Given how many artists love the movement today, it’s sometimes difficult to remember just how hated nu-metal was once upon a time. Almost the instant that it went from scrappy underground take on metal to the dominant guitar-based lifeform on the planet, nu-metal was simultaneously labeled fake, shallow, and stupid. Back in the day, a band like Korn would never take ownership of the genre — and yet today, looking back at it, the band are quite proud of the misanthropic little baby they spawned.
“We’re proud to be seen as scene elders,” guitarist Brian “Head” Welch told Metal Hammer. “It’s funny, every band that would be associated with nu metal never liked that title, because we never gave that tag to ourselves, it was whoever made it up, you know? When you’re in a band, you want to call the shots, you want to be In charge of your branding, and it was someone else who branded us that. And so we were like, No, that’s not cool. So we didn’t like it.
“But nu metal, love it or hate it, and Korn, has stood the test of time. And we’re very grateful that we can be looked at as the originators, and that we started something that still reverberates all these decades later, and people are still liking it. And, you know, the nu metal era was a fun time. I’ll tell you what, you know, these type of shows, there were no boring shows.
“People can say all they want about nu metal, or whatever, but you come to a Korn show, you’re going to see energy, you’re going to see a party, and it’s going to be a fun time” concludes Head. “Even as we’re getting older, it’s still just a rush, every show. We love our fans, we love the energy, and we’re grateful for what we created.”
Keep the dream alive by catching Korn at one of their upcoming live dates with Chevelle and Code Orange later this year. And to read more about Korn and other metal mayhem, make sure to subscribe to our daily newsletter.
1/31 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Footprint Center^
2/1 – San Diego, Calif. @ Viejas Arena^
2/4 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Banc of California Stadium^
2/5 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Banc of California Stadium^
3/4 – Springfield, Mo. @ JQH Arena*
3/5 – Kansas City, Mo. @ T-Mobile Center*
3/7 – Fort Wayne, Ind. @ Allen County War Memorial Coliseum*
3/8 – Evansville, Ind. @ Ford Center*
3/10 – Knoxville, Tenn. @ University of Tennessee – Thompson-Boling Arena*
3/11 – Greensboro, N.C. @ Greensboro Coliseum Complex*
3/13 – Huntington, W.V. @ Mountain Health Arena*
3/15 – Hershey, Pa. @ Giant Center*
3/16 – Providence, R.I. @ Dunkin Donuts Center*
3/19 – Manchester, N.H. @ SNHU Arena*
3/20 – Albany, N.Y. @ Times Union Center*
3/22 – Rochester, N.Y. @ Blue Cross Arena*
3/23 – Saginaw, Mich. @ Dow Event Center*
3/25 – Moline, Ill. @ TaxSlayer Center*
3/26 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ Target Center*
3/28 – Des Moines, Iowa @ Wells Fargo Arena*
3/29 – Madison, Wis. @ The Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center*
3/31 – Oklahoma City, Okla. @ Paycom Center*
4/1 – Wichita, Kan. @ INTRUST Bank Arena*
freestar
^ = w/ System of a Down, Helmet, Russian Circles
* = w/ Chevelle and Code Orange
***
Words by Chris Krovatin
