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Ever not listen to a particular artist or group simply because they’re ridiculously popular (and, as a result, difficult or outright impossible to ignore) or because someone you absolutely loathed really--and I mean really-- liked them? Okay, okay…I know it probably sounds more than a little strange and perhaps even childish, but this is exactly why I initially avoided partaking in the offerings of pioneering Nü Metal veterans Korn. Fortunately for all parties involved, time does indeed heal all, thus allowing me to afford the improbably long-running group the ‘second chance’ they so rightfully deserved. Not surprisingly, the end result, as you may or may not have already guessed, was a musical experience that ultimately led to the start of what can only be dscribed as a long and truly disturbing obsession…
Todd: What can you tell in regards to the group’s recent recording sessions? Any truth to the rumor(s) that the group is actually working on simultaneously completing two separate full-length efforts due early next year?
James ‘Munky’ Shaffer: “We’re just really compiling a bunch of material. We’re just writing in a small room. We did some of it in Hollywood in a small Iso Room about the size of a one car garage. We’re recording bits and pieces. Once we get back home, we’re gonna put ‘em together where they make a little more sense. …I’m only writing one record (laughs), but it if turns into two, then that’s cool. My goal is to get the one best record. We usually write a lot of material and just choose the best of it. There’s usually enough to make two records”
Todd: In retrospect, how have the departures of (guitarist) Brian (‘Head’ Welch) and (drummer) David (Silveria) affected the group’s songwriting abilities? Internally, has the hierarchy remained primarily intact?
Munky: “Well, (bassist) Fieldy and I have always been the main songwriters. Him and I are always comin’ up with the main riffs and stuff and (vocalist) Jonathan (Davis) adds the lyrics and vocals on top of it later. That hasn’t changed. Now, we’re writing songs with (drummer) Ray Luzier and he’s such an amazing drummer and is so easy to work with. And it’s refreshing to be with (acclaimed Producer) Ross (Robinson) again. He really pulls that raw emotion out of us. It’s just exciting. It does feel that way. We’ll have to wait and see, but it does feel like it’s heading in that direction. We didn’t consciously say ‘We need to do our old stuff’, ya know? With Ross, there’s always this raw energy, sort of a feeling. That’s what we had on our first two albums (1994’s Korn and 1996’s Life Is Peachy) that we did with him, so I’m kinda expecting a raw, emotional feeling again.”
Todd: Have you found that taking a ‘touring break’ has had a positive creative impact on the overall processes?
Munky: “It does. …It gets us in touch with the energy of our fans. I think that’s important. It kinda reminds us why we do this. Without music, who knows what bad roads we may have chosen to go down, ya know? To our fans, I think it’s a release and it’s a release for us, too to go out on tour. It’s yet another reminder of how big of an impact music has had and how important it is in all of our lives. I think it’s really important in that regard.”
Todd: In comparison, have you found that the group is better received by American or European audiences?
Munky: “That’s a tough question. …We’ve just been goin’ out on tour to get out of the studio. Most bands go out on tour to promote an album, but we don’t have anything new. That just proves the loyalty of our fans. When it comes down to it, they’ll go see Korn no matter what. …It’s different. We haven’t been in Europe for a while, so I don’t really have anything to compare it to because last time, we were out promoting an album.”
Todd: When preparing to tour, collectively and as individuals, do you find it difficult to decide upon a set list?
Munky: “Yes, it’s very hard. I’m telling you. In rehearsals, we try different songs, but we have to think ‘How is this going to translate live?’ or ‘Should we play a new song here or an old song here?’ Throughout our set list, we like to have peaks and valleys, but for Radio Shows, we like to play the songs that we’re know for like “Falling Away From Me”, “Blind”, “Coming Undone”, “Freak On A Leash”…those sort of songs. At Radio Shows, the band that plays the most hits usually ends up being that band that is most remembered. At our Headlining shows, we tend to play a lot of our older stuff. I think a lot of people enjoy that as well. …A lot of those songs come off of our first three albums, ya know? I think a lot of fans end up being stoked about that.”
Todd: Aside from keyboardist Zac Baird (Fear And The Nervous System), what additional musicians are you currently touring with? Am I correct in understanding the group is again being joined by a second guitarist?
Munky: “(Jonathan Davis And The SFA/Stork) Guitarist Shane Gibson. He’s just a shredder. He’s a great guy who’s been in a few bands before, but has mostly just done studio work in L.A. …It’s been really hard, especially since Brian left for me to adapt to a new guitar player. When you put somebody in those shoes or in that spot, unfortunately, their heads tend to swell pretty fast, no pun intended. They tend to very quickly go ‘Wow, I’m in Korn now’ and a couple of times, it hasn’t worked out because of that, so… Shane’s great. Shane is very humble. He knows his place, plays extremely well and represents the songs in their true manner.”
Todd: When Brian opted to depart from the group, were there any doubts that Korn could continue to function?
Munky: “I think there was some fear about it, but we were able to ignore that and kinda escape that by working extra hard to overcome that. …We knew it was there, lingering in the backs of our heads, but we turned the other way and tried to use it as an opportunity to try something new and roll the dice, ya know? …It was an opportunity to do something new and try something different. But our fans are so loyal that they understood.”
Todd: At this point, have you truly grown accustomed to recording within a ‘…single guitarist…’ format?
Munky: “Yes. I’ve gotten pretty comfortable doing the last two albums alone (2005’s See You On The Other Side and 2007’s Untitled). I completely enjoy it. Sometimes it can be kinda overwhelming since there are a lot of guitar tracks. There are probably more guitar tracks than there are any other. It’s challenging, it’s fun, it keeps me busy and it’s what I love to do, so I wouldn’t have it any other way. …It has helped me to improve.”
Todd: Prior to Ray Luzier becoming a full-fledged member of the group, was serious consideration given to anyone else? Did the group’s status as an established act offer a reprieve from the traditional audition process?
Munky: “Not really. We did have one day where we did auditions. We had a few people audition one afternoon. There were some good drummers. (Drummer) Tommy (Clufetos) that used to play with Rob Zombie? He’s an excellent drummer. He was the only other one where we were like ‘Maybe’. …(Slipknot drummer/Murderdolls guitarist/vocalist) Joey (Jordison) stepped into the picture. We contacted him and he was like ‘Yeah, dude. I’ll do it’, so he toured with us for like a year. And then, towards one of the last shows, on the Family Values Tour, we had Ray come down to one of the sound checks. He brought a rental kit and sat in. He had learned like twenty songs. We just kept namin’ off songs and he did just an amazing job, so we were like ‘Well, we don’t need to look any further’. He nailed it and I was like ‘Wow’. He was just really good.”
Todd: At what point did everyone come to the realization that David wasn’t going to be involved with the group on a permanent basis? Was there a clear and defining moment or was it more of a gradual acknowledgement?
Munky: “Probably when we began to write the second album without him. With the first one, we were like ‘Okay, he just needs some time’. It’s still one of those things where we’re like ‘Is he really gone? Maybe he’ll come back’, so there’s still this little bit of hope, ya know? Even up to three weeks ago when I found out David had sold all of his drums and never wants to play the drums again I was blown away. I was like ‘Wow, he doesn’t even want to be in another band?’ I’m over him not wanting to play with us, but he doesn’t want to ever play the drums again? That just took me back, ya know? I told everyone in the band that and they were like ‘Wow. I can’t believe he’s not coming back. He’s one of the best drummers in the world’. …I’m still in disbelief, but that’s the way it is. It’s painful, ya know? It was like losin’ Brian. We kind underwent this separation anxiety because these people were a major part of our lives and then they weren’t there. The next day they’re just gone. And I’ve never talked to either one of them ever again. It’s weird. Each of us kinda deal with it in our own different way. It’s almost as if a death has occurred. …There’s no contact with anyone in the band, I believe. I think Fieldy spoke to Head the other week briefly on the telephone and that was the first time they had talked in years. These are the people that we grew up with. We had dreams together and we saw those dreams unfold. Then one falls off and the other falls off. Drug addiction has been a really big part of it.”
Todd: Do you feel David’s departure is directly related to his various addictions? Taking everything into consideration, how important is each member’s sobriety to the continued longevity of the group as a whole?
Munky: “I don’t know with David, honestly. I really feel like his heart just wasn’t into it and that may have been why he was doin’ a lot of drugs. But then again, when I think back, I’m like ‘Well, I’m into it and I did a lot of drugs (laughs). So it’s kinda hard to tell, really. …Sobriety is extremely important. It’s pretty black and white now. It’s like ‘Okay, we had our drug days, but now we have families’, ya know? This is what we love to do, so let’s not jeopardize it by acting like a fool or a kid. We’re grown men, so let’s act like it, ya know?”
Select Discography
Live At Montreux 2004 (DVD) **
Untitled (2007) **
MTV Unplugged (2007) **
Live On The Other Side (DVD) (2006) **
Chopped, Screwed, Live And Unglued (2006) **
Live And Rare (2006) **
The Other Side, Part II (EP) (2005) **
The Other Side (EP) (2005) **
See You On The Other Side (2005) **
Greatest Hits, Volume 1 (2004) *
Take A Look In The Mirror (2003) *
Deuce (DVD) (2002) **
Untouchables (2002) **
All Mixed Up (EP) (1999) **
Issues (1999) **
Follow The Leader (1998) **
Who Then Now (DVD) (1997)
Live At The Palace (EP) (1997) **
Life Is Peachy (1996) **
Korn (1994) **
Neidermeyer’s Mind (Demo) (1993) **
Who’s Laughing Now? (1991) *
Love And Peace, Dude (1989) *
* as a member of L.A.P.D.
** as a member of Korn