KoRn

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Here’s a tough career decision: To be an assistant county coroner or a Rocker. Actually, it wasn’t much of a decision for Jonathon “HIV” Davis. Leaving his day job behind Davis was lead singer in the hard Rockin’ Sexart. But when Sexart ran into LAPD (another group) things started to happen. LAPD members James “Munky” Shaffer (guitar) and Brian “Head” Welch (guitar) saw Davis and were impressed. So Sexart was history and KoRn was born with Davis choosing the name. Added to the line-up were Reggie “Fieldy Snuts” Arvizu (bass) and David Silveria (drums). Both had played with the guitarists in previous groups.

KoRn’s self-titled ‘94 debut featured the darkly metallic “Shoots and Ladders.” “Life Is Peachy” released in ’96 added to the group’s huge fan base. Of course, there was the famous and over publicized Zeeland, MI incident where a student was sent home for wearing a KoRn tee-shirt. The school’s principle claimed the attire was inappropriate since KoRn’s music was “indecent, vulgar and obscene.” KoRn’s marketing department (if they had one) couldn’t have said it better.

KoRn’s next album “Follow The Leader” arriving two years later was undeniable. Blending Rock and Hip-Hop as in “Freak On A Leash” or “Got The Life” KoRn hit the mark. The group wrote all the songs and the performances are dead-on. On top of it, there’s Davis’ over-the-edge vocals. Even Ice Cube appeared on “Children Of The KoRn” which contained all the words you still can’t say on the radio.

The next stop was ‘98’s wryly titled Family Value’s Tour. Blaming the whole ‘family values” concept on former VP Dan Quayle they invited him to the shows. Apparently, Quayle was busy or otherwise occupied or maybe he was just too easy a target.

Returning to a more metallic sound KoRn released “Issues” in ’99 with the Grunge influenced riff Rockers “Falling Away” and Trash.”

KoRn fans have everything the group has produced. That said, “Follow The Leader” and “Issues” are KoRn’s best albums for different reasons. “Follow The Leader” has the most going on and manages to succeed most of the time. “Issues” is a return to the hard-edged sound that KoRn is known for. Overall, KoRn’s self-titled debut is stronger than their sophomore album “Life Is Peachy.”