In an interview with Riff X, Korn guitarists Brian “Head” Welch and James “Munky” Shaffer spoke about their perception of the current metal scene. When asked about the genre’s enduring popularity, Munky said:
“Definitely it’s gotten bigger. I think people have kind of embraced it. And I think this stigmata, the taboo of metal bands has kind of gone away for the most part. I think people that aren’t into that music, they associate the skulls and the fire [with heavy metal]… And it’s not that. We resonate with this type of music. It makes us feel sort of like a complete person when you have this aggressive music, or whatever you wanna call it. It makes us feel like — I don’t know. It completes our soul, I guess.”
It’s not just Munky whose soul is completed by the presence of heavy metal in his life. Head picked up the conversation and suggested that inclusivity has grown in the genre.
“It is a community, though. There’s religion and there’s politics out there, and there’s so much division. And the metal community is so inclusive and united. We just played the other night with Judas Priest and Kiss and Korn, and they loved every single band, in Denmark, ’cause they have respect for the metal community and the different styles and whatnot. And that’s not always the case, but the majority [of the time] it is the case. I love that about our community.”
Join Head and Munky in the completing of your soul at one of Korn’s live dates with Evanescence this summer.
Tue Aug 16 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena [tickets]
Thu Aug 18 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre [tickets]
Sat Aug 20 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre [tickets]
Sun Aug 21 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre [tickets]
Tue Aug 23 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center [tickets]
Wed Aug 24 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center [tickets]
Fri Aug 26 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center [tickets]
Sat Aug 27 – Camden, NJ – Waterfront Music Pavilion [tickets]
Sun Aug 28 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater [tickets]
Wed Aug 31 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion [tickets]
Thu Sep 01 – Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre [tickets]
Sun Sep 04 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion [tickets]
Tue Sep 06 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion [tickets]
Fri Sep 09 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre [tickets]
Sat Sep 10 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center [tickets]
Tue Sep 13 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena [tickets]
Thu Sep 15 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre [tickets]
Fri Sep 16 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater [tickets]