Korn Guitarist Finds God, Leaves Band

Reuters ^ | 02.22.05 | Jonathan Cohen

[Rastus]

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch has parted ways with the hard rock act, citing a recent religious awakening.

Welch broke the news Sunday on Bakersfield, Calif., station KRAB-FM.

"I had it in my heart to come here and explain to you," Welch said. "I'm good friends with Korn. I love those guys, and they love me, and they're very happy for me."

Addressing the aggressive tone of the music he made with Korn, Welch said, "Anger is a good thing, and if kids want to listen to Korn, good, but there's happiness after the anger. I'm going to show it through my actions how much I love my fans."

Welch added that he would be appearing at a local church on Feb. 27, during which time he would "speak (about) how I got to this place in my life, and I'll answer all your questions."

On its official Web site (http://www.korn.com), Korn's remaining members said they respect Welch's wishes and hope "he finds the happiness he is searching for." The group is in the studio working on a new album, due in September, which will be its first since fulfilling its contract with Epic last year.

For now, no replacement for Welch has been named, nor has a new label home for the band.

[rudy45]

Whatever happened to Dan Peek (?sp?) formerly of America?

[KidGlock]

Sounds like the makings of another good Christian band.

[PilloryHillary]

AWESOME, if true.

[KidGlock]

Kerry Livgren

With Ronnie James Dio on vocals. (Mask of the Deceiver? I believe.)

[angcat]

Love Dio!

[Skooz]

His hair and his tattoo are just fine.

".... man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."
--I Samuel 16:7b

[newcats]

Too many of these guys really get into the satanic stuff and don't make it out.

Satanic stuff?
Have you ever even heard KORN song?
Or is it just that all rock music is Satanic?
Or maybe it's his hair? Yea that's it, all long hair musicians are satanists!!

[Capitalism2003]

" I listen to KORN thank you very much. When Im having a stressful crazy day, I turn on my ipod and go for a powerwalk."

I'm not the only one...wooo! Blind and Clown are my favorite stress buster songs.

[RonPaulLives]

I don't know much about "Korn," but wish this gentleman the best in his newfound faith. Funny you should mention Bride; they are from right here in the Louisville area. They get huge crowds across the globe (even in Brazil), much larger than in their own hometowns. Odd.

[BibChr]

Funny, isn't it, how They just can't say that a person has become a Christian, in any specific way.

So he's going to speak in a church. If it's for a brief testimony before he disappears for awhile, great. Otherwise, he should just disappear. I'd say that for any celebrity-type: best thing a famous new convert could do would be to get a job at McDonald's, go to church, and keep his mouth shut for awhile. Sink his roots down, get nourished, grow up in Christ. Keep a low profile, at least for a time.

In other words, do as Paul did (Galatians 1:17).

We could give a list of celebrity "converts" who popped off right away, then later abandoned ship.

Dan
Biblical Christianity BLOG

[Skooz]

I have a friend who is really into the heavy, HEAVY metal-type Christian rock. About 10 years ago he somehow secured a daily gig on the local CCM radio station.

Throughout the day, the CCM station would play non-offensive, light mainstream, soft-pop contemporary Christian music; and then, at exactly 3:00, screaming, cookie-monster vocal, death metal would rip through the radio. It was hilarious.

[JCEccles]

The more elderly among us will remember when lead guitarist Randy Bachman found religion, and his fellow The Guess Who band members just about swallowed and choked on their bongs and whiskey shot glasses in astonishment. They dis-invited him from the group and promptly disintegrated (even more than Burton Cummings' singing, Bachman's tasteful and hard-melodic chops were the glue that held The Guess Who together).

Bachman had a resurgence with Bachman-Turner Overdrive a few years later, but The Guess Who never did recover.

[sr4402]

May the Lord take him and use him for His glory and turn many from the hateful enemy.

[Skooz]

I was a huge BTO fan as a teenager. I remember that Randy forbade any drinking by band members on the road.

[Ol' Sox]

I'm just trying to get past "Heavy Metal Family Band." I'll work on Christian rock later.

I know how you feel. I tore my brainpan when this came out a few years ago...

[newcats]

Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?" - 1 Corinthians 11:14

Let's look one verse back....

13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Do you agree with that?

[JCEccles]

You would never guess his attitude about alcohol from listening to "Taking Care of Business" or "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet." They are masterpieces of the party-hearty song genre.

In 1980, Randy Bachman came to some meetings at the church I was attending in Spokane Washington. I was a USAF officer stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base and Bachman was visiting his brother-in-law, a KC-135 pilot at Fairchild. I didn't get to talk with Bachman. All I remember is this big bearded man sitting reverently in a forward pew, wearing what appeared to be incredibly expensive boots.

As I said, the private persona was so unlike the public persona.

[VaBthang4]

"Time to start a new kick a$$ Christian rock band."

I did not read any mention of Jesus. So I do not assume he is Christian. All kinds of handjobs call themselves finding God.

Not saying one way or the other...I'd just need to hear his testimony.

[cspackler]

I hope he finds a good barber and plastic surgeon for the tatoo removal as well.

Why?

[AppyPappy]

It's a Reuters article. They may not know how to phrase it.