Back in the prehistoric days when neanderthals like Geocities and MP3.com walked the net, Korn was the baddest band in the world. When I was in the 7th grade, I would go to my Catholic grade school non-uniform days strictly in Korn attire, and would scream “Faget” lyrics during recess at the cool kids playing with Nerf footballs. I’d also go to middle school dances with over-sized JNCO Jeans knockoffs, a Korn beanie, and those lame-looking ball chain chokers that hot girls were never really that into. Oh, how the times have changed.
Here we are in July 2010; thankfully I’ve made it through my pubescent phase of being a Korn kid just in time for the release of the band’s ninth studio album, “Korn III: Remember Who You Are”. Looking back on my preteen years, I would never have guessed that Korn would go on to sell over 30 million records worldwide and become a household brand name that even my grandmother is acquainted with. Neither did Ross Robinson.
In 2009, a few months before Korn started tracking their latest outing, I did an extensive interview with Ross Robinson, the renowned producer. I asked Robinson how he comprehends the many platinum Korn plaques on his wall.
“It’s only one person at a time,” he stated. “When the first record came out, [James “Munky” Shaffer] called me up, he goes ‘goddd, dude, you aren’t gonna believe it! There were 500 people that opened our CD and took the package off! Then they opened it up and put it in their player this week. Can you believe that?!? 500! Godddddd!’ Yeah, 500. That was more amazing than platinums and all that.”
I also asked Robinson what he brings to the table for bands. I mean, what was one to expect in a recording session for “Korn III”? His response:
“I get a scalpel and jam it in the top of your chest, then cut you all the way down into your fucking pelvis.”
With this bit of information, I thought it would only make sense to get the band’s perspective on recording ‘Korn III’ with the scalpel-crazed producer. I decided to interrogate Korn drummer Ray Luzier to get the inside scoop on what went down with the making of the band’s new album, as well as get some details on Munky’s anticipated side-project Fear and the Nervous System, and to see what was up with former guitarist Brian “Head” Welch.
Here is Korn drummer Ray Luzier on Ryan’s Rock Show: