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KORN
Korn: a word familiar to most youth for their hard edged, honest sound.
This California based band has made a huge impact on the music scene
throughout the 1990s.
The popularity of Korn is the result of their ability to express to their fans
devotion to music through relentless touring and their way to convey
messages and feelings about issues of abuse and coming of age in todays
society.
The members of Korn; Jon Davis (vocals), Brian “Head” Welch (guitar),
James “Munky” Schaffer (guitar), Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu (bass), and David
Silveria (drums) all grew up in Bakersfield, CA. Brian and Fieldy grew up
together, attending the same school in Bakersfield. The two guys formed a
band and recruited a friend of Brian, James “Munky” Schaffer who started
playing the guitar because of a three-wheeler accident that left him with a
nearly severed finger. He was told to pick up an instrument to help rehabilitate
the finger. He learned to guitar with the aid of Brian. The trio played together
from an early age, but were still “old” compared to the 13 year old who left a
message on Fieldy’s awnsering machine. “You guys need a drummer?” The band
underestimated David’s talents until he auditioned for the band. They were very
impressed, and soon after David was added to the roster.
The three guys started the group L.A.P.D., with the lead vocalist being a
guy by the name of Richard Morales. L.A.P.D. released two albums, but neither
of them were recognized. RIchard soon left the group, and the band broke up.
The remaining three guys still wanted to have a band, and asked Brian to play
with them. They were soon on the lookout for a new lead vocalist.
David was singing with his band, SexArt in a local club. Munky and Brian
were on their way out the door when Jon started to sing, they both turned
around, amazed by what they were hearing. They contacted Jon who was
worried about whether or not to audition. He went to a physic and she told him
he would be stupid not to try out, so he did. Before Jon finished his first song
with the group, all of the band members say that they knew they were fated to
work together.
The mixture of sounds was set to change music. The name “Korn” was
just an idea thrown out by Jon. The group decided on the stupid name because
“Korn is a stupid name, but the music is what makes it cool.” David says. Korn
went on playing local gigs until they were spotted by Epic/immortal records.
After that, the group received many signing offers, but they decided to go with
Immortal because they did not want to sign away their freedom with a record
company. Korn’s first release, self-titled, was released on October 4, 1994. The
CD did well after the release of the first single, Blind. The video got very little
coverage by MTV, but the album hung on the charts for years. Korn picked a
good time to put out their first album, which was only a few months after the
death of Kurt Cobain, and the whole “grunge” rock. People were angry with
Kurts death, and were searching for a new avenue of music. Korn found their
way down this road easily, and gained fans immediately.
Korn gained a number of fans due to Jon’s lyrics. They reflected the pain
and anger he had towards all of the people in his life while he was growing up.
The rage in his lyrics and in the aggression of the whole band is what makes
Korn such a unique thing. The live shows made the band what it is today, their
relentless touring created a huge fan base. The group was out at a gig every
night, they really wanted to show that they really wanted to do something
different, and gain their support one on one.
Korn’s second single “CLown” is a song that gained attention through its
video which depicts Jon’s high school life, he is huddled in a locker room shower
being scorned by all of the “jocks” The video ends with a busty, blonde
cheerleader removing her sweater only to find “Korn” tattooed across her back.
This video brought up issues about Jon’s own childhood. He explains
adolescence a the *censored*tiest time in his life. His parents divorced when Jon was
only three, his father soon re-married a woman of whom Jon hated with a
passion. In the song “Kill You” on the first album, Jon explains his feelings for
her. He tells of how he tried to become close to her, and tried to be a “good
little boy”. She would never accept Jon, and he was also abused by a member of
her family, but she did nothing to protect him. These feelings and thoughts of
his step mom are reoccurring throughout all of the albums. With the rate of
divorce being nearly 50%, it is easy to see how Korn attracted a huge following
of fed-up youth. They can easily relate to the feelings expressed. “It’s not a
bubble gum world no more, things arent happy no more. I can understand
bands writing bubbly, happy songs back in the *censored*ing day when people were
getting laid and all kinds of *censored* was going on. Things are different now, and
you are gonna have angry music, and angry people.”
Jon worked in a coroners office at the age of 16. He says that he still has
nightmares about the things he seen doing autopsies. The song “Pretty” is about
an 11 month old baby girl that was brought in after being sexually abused be
her father. Korn will not do this song in concert because of the meaning, and
Jon just breaks down crying every time. Jon continued working in the coroners
office until Korn got off the ground.
Drugs use always seems to be an issue, and the group has always had
questions about whether or not they do drugs. The only band member to have
had a problem with drugs was Jon. He says he didn’t sleep for one entire year,
due entirely to the fact that he was on Methamphedamines. All of the band are
known to be heavy drinkers. Jon admits drinking to escape the pressures of
fame. “you wanna go on tour with us?...just start drinking..” is how Fieldy puts
it. This is a perfect example of why Korn is popular with the teens, and young
adults. They can relate to the feeling of just wanting to get away from the
pressures of everyday problems and situations.
Korn kept on touring for two years after the release of their first album,
playing even in England and Germany. They received more recognition while
touring with such bands as; Metallica, KMFDM, House of Pain, and Megadeth.
Korn came home to California to work on their second album. All band
members were anxious to get started on new material, they were all ready to
put out some new songs. All of the penned up emotions and feelings for two
years were finally coming out. “Life is Peachy” was finished very quickly. Jon
says that they wanted to capture a “fresh, live sound”. “Life is Peachy” debuted
at number three on the Billboard charts. The sophomore release did not receive
much praise from mainstream music critics. The New York Press sated it to be
“A premiere example of self degradation, a masterful response to the seemingly
insatiable desire for human to witness a distasteful spectacle”. This only
attracted a bigger crowd.
Korn continued to tour all over the US. Soon the bigshots started to take
notice of their talent. A 1997 Rolling Stone article stated Korn to be “A shining
example that performing remains a viable path to success and a reminder that
even major label bands need grassroots support”
Korn also gained support from fans and critics alike by the donation of
one of Jon’s Adidas track suits to an Internet charity auction. The money raised
was put towards AIDS, Leukemia, and Cancer research. This set the path for
other stars such as Pamela Anderson, Jerry Sienfeld, And the cast of Friends to
make donations to charity auctions. Jon also has “HIV” tattooed to his arm, and
many people assume that this is because he has the AIDS virus, but it is
actually a reminder for him, a reminder to all of us, that AIDS is a real thing,
and one stupid move, and anyone can be the next one to contract the disease.
Korn celebrated Thanksgiving 1998 by announcing the opening of their
very own record label, Elementree. Their first signing was none other than
Orgy. Orgy has done very well with the help of Korn.
In March of 1998 Korn announced yet another tour aptly named “Family
Values” which had enormous success. The tour continued again in 1999, before
the release of “Issues”.
In April of 1998, Korn had a test of their loyalty to their fans. A boy at a
Michigan High school wore his Korn T-shirt to school one day, and was
immediately suspended from school. The school defended its decision by stating
that Korn’s lyrics did not represent the image the school wanted for the
community. The boy’s appalled classmates soon took action against the
decision. They made up petitions and held demonstrations against the decision.
The local sheriff’s department, a local radio station, and also Korn themselves
took note of the situation. Korn sent hundreds of T-shirts to be distributed to
the students. The next morning, television news crews captured the sheriffs
department helping hand out all of the free shirts. Controversy makes the
heart grow fonder, and the issue eventually dissipated. Just in time for their
third release.
“Follow the Leader” debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, and
sold over 268,000 copies in its first week. Jon later went on to say “the 90’s
sucked for music...kids are sick of it, they want something heavy, what rock ‘n’
roll is all about...” Korn definitely proved to provide what the kids wanted.
Korn continued on with the Family Values tour in 1999, and will hit the
road again in the spring of 2000 on the “Sick and Twisted” tour. I am looking
forward to seeing Korn, along with thousands of other fans.
It is really amazing what Korn has done for themselves. Through their
constant touring, and complete honesty in their lyrics, they have created their
own popularity and success. Four top selling albums, and massive amounts of
both cash and fans later, they are still the same pissed-off, angry, and hurt
kids as when they first became Korn.
Word Count: 1788
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