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 mentioned (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 stunned her. I used to be, like, ‘I am gonna leap 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 blokes. 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 dwell and here is among the finest 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 mentioned good day. After which, at that competition, I used to be simply gonna be sort of low key, possibly say hello to him after. However phrase acquired round that I used to be there, and I went and noticed ’em. They mentioned, ‘Come do the meet-and-greet with us.’ So I went and mentioned hello to followers. After which they mentioned, ‘Play some songs with us.’ I used to be, like, ‘No, man. I do not bear in mind all of the components. I would like pedals.’ They usually mentioned, ‘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 gang, ‘I would like a minute.’ Then he got here to me and mentioned, ‘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 most likely know if he wished me again. However I left in such a horrible approach that… It wasn’t horrible — it was bitter. And we have been all on medication besides Jonathan, which is humorous, however have been all on medication or alcohol — we have been all on each — and so once 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 difficult it on the facet and barely make it, and that is cool. And I am good with that.’ And I really feel like that is what plenty of the individuals within the Bible did; they did not have all of it simple. After which I used to be at dwelling and I bear in mind simply that Christ within 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 plenty of day without work or no matter. And in spite of everything that stuff occurred, I linked. And I bear in mind I had this few weeks at dwelling 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 sort 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 mentioned, ‘Hey, we’re doing a brand new album. No stress. You wanna come all the way 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 approach.’ 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 dwelling for a couple of extra days, and I remembered this man from South Africa got here to me in 2006 and he mentioned there’s gonna be a reconciliation with the blokes. And he mentioned there’s gonna be a name from James. And I nonetheless have that recording to this present day. Some man that noticed issues. And so I did not do it due to that, however it 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 exterior of KORN concert events and plenty 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 every kind of various issues — there have been just some issues we mentioned. And there it was. And subsequent factor you understand, 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 spotted that a complete new door opened and my complete life was modified.’
Welch added: “And so going again into it — the very last thing I am going to say — I used to be so drunk and tousled once I left for years. I needed to relearn what it was wish to be on stage in that huge 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 likelihood to be a rock star in a wholesome approach. [I’m] very grateful.”
Requested what the ripple impact has been since he rejoined KORN, Welch mentioned: “It is simply so clear across the environment 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 understand, is just like the quarterback, so we observe his lead quite a bit. However me and James are all concerning the enterprise a part of it. Jonathan needs nothing to do with it. He is, like, ‘You guys go do this. It is stressing me out.’ However creatively, within the studio and all the pieces, all of us honor and work collectively. And if there’s one thing that we have to change or do on the street or within the studio or one thing, even Jonathan, he’ll hear us and hear. And we have simply acquired large 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 acquired 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 conserving it going, rising it and rocking out with the followers. It is all concerning the followers. There isn’t any groupies. There isn’t any medication. There isn’t any partying backstage. Our drummer is the one one which drinks, and he drinks wine. He will get purple enamel each night time at, like, 1 a.m. In order that’s as loopy because it will get. It is all concerning the present.”
Welch chronicled his choice to depart KORN in his first e book, 2008’s “Save Me From Myself: How I Discovered God, Stop Korn, Kicked Medication, 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 Habit, Religion, Restoration And Korn”, detailed his struggles with drug and alcohol habit 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.