When Korn released their self-titled album in 1994, not only did the band become responsible for a nu-metal blueprint that would leave a generational impact, but they also brought a refreshing brand of sonic intensity to mainstream music in a new way.
Their take on alternative, metal, and rock birthed waves of artists who were unafraid to stomp their way into spaces and lineups where they previously may have been overlooked. And as the decade would continue to roll out and see artists like Linkin Park blaze trails of their own, Korn became a band with legacy potential very, very quickly.
Thirty years on from that seminal album release, the love and reverence for the Bakersfield, California outfit is as fervent as it ever was.
Wrapping up an anniversary year with a momentous set in Brisbane as part of Good Things 2024, Korn have been able to celebrate with Australian fans on their first tour of the country since 2014.
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A few hours prior to that final sweaty show in Brisbane, Brian ‘Head’ Welch shares some quiet moments of reflection.
Musing on the band’s long-running career – one that hasn’t been without its periods of turbulence – and their arrival at this particular juncture, Welch is well aware that this type of longevity isn’t afforded to everyone.
“I don’t remember this [level of] excitement in Australia, back in the ‘90s,” he says, sitting with Rolling Stone AU/NZ in his trailer, an air-conditioned sanctuary separate from the chaos of the festival crowd, a stone’s throw away.
“It’s blowing my mind. We’re selling out a lot of places; it’s always done well, but now it’s great. To see all these teenagers, it’s wild! It’s cool that they’re giving our type of music [a chance]. I’m like, ‘What year is this?!’”
Requiem, the last studio album by Korn, arrived in 2022 – an album that served as a fitting reminder of the band’s ferocity and continued hunger for innovation and evolution. For longtime fans, it was another fitting addition to the band’s now fourteen-album strong catalogue; for new fans, Requiem arrived as a well-constructed gateway record to the band’s body of work.
As a music lover himself, he sees kindred spirits in artists who are blending genres, as Korn did, in their own ways.
“I just love music that moves me,” he explains. “This [experience] has been introspective; just finding out who you are as you go through life changes that a bit, because you’re drawn to different frequencies and sounds. I’m a melody guy, and I think a lot of bands I’m drawn to are like that as well.”
Scrolling through his own playlist, Welch spins out some of his current favourites.
From current blockbuster artists like Bring Me the Horizon and Sleep Token, Welch is enthusiastic about an eclectic mix of artists including Danish group Siamese, US metalcore artist PINKNOISE, and Welsh rockers Holding Absence – the latter of which has had particular impact on him.
“They sound exactly how they do on their records, live. I went to see [them] to see his vocals and what kind of range he can do live,” Welch says of Holding Absence frontman, Lucas Woodland.
“He was out of breath a few times, but that wasn’t even a flaw because that’s live. He was hitting every note, I was blown away by this kid.”
Welch’s own journey of evolution and artistry has been as layered as that of the band. Unpacking and exploring a variety of influences both as part of Korn and also through a solo career that kicked off during the early 2000s has provided a significant emotional anchor for the musician.
“To be given a dream come true, and then to be given it again…? I ruined my first dream with drugs and alcohol, and so I left the band,” he remembers, reflecting on his departure from Korn in 2005.
Deciding to focus on his family, recovery and then newfound-Christianity, it wouldn’t be until 2012 that fans would see Welch back in the fold. “To be given it back at this level, it’s unbelievable. I’m very grateful.”
Being able to revisit the Korn catalogue with a matured perspective in 2024, Welch says that experiencing this music with a whole new generation of music lovers is fulfilling.
“A lot of bands are experiencing this now too,” he says, referencing recent successes for outfits like Deftones, Limp Bizkit, and Slipknot, who will be returning to Australia for their 25th anniversary with Knotfest in 2025.
“I don’t know if [young fans] are giving us a chance because they maybe are fed up with what they’re getting fed, but I love it. I’m very grateful. The energy and excitement has been through the roof out there in the crowd.”
“We’ve got youth left in us,” Welch smiles. “We have energy and we’re giving it our everything. We’re not too old to where it’s going to be embarrassing. I don’t know what this next wave [of the band] will bring, but we’re going to ride it.”
This wave is going to take Korn well into 2025, with the band set to be a staple of the European festival season – appearances at festivals including Download, Rock Am Ring, and Resurrection Fest are already locked in.
As for what the next creative chapter for the band looks like? It remains to be seen, but as Welch describes, the chemistry within the group at present has never been healthier.
“Honestly, I didn’t see this coming. I thought we would always do well, sure, until you get to that point where you get to retire,” he explains. “I didn’t see this particular uptick though, so I want to ride the wave and see however long it lasts. Next year is looking big too, so to see these younger kids connect with us, it’s a dream.”
“It’s what I was created for, it’s why I’m here,” he adds. “Besides my family, my daughter; music is one of the main reasons I’m here on this planet.
“I was supposed to do this. I found my faith in 2005 and people have since asked me how I can do music. It’s just passionate and like I said before, I feel every bit of it. I still feel it up there with Korn, with the live shows and connecting in unity with the crowd and their energy.”
