Korn

Korn is a US nu metal band from Bakersfield, United States, formed in 1993. The group is associated with alternative metal, alternative rock, heavy metal, metal, nu metal and rock, and is regarded as one of the acts that helps develop and popularise nu metal.

Formation and early work

The band forms from former L.A.P.D. members James “Munky” Shaffer, Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu and David Silveria. After Richard Morrill leaves L.A.P.D., the remaining members briefly perform as Creep before recruiting Brian Welch and Jonathan Davis to create Korn. The name comes from “corn”, with the spelling changed to use a K and a reversed R, and the logo is designed by Jonathan Davis.

In 1993, the band rehearses and records at Underground Chicken Sound studio in Huntington Beach, California. During this period it records the demo Neidermayer’s Mind, which is sent to record companies and fans and helps establish the group’s early sound. Before Korn, Shaffer, Arvizu and Silveria also release the EP Love and Peace Dude in 1989 and the album Who’s Laughing Now in 1991 with L.A.P.D.

Albums and commercial success

Korn’s debut album, Korn, is released in 1994 and recorded with producer Ross Robinson. It reaches number one on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and later enters the Billboard 200. Singles from the album include “Blind”, “Need To”, “Shoots and Ladders” and “Clown”. “Shoots and Ladders” receives a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance. The band supports the record with extensive touring alongside Biohazard, House of Pain, Sick of It All, Deftones and Ozzy Osbourne.

Life Is Peachy follows in 1996, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200 and reaching number one in New Zealand. It is certified double platinum in the United States, platinum in Australia and gold in Canada. Its singles include “No Place to Hide”, “A.D.I.D.A.S.” and “Good God”; “No Place to Hide” receives a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.

Follow the Leader is released in 1998 and debuts at number one on the Billboard 200. Guest performers include Ice Cube, Tre Hardson, Fred Durst and Cheech Marin. The album produces “Got the Life” and “Freak on a Leash”, both of which receive heavy airplay on MTV’s Total Request Live. “Freak on a Leash” wins the Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Short Form and is nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance. The album is certified five-times platinum in the United States and sells about 10 million copies worldwide.

Issues, produced by Brendan O’Brien, is released in 1999 and also debuts at number one on the Billboard 200. Its cover artwork is chosen through a fan competition. To promote the album, Korn performs it in full at the Apollo Theater in New York, with the concert broadcast on radio stations across the United States. The band also appears in the South Park episode “Korn’s Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery”, which includes the premiere of “Falling Away from Me”. Other singles from the album are “Make Me Bad” and “Somebody Someone”.

Later recordings, labels and collaborations

Untouchables is released in 2002 and debuts at number two on the Billboard 200. The singles “Here to Stay” and “Thoughtless” have videos directed by the Hughes Brothers, and “Here to Stay” wins the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. Take a Look in the Mirror follows in 2003 and is the first Korn album the band self-produces. Its single “Did My Time” is used to promote Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life, becomes the group’s only top 40 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, and receives a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.

The compilation Greatest Hits Vol. 1 appears in 2004 and includes a cover of Cameo’s “Word Up!” as its lead single. Special editions include the DVD Korn: Live at CBGB. The release marks the end of the band’s recording contract with Immortal Records and Epic Records. Korn later signs with Virgin Records and releases records through Roadrunner Records, Prospect Park, Caroline Records and Loma Vista Recordings. The band also founds Elementree Records in 1997 and signs acts including Orgy.

See You on the Other Side is released in 2005 and debuts at number three on the Billboard 200. Singles include “Twisted Transistor” and “Coming Undone”, and the album is certified platinum in the United States. Korn tours in support of the record and revives the Family Values Tour in 2006. During the European leg, Jonathan Davis is diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, which leads to cancelled performances.

Korn records an acoustic session for MTV Unplugged, released as MTV Unplugged: Korn in 2007 with guest appearances by The Cure and Amy Lee. Its untitled eighth studio album also appears in 2007 and debuts at number two on the Billboard 200. Terry Bozzio and Brooks Wackerman play drums during recording, Joey Jordison later tours with the band, and Ray Luzier becomes the permanent drummer. Singles include “Evolution”, “Hold On” and “Kiss”.

In 2010, Korn signs with Roadrunner Records and releases Korn III: Remember Who You Are, which debuts at number two on the Billboard 200. Singles include “Oildale (Leave Me Alone)” and “Let the Guilt Go”. In 2011, the band co-headlines the Music as a Weapon V tour with Disturbed. The Path of Totality, released later that year, uses electronic dance music influences and features collaborations with Skrillex, Excision, Noisia, Kill the Noise and 12th Planet. The album reaches number ten on the Billboard 200, with singles “Get Up!” and “Narcissistic Cannibal”. It wins Album of the Year at the 2012 Revolver Golden Gods Awards, and Korn is inducted into the Kerrang! Hall of Fame in 2011.

Brian Welch rejoins Korn on stage in 2012 and returns permanently in 2013. The Paradigm Shift is released in 2013, preceded by “Never Never” and followed by “Spike in My Veins”. In 2015 the band performs its debut album in full at selected concerts. The Serenity of Suffering follows in 2016, produced by Nick Raskulinecz and featuring Corey Taylor. It is promoted by “Rotting in Vain”. During this period, touring keyboardist Zac Baird leaves and is replaced first by Jules Venturini and later by Davey Oberlin. In 2017, Tye Trujillo temporarily fills in for Reginald Arvizu on bass during a South American tour.

Recent activity and recognition

The Nothing is released in 2019, preceded by “You’ll Never Find Me” and “Cold”. The band also stages a promotional concert inside the multiplayer game AdventureQuest 3D. In 2020, Korn releases a version of Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” with Yelawolf, with proceeds donated to charity. In 2021, the band presents the online concert event Monumental and announces a North American tour. Reginald Arvizu takes a hiatus from touring and is replaced by Ra Díaz, while Jonathan Davis, James Shaffer and Ray Luzier each miss performances after testing positive for COVID-19.

Requiem is released in 2022, preceded by “Start the Healing” and “Forgotten”, with “Worst Is on Its Way” following later in the year. The band continues to tour and work on new material. In 2026, Korn releases “Reward the Scars”, a song used on the soundtrack to the Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred expansion, while its fifteenth studio album remains in development.

Korn has sold more than 40 million records worldwide, and several releases are certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Fourteen releases reach the top ten of the Billboard 200, including eight top-five entries. The band receives eight Grammy nominations and wins two, and also wins two MTV Video Music Awards.