Nu-metal originators Korn have announced a 30th-anniversary show for their genre-defining self-titled debut full-length.
The Bakersfield, California natives revealed plans to celebrate this significant milestone on October 5 at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. They will be joined by a stacked bill featuring Evanescence, Gojira, Daron Malakian and Scars On Broadway, Spiritbox, and Vended.
Speaking on the announcement, vocalist Jonathan Davis shared his reflections on what the milestone means to him and what the concert promises fans.
"Reflecting on thirty years of Korn fills me with such immense gratitude for our journey, the growth we've experienced, and the incredible bond we share with our fans" "It's humbling to see how our music has touched so many lives across the globe. From our small club beginnings to now headlining stadiums, it's been an unforgettable ride, and we owe it all to our amazing, undying, loyal community that's made it possible. I’m really looking forward to this incredible night to celebrate together."
As yet there is no suggestion that the band intends on a full-fledged anniversary tour for the album or if the show will involve Davis performing Daddy, which he has not done for many years.
The self-titled debut is seen by many as the moment nu-metal was born. Home to some of the band's signature songs, Blind and Shoots and Ladders the album which was produced by Ross Robinson has reportedly gone on to sell over 10 million copies. Robinson, who is renowned for his work not only with Korn but with their nu-metal contemporaries Limp Bizkit, Sepultura, Soulfly and Slipknot revealed that he once warned Korn guitarist James 'Munky' Shaffer "not to get scared" when he pressed play on the first Slipknot record because Slipknot were "ruthless".
"I remember handing [Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer] the CD and saying, 'Dude, be careful when you press play. This is ruthless. Don't get scared.' I was just like, 'This is ruthless.' He never mentioned it after that. I don't know what his reaction was."
Robinson, who has earned the moniker of 'The Godfather of Nu-Metal' elaborates further, revealing the primary difference he saw between Korn and Slipknot even at that early stage of Slipknot's career.
"But for me in that moment, especially with those two songs, it was like, 'Mmm, this is great.' Because [Korn] were already onto 'Got the Life,' and they were the biggest band in the world at the time, doing a lot of awesome songs and hits and things. But it wasn't ruthless."
Talking to Maniacs in 2022, guitarist James 'Munky' Shaffer shed some light on the guitarists that influenced him to become the player that he is.
Who are your favourite guitarists? Who influenced you growing up, or do you still wish that you could play like?
Jimmy Page, amazing, you feel like that's his voice when he is playing, the soul comes through his hand. Especially when you see the performances with the bow, even now when I look back on those old live videos I find myself thinking "what the fuck?' Steve Vai is another one, I'm a big Steve Vai fan because he can do it with his eyes closed, it feels like he literally makes that guitar talk. He was probably the biggest influence on my playing, he and Joe Satriani's 'Surfing With The Alien' was another big one. When Steve brought out the 'Passion and Warfare' album with the 7-string that's when I decided I had to get one of those guitars.
Eddie Van Halen was another one, god rest his soul, I remember hearing 'Eruption' for the first time I didn't know what it was. I didn't understand. It was like "what is that, who is that, how can I be like that and do that myself?" One more guitar player who influenced me but is a bit off of the path is Marc Ribot who plays a lot of free jazz stuff, he plays on a lot of John Zorn projects, and Robin Fincke who plays with Nine Inch Nails, he's very underrated and very much a fucking badass.
He also chose Blind from KORN as his personal 'walk-out' song.
If you could have a song play whenever you enter a room, wrestling style, what song would you like it to be?
Oh, God. I think people already whisper are you ready? When I walk into a restaurant. So I'm going to have to choose Blind."
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