 Korn, (sometimes typed KoЯn or KoRn to imitate the band's logo), is from Bakersfield, California, and is currently signed to EMI/Virgin Records. They are often credited with creating the nu metal genre or at least inspiring a wave of nu metal, alternative metal, & rap metal bands in the mid 1990s and early 2000s, although, much like Nirvana "created" the Grunge genre, KoЯn merely popularized a movement that was already on its way by being the first of the bands in its genre to get signed and release a hit single. KoЯn is rightfully credited with discovering Limp Bizkit, though, for better or worse, who then "discovered" Staind, also, for better or worse. Most nu-metal fans have come to understand that the catalyst to the genre itself was more likely Deftones than KoЯn, as both bands were around at the same time, Deftones being from Sacramento, and playing shows together from day one. Since their 1994 self-entitled debut, KoЯn have sold over 25 million records worldwide (nearly 17 million in the U.S.). Got The Life, Freak On A Leash, Blind, Falling Away From Me, Make Me Bad, Here To Stay, A.D.I.D.A.S., Did My Time, Right Now, Twisted Transistor, Y'All Want A Single, and Another Brick In The Wall [Pink Floyd cover] are among their most famous songs.
History
The first incarnation of KoЯn was a band known as LAPD. At first LAPD stood for 'Love and Peace Dude'; however they later changed the name to 'Laughing As People Die' in order to be taken more seriously as a band. The group consisted of James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, David Silveria and lead singer Richard Morales, who later left the band, and the remaining members changed their name to Creep, adding guitarist Brian Welch. After adding singer Jonathan Davis (former frontman of Sexart) in 1993, they began calling themselves KoЯn, styling their name with a distinctive backwards letter "R". The band released their debut album, KoЯn, through Epic/Immortal Records in October, 1994. KoЯn is arguably the album most responsible for the rise of nu-metal and has been a vital influence to legions of other bands of the genre including Coal Chamber, Static-X, Adema, and Slipknot, earning KoЯn the frequent nickname "godfather of nu-metal".
The band followed up their debut album with their second album, Life Is Peachy, in October, 1996. The album was more successful than their first, debuting at No.3 on The Billboard 200. It spawned a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance in the song "No Place to Hide." The album's release featured the first live internet broadcast by the band, and thus KoЯn became the first music artist to appear live on the internet to promote their new LP. KoЯn performed songs from the new album and took calls from internet fans watching at home. The event was hosted by longtime KoЯn friend, Adam Carolla, known best for his hosting of Loveline. The online performance was one of the first of its kind and helped launch KoЯn's internet presence which soon became a predominant part of their marketing and availability to fans.
In late 1997 the band formed their own label, Elementree Records. The first band they've signed was Orgy, who became successful with their debut album "Candyass" which was certified platinum. Over the next years they've signed such acts as Videodrone, rapper Marz, and Deadsy.
Prior to the release of the band's 3rd album, KoЯn was featured once a week on their internet TV show, KoЯnTV, which showed behind the scenes of the making of the record as well as special guests such as porn star Ron Jeremy, Limp Bizkit, 311, and many more. It also gave fans the chance to call in and ask the band questions. KoЯn was already ahead of the game by utilizing the internet to reach their fans. August 1998 saw KoЯn at their peak as they released their third album, Follow the Leader. It is generally recognized as their breakthrough album, and the album that ultimately ushered them into the mainstream. It featured a number of guest vocalists such as Ice Cube, Tre Hardson from the Pharcyde, and Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit. KoЯn launched a whirlwind political campaign-style tour (from August 17, 1998 in Los Angeles through September 1 in Phoenix) to promote the release of Follow the Leader. It took the group all over North America to spread the news of their "Family Values" platform to hordes of fans at special "fan conferences" that were organized at every stop along the tour route. KoЯn chartered a jet, which took them to record stores in such cities as Riverside (CA), San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Toronto, Atlanta, and Dallas. They talked to fans at every stop, answered questions during the special "fan conferences" and signed autographs. Jim Rose hosted the entire "Kampaign" tour. Celebrities at various stops included Ice Cube and Todd McFarlane. The album was a success, reaching No.1 on the U.S. and Canadian charts and spawning the singles "Got the Life" and "Freak On A Leash." Follow The Leader debuted at the #1 slot in Canada, New Zealand and Australia; #4 in Finland; #5 in France, the U.K. and Norway; #8 in Japan; #10 in Holland; #12 in Germany; and it registered the highest debut on the Pan European "Music & Media" chart (at #6). The animated segments in the video for "Freak On A Leash" were directed by Todd McFarlane (creator of the Spawn comic book and a former artist for Spider-Man comics), who also drew the cover for the album. The live action in the video, directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, used innovative techniques which featured 'the magic bullet' that the camera followed through various scenes as well as a performance of the band in a Twilight Zone like room. "Freak on a Leash" won a Grammy for Best Video (Short Form), earned 9 MTV Awards nominations, for: Video of the Year, Breakthrough Video, Best Direction, Best Special Effects, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Viewer's Choice. Eventually it won 2, for: Best Rock Video, and Best Editing. Follow the Leader is the band's most commercially successful album, being certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA and having sold almost 10 million copies worldwide.
The same year Follow the Leader was released, KoЯn started their own annual heavy metal tour called the Family Values Tour. That year they headlined the tour along with Incubus, Orgy, Limp Bizkit, Ice Cube and Rammstein. It was highly successful tour, there was a live CD and DVD from Family Values Tour '98 which earned gold and platinum status, respectively. In 1999, Limp Bizkit headlined, along with Primus, Staind, KoЯn, The Crystal Method, and Filter. KoЯn were not featured on the bill and instead only made surprise appearances at a few of the tour's stops to perform their first single off of their next album, "Falling Away From Me." The tour took a break in 2000 due to heavy competition, later being revived by both Deftones and Stone Temple Pilots.
In 1999 KoЯn performed at Woodstock '99 on 23 July in front of 250,000 fans. The band cites its performance as one of its most memorable moments.
The band's next album, Issues, was released in November 1999. The album debuted at #1 on The Billboard 200 and was certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA, following up the success of Follow the Leader. It featured a broader range of styles and vocals compared to previous albums. To celebrate the album's release, the band performed the record in its entirety in front of a live audience at New York's historic Apollo Theater and broadcast the concert simultaneously across many radio stations. This performance made KoЯn only the second white musical group to ever perform at The Apollo after the legendary Buddy Holly in the late 1950's. This special event featured the NYPD marching drum and bagpipe band as well as a group of back-up singers to enhance the more melodic choruses and backing vocals Jonathan Davis used on the album. Earlier that year, KoЯn had appeared on an episode of South Park, titled KoЯn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery, in which the first single from Issues, "Falling Away From Me" was premiered. In the episode, the band helped the boys solve a Scooby-Doo style mystery. KoЯn released two more singles off of Issues, "Make Me Bad" and "Somebody Someone", both of which fared well on US charts. Videos were also shot for all three singles, with long-time friend Fred Durst directing the dark "Falling Away From Me", and Udo Kier and Brigitte Nielsen starring in a concept video for "Make Me Bad." The video for "Somebody Someone" was a simple performance.
In year 2000 Jonathan Davis commissioned famous Swiss surreal artist - H.R. Giger to create special mic stand. The idea was suggested to him by one of his friends who knew that Jonathan was a fan of his artwork. H.R. Giger is an artist for whom music is really important, and he must like it, before he can work with the band, so he first listened to KoЯn CDs they sent him, and on the same day eventually decided to agree on doing this project. He started doing some sketches, like some forms of plantlike snakes and vertebrae mixed with technical elements. In the meanwhile Giger's agent went to the U.S. to tape some KoЯn shows, to analyze the way Jonathan performs. Jonathan called him from his dressing room and told him that he left him complete freedom to design the microphone stand as he wanted and his only concern was that it had be totally functional and as movable as possible. He also wanted it be bio-mechanical and very erotic. The band visited his museum and met him in July of 2000 when they were touring in Europe. The bio-mechanical mic-stand was eventually finished in 2001[1]. It was introduced to fans one year later during KoЯn's Untouchables Tour.
In 2001, Stone Temple Pilots headlined the Family Values Tour, along with Linkin Park, Staind, Static-X, and Deadsy. That was the last Family Values Tour held until September 2006 where Bury Your Dead , Bullets and Octane, Deadsy, 10 years, Dir en grey, Flyleaf, Stone Sour, Deftones and KoЯn preformed.
In June 2002, after two and a half years of hard work and a long creative process, KoЯn re-emerged into the media spotlight with their 5th album, Untouchables. The release of this album was preceded by the show at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York on 10th June 2002, one day prior to the album's release, broadcasted digitally through the theaters in U.S. As befits the trend-setting rock pioneers, KoЯn recorded Untouchables in a way that no rock artist has done before. By utilizing the new Euphonix R1 Digital Hard Disk Recorder with a 96k, 24-bit sampling rate - which is twice the highest rate that’s normally used for recording - KoЯn and producer Michael Beinhorn were able to create a rich sonic panorama which accentuates clarity as well as harmonics that are perceived rather than heard as musical sounds. The album had a very dark and Gothic feel while featuring synths, strings and various effects the band had never used in an album before. The overall feel was drastically different from previous efforts particularly tracks like "Alone I Break," "Hating," and the haunting "Hollow Life," which singer Jonathan Davis claims is his favorite KoЯn song to this day. While the album received critical praise, Untouchables had disappointing sales. The band has blamed Internet piracy for the drop in sales - as an unmixed version of the album had leaked a whole five months prior to its official release date (from Munky's computer). Most former KoЯn fans agree that blaming internet piracy is akin to Lars Ulrich of Metallica blaming Napster for disappointing sales of their later, lesser albums. Untouchables was a drastic change of pace for KoЯn fans, one that just didn't appeal to most of the fans that had actually been around since the first album.
The album's first single "Here to Stay" earned a Grammy for Best Metal Performance. Untouchables has since been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The first 2 videos from Untouchables were directed by the Hughes Brothers (best known for their films, Menace II Society and From Hell). The first video, "Here To Stay," has the band playing inside a TV on a static background along with controversial news stories and world issues being presented. The video was nominated to MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video and won MuchMusic Video Award for Best International Video (Group). The second video, "Thoughtless," was a nod back to Jonathan's childhood as the character in the video is picked on and constantly beaten. The character ultimately gains revenge in a rather grotesque but deserving way. The third video for Untouchables, "Alone I Break," was directed by Sean Dack who won the honor of directing KoЯn's video through an MTV contest. The video kept with the darkness of KoЯn, showing Jonathan Davis killing off the members of the band after a supposed mistake made by Munky when they were performing. The band later admitted the video would have been more fun to do if the director was actually a KoЯn fan.
Prior to their next album, KoЯn released the single "Did My Time," which was featured on the soundtrack to the Angelina Jolie's film, Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life in early 2003. Angelina Jolie appeared in the video for "Did My Time". However due to scheduling conflicts the band's performance was shot at a different time and location than Angelina Jolie's. The single Did My Time was also used on the next album.
KoЯn's sixth album, Take a Look in the Mirror was released in November 2003. KoЯn produced this record themselves and cited it as a look back upon their career by returning back to a more stripped down and raw sound. The album featured the singles "Right Now," "Everything I've Known," and "Y'all Want A Single." The first two singles were animated videos while the third single, "Y'all Want A Single," was a performance video, which featured KoЯn and a large group of fans destroying a record store. The album peaked at No. 9 on The Billboard 200. Although the album provided what the fans were supposedly looking for, it was considered a disappointment by many who thought the first album could never be duplicated. The album also features the remastered track "Alive," which is the song Davis sang back in 1993 while first trying out for the band.
In 2004, KoЯn released their greatest hits album, Greatest Hits, Volume 1. It featured two cover songs and a compilation of the band's hits from the past 10 years. The first single was a cover of the song "Word Up!", which was originally made popular by the group Cameo. The album also featured a medley of all three parts of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall." The song has become a concert staple ever since.
On 22 February 2005, Brian "Head" Welch announced that he had "...chosen the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, and would be dedicating his musical pursuits to that end" [2], and was formally leaving KoЯn. Initial speculations that this was a hoax or practical joke were proven wrong; he has turned highly spiritual, even being baptized in the Jordan River and speaking openly about his faith and conversion, especially on his website [3]. Welch has also stated that his reason for leaving the band had to do with his daughter reciting obscene KoЯn lyrics and the fact that he was fighting an addiction to crystal meth. This was to be the band's first, and so far only, line up change in their history.
Upon completing their record deal with Sony Records KoЯn has since partnered with EMI and signed to Virgin Records. EMI has paid KoЯn $25 million upfront in exchange for a share in the profits of their next two LPs, including tours and merchandising. In exchange, EMI received a 30 percent stake in the band's licensing, ticket sales and other revenue sources. The deal was struck after KoЯn left its previous label, Sony Music.
The band's first release for Virgin Records, "See You On The Other Side" was released on December 6th 2005, and debuted on #3 on Billboard 200 top selling albums in U.S. which was band's 7th Top 10 debut. It's fair to say that it was a more than successful return to the mainstream. The first single off this album, "Twisted Transistor" was accompanied by hilarious video directed by Dave Meyers in which famous rappers, such as Xzibit, Lil' Jon, Snoop Dogg, and David Banner actually played KoЯn. It has received massive video play in TV music stations throughout whole world. The single itself peaked on #3 on Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and it's among 2006’s Top 5 Active Rock songs so far in 2006. The second single, "Coming Undone" also entered Top 10 on Mainstream Rock Chart, and the video directed by Little X, introduced Jonathan's diamond grills also received considerable video play. The album has sold over 1.7 million copies worldwide up to date, and went platinum in U.S. on 13th March.
On 13 January 2006, KoЯn threw a giant party at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery announcing the See You on the Other Side World Tour. Guests at the party included Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose and actress Jessica Biel. The first leg of tour, with 10 Years and Mudvayne, began on 24 February 2006 in their hometown Bakersfield and ended on 4th April in Toronto. It was highly successful leg of tour, and KoЯn earned approx. $7 million gross for it, and reached #15 spot on Pollstar's Top 20 Concert Grosses.
The Australian part of the SYOTOS tour consisted of KoЯn, 10 Years, Hatebreed and Disturbed. The bands performed in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne on the 24th, 27th and 29th of April 2006 respectively, and were received well in all three cities. This marked the first time KoЯn visited Australia since their Take A Look In The Mirror tour in February of 2004.
Support acts for headlining shows past this point have not been confirmed, however, KoЯn are slated to perform at various European rock festivals over the summer of 2006, many of which feature such legendary bands as Guns N' Roses and Metallica.
On March 13 2006, KoЯn released their second single from their album See You On The Other Side entitled "Coming Undone."
KoЯn have also recently announced the resurrection of their "Family Values Tour", which will kick off on July 27 in Virginia Beach, VA. The Family Values Tour will feature Deftones, KoЯn, Stone Sour, Flyleaf, Dir en grey (when confronted about the news that this band may be there, Jonathan called them "this crazy Japanese band that are just out of their minds"), and other yet-to-be announced bands. This is also the first Family Values Tour that will have a second stage and is in outdoor-pavilions. Tickets for lawn seating will be $9.99.
KoЯn recently teamed up with crunk rap group Dem Franchize Boyz to record a mash-up of their latest hits Coming Undone and Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It, which occurred due to both the groups being signed to Virgin Records. During the session, Jonathan Davis stated that he believed that crunk and heavy metal were in the same vein. "They are both energy. It just works," the singer said.
In 2006, KoЯn's most popular song Freak On A Leash appeared on a countdown of Channel V's 40 Greatest Metal Songs Of All Time at #23. They also charted on a user-based interactive list of the 100 Greatest Videos Of All Time in the UK at number 10 with the same song.
On May 6 KoЯn won a MTV Asia Video Music Award in the "Favorite Video" category with their first single off of See You on the Other Side, "Twisted Transistor", beating Green Day, Kanye West, My Chemical Romance and Franz Ferdinand. The band also performed "Twisted Transistor" live in front of 5,000 people. Jonathan Davis also presented an award for favorite artist from China, Vicky Zhao.
This last December(2006) David Sylveria(drums) left KoЯn to take a temporary break and to be closer to his family. Jonathan Davis said that KoЯn isn't over and they already have a replacement: Terry Bozzio.Links Korn, muslib.ru (рус.)Version Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:02:24 +0300
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