of it straightforward. After which I used to be at residence and I keep in mind simply that Christ inside you that got here to disclose that.”
Brian continued: “There’s seasons in my life the place I simply go deep and I attempt to join, when I’ve a number of day off or no matter. And in spite of everything that stuff occurred, I linked. And I keep in mind I had this few weeks at residence the place he felt so near me. And it was one of many longest seasons of experiencing that closeness with Christ. And that is when he unfolded issues to me, like begin breaking type of faith off of me. Like, ‘You do not have to do precisely what the disciples did within the Bible and make your life depressing.’ And that is when Munky [James Shaffer, KORN guitarist] referred to as me. And he stated, ‘Hey, we’re doing a brand new album. No strain. You wanna come right down to see what occurs? No expectation, nothing.’ I used to be, like, ‘Thanks, man, a lot, however I really feel like I wanna go this different means.’ And he goes, ‘In the event you change your thoughts, name us. It is good to see you.’ After which I used to be at residence for a couple of extra days, and I remembered this man from South Africa got here to me in 2006 and he stated there’s gonna be a reconciliation with the fellows. And he stated there’s gonna be a name from James. And I nonetheless have that recording to today. Some man that noticed issues. And so I did not do it due to that, but it surely did make me curious — much more curious. I did it as a result of I used to be simply praying and I felt like God was, like… Lots of people, all they know is the horrible faith. There’s imply avenue preachers outdoors of KORN concert events and a number of followers simply know that. Now what can I do to go present love? And so I begin opening up, and increase. I referred to as them. We agreed on all types of various issues — there have been only a few issues we mentioned. And there it was. And subsequent factor you recognize, I am within the studio writing with them, and we’re one another and I used to be, like, ‘That is actually gonna occur, huh?’ And he was, like, ‘Yeah, it is on. That is loopy.’ And so I noticed that an entire new door opened and my complete life was modified.’
Welch added: “And so going again into it — the very last thing I will say — I used to be so drunk and tousled after I left for years. I needed to relearn what it was prefer to be on stage in that massive a capability tour and do a file, do press, begin doing extra TV, all that stuff. It was like I forgot the previous. It was cloudy — it was very cloudy — ‘trigger I used to be so tousled. So it was, like, I used to be given a second probability to be a rock star in a wholesome means. [I’m] very grateful.”
Requested what the ripple impact has been since he rejoined KORN, Welch stated: “It is simply so clear across the ambiance of KORN. We simply have a lot honor and respect for one another. It is, like, all people listens to one another. Now Jonathan, as you recognize, is just like the quarterback, so we comply with his lead quite a bit. However me and James are all in regards to the enterprise a part of it. Jonathan desires nothing to do with it. He is, like, ‘You guys go try this. It is stressing me out.’ However creatively, within the studio and every thing, all of us honor and work collectively. And if there’s one thing that we have to change or do on the highway or within the studio or one thing, even Jonathan, he’ll hear us and hear. And we have simply obtained huge respect. And Ray [Luzier], the drummer, he is simply by no means an issue — ever. And [bassist] Fieldy‘s [Reginald Arvizu] been out of the band since, like, 2020, and he is simply specializing in household. So we obtained this man, [Roberto] ‘Ra’ Díaz, one other wonderful South American man [with the] coolest accent ever. Very, very humble. And so it simply feels actually clear and mature. And it is all about this band that we created and preserving it going, rising it and rocking out with the followers. It is all in regards to the followers. There isn’t any groupies. There isn’t any medicine. There isn’t any partying backstage. Our drummer is the one one which drinks, and he drinks wine. He will get purple enamel each evening at, like, 1 a.m. In order that’s as loopy because it will get. It is all in regards to the present.”
Welch chronicled his resolution to depart KORN in his first guide, 2008’s “Save Me From Myself: How I Discovered God, Stop Korn, Kicked Medicine, And Lived To Inform My Story”.
Each Welch and Arvizu have had extremely public, although separate, conversion experiences, ones which have been greeted with a specific amount of skepticism.
Fieldy‘s 2009 memoir, “Received The Life: My Journey Of Dependancy, Religion, Restoration And Korn”, detailed his struggles with drug and alcohol dependancy throughout KORN‘s early years and the way he grew to become a born-again Christian to assist get his life collectively and get sober.
