ElESPECTADOR.CO M

By Juan Carlos Piedrahíta B.

Korn was one of the first bands to impletment the sale of their albums through the internet.

Korn is so important that a school in the United States took the trouble to suspend one of its students for wearing a t-shirt related to the band. Nevertheless for their followers, the nu metal phenomenon or alternative metal was already something embedded in your skin and not just some fashion you should keep in your wardrobe.

Today this band, which began through the early 90s, is Jonathan Davis on vocals, James “Munky” Shaffer on guitar, Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu on bass and Ray Luzier on drums.

The following Saturday they will present their awaited concert in Bogota, but they want to get this party started already. ‘Fieldy’ was the one in charge for this task..

It is said Korn is one of the pioneer bands of the so called nu metal or alternative metal.. Do you feel responsible and satisfied with this?

Well, honestly, through many years we have made the music we loved. Fans wanted to name it like that but in the end the name is the least relevant and important.

For a band with great potencial like Korn… How was the experience of doing “Unplugged? How did it feel once you were in the stage?

It was probably one of the hardest things in our career. We had an intense rehearsal for Unplugged and laid bare all of our material to make it more vulnerable. It was very hard work to learn the songs all over again. I don’t know if I could do it again, it was that difficult.

There are fans that followed you from adolescence to adulthood… Has that growth in the fans changed the way you write music and the content of the lyrics?

No. I think even with this new album, Korn went back to its roots, to what we used to do at the beginning. We did this because one can grow old and get lost and we want to keep being relevant.

Which is the album that best reflects Korn’s spirit?

I think its a mix of all of them and we see it in the set lists we play to our fans. Theres a little bit of every Korn album.

What should the Colombian fans expect?

We are taking them through every insignia Korn song. Those which Korn fans chose and, I must say, the setlist could be the best we have ever played live in our career. It will be extreme, very powerful..

What are your expectations with this show and why come to Colombia?

‘Cause the crowd in Colombia is crazy and the shows are insane. Besides I want to drink a good cup of coffee.

What are the main influences of Fieldy as a bass player?

It's hard to answer that question because there are so many, but I could say Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, he was my main influence.

What's your take on the evolution of metal?

I think it has taken a good direction. I enjoy it more now than at the beginning. Like, there are are lot of bands now. At the beginning it was hard to find a band that played like us because there weren't a lot of people doing similar things.

How’s the relationship now of Korn with two significant members from the early years of the band, Brian ‘Head’ Welch and David Silvera?

The truth is I don’t talk with David anymore. He lost contact with all of us. Now with Head, I still talk with him two or three times a year, we are still friends.

What future projects are on the way?

Mainly, the album Surrounded by Liars from my side project, Stillwell, where I play guitar. Also there will be a bass instrumental album, titled Bassically, which is a fusion of jazz, funk and other styles.

Korn in Colombia. April 10. Show starts 5 pm. El Campín Coloseum. Info and tickets: 593 6300 and Click Here

Translated and submitted by KornyGerm.