Once a raw metalcore quintet with a feverishly-high cult following in the early-mid 90's, Korn has become a widely recognized band with massive throngs of fans, a Grammy nomination last year, and a gold- selling follow up album, Life Is Peachy, (which debuted on the Billboards at #3). Perhaps most importantly, the Bakersfield, California band have carved a niche so successfully in alternativedom that they are a barometer by which other successor bands are compared to. It's appropriate then that Korn has officially heralded a new subsidiary record label under Reprise in late October. Now with this authority, Korn could now scout out other unique acts that they feel have potential.
Uniqueness was always a trademark for Korn's personality. The singer, Jonathan Davis, molds his lyrics on past personal, often traumatic, incidents and experiences, while the musicians - bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, guitarists Brian "Head" Welch and James "Munky" Shaffer and drummer David Silveria - match his angry, emotionally-riveting vocal deliveries with sheer electricity.
However they did not always have that characteristic sound.
Their pre-Korn outfit, LAPD, consisting of three of the five members (all except Davis and Head, who performed at only a few of their shows), played old-school funk-metal that gripped California and mainstream America in the late 80's-early 90's. "In Bakersfield, there was not much to do," drummer David Silveria told Circus Magazine last year, Silveria is the youngest member in the group and has performed occasionally with the Infectious Grooves and Sepultura. "We had only two choices, making music or [going] completely crazy. We decided we'd give the music a try, but I wouldn't bet money that we are not crazy."
Now that their original demo has been recently re-released on its original Triple-X label, new Korn listeners could get the full essence of what the majority of Korn sounded like before Davis joined the group in '93 - though they underwent another incarnation called Creep in between. The 11 tracks benefit from Fieldy's slap-bass lines (not as prominent yet), Munky's showman-like riffs and Silveria's excellent drumming on tunes like "St. Ides," "Don't Label Me" and "All My Life." With a back cover sporting a baby doll with pistol arms standing in front of an American flag, LAPD has the deadpan, occasionally morbid humor of their future incarnation. However LAPD vocalist Richard Morales doesn't have the distinct vocal phrasing that Davis would give the band.
With Davis' guy-wrenching performance - he could whimper, whisper, shout or rap all in one tune - it's easy to hear the true-life passion captured in his voice. Jonathan Davis was raised in an atmosphere of tension and depression. He was the only son to an actress and former big band keyboardist father who later divorced. The young Davis was passed from one household to the next. His time in high school wasn't more pleasant. His classmates, according to Davis, poked fun at him during his "glam" days when he wore makeup and flamboyant clothing to imitate favorite '80s stars, Duran Duran and A Flock Of Seagulls. They shouted derogatory terms that he was homosexual, an embarrassment which inspired or at least influenced Davis to later write "Faget" and "Clown" which are both on their 1994 self-titled platinum debut. He decided to participate in a paid internship at the Kern County coroner as an autopsy assistant. It's ironic that he would work in such a, cold field, contrary to the pent-up hurt he was feeling inside.
Once Davis became a part of Creep, all the jigsaw pieces fit. Davis was in his former group, Sex Art, for only two months before he was encouraged to audition for Creep. Within two weeks, they taped legendary demo versions of trademark songs like "Blind" and "Daddy". It wasn't long before the newly-titled Korn was signed by Immortal, a subsidiary of Epic Records.
The group is only four years old, yet has toured with a plethora of established acts that only another mainstay band could equal. Word spread about the band's explosive performances and eventually their shows became sold-out within minutes.
"It was all just grassroots, word-of-mouth shit through touring," Davis told Alternative Press, explaining their gradual popularity. "We remained true - we're not really in the mainstream, or the mainstream-alternative or whatever. A lot of the fans dig us because we're not like one of those bands."
Prior to the release of their sophomore effort, they supported 311, Primus, Danzig, Marilyn Manson and Ozzy Osbourne. Their highest-profile gig they landed was co-headlining this year's Lollapalooza festival. However, bad luck frowned on them just a few weeks into the summer trek when guitarist Munky caught a reported bout of viral meningitis. Korn cancelled the remainder of their dates and flew back home to regroup and compose new tracks.
After recuperating, Davis and Head participated in a video for Ibanez 7-string guitars, which also included segments with Steve Vai and Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit. Besides taking time off to enjoy the fruits of their hard labor, the band is scheduled to begin recording their new album anytime now for rumored release in February. With their new label to release albums next year, 1998 is bound to become the year of the Korn.
New Label To Test Korn Ears
Korn has formed a record label and plans to sign a number of acts. The first release will be from fellow Orange County, CA hard rockers Orgy, who are set to begin recording soon. The as-yet-unnamed label will be run by Korn along with its manager. Distribution will be through Reprise Records, although Korn will continue to record for Epic.
August
Korn guitarist Munky leaves hospital in early Aug. after he caught a reported bout of viral meningitis. Band withdraws from co-headlining stint on Lollapalooza '97.
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