Korn frontman Jonathan Davis was interviewed by Westworld.com recently and discussed the band’s legacy, their next album and his upcoming side projects, which include dipping his toes into country with Big & Rich and a side project with Marilyn Manson. Some excerpts can be found below:
On being credited as nu-metal pioneers and not being a ‘metal band’:
“I mean, whatever. It’s flattering that there was this whole new genre that we created, or helped create. But call it what you want. I was there twenty years ago and I’m still here twenty years later.
I know critics hated that shit. And it was the same when they used to call us a metal band. Twenty years later, Korn is still not just a metal band. What happened is metal fans embraced us and we play in the metal scene. But as for us being a metal band, I don’t see it. We’re more of a funk band, like groove-metal, than anything. I remember back in the mid-’90s, we were all like, “We’re not a metal band, we’re not a metal band.” And there’s all this nu-metal shit, too. Everyone misunderstood us. But I don’t care anymore. Call us anything you want. We’re still here and we’re still playing shows and I’m happy.”
On working with country artists Big & Rich:
“The Big & Rich thing, I’m doing a country record. It’s a record to commemorate the Bakersfield sound. I’m not going country or touring as a country artist. But it’s a compilation of a whole lot of Bakersfield-sound songs that I’m covering with country artists.”
He continued:
“It’s pretty cool. Big & Rich did “Waitin’ in Your Welfare Line” from Buck Owens. They’re doing the background harmonies and all that shit. It’s not like I’m trying to go country, though. I’m from Bakersfield, and it was a huge thing back in the ’60s. I wanted to pay homage to that.”
He also mentioned that a Merle Haggard cover is in the works:
“I need to work on it some more, but I just sang the “Kern River” song. I’m looking for the darker kind of stuff. That’s the vibe I’m going for.”
On his upcoming side project with Marilyn Manson:
“Yeah. I’m going to get back and start working with him on ideas and shit. We hadn’t talked for a long time and we recently hooked up again. He was one of my best friends back in the day. We just rekindled our friendship and started talking a lot about doing something together. I love the dude to death. He’s a great guy. So I’m down to do something cool.”
On Korn‘s progress with their next album, which he described as being “heavier”:
“The guys have some songs written and I’m starting to work on the vocals, and then we’re going to get with a producer and start recording after the tour’s through. I’m thinking we’ll have something done and out probably somewhere next year.”
There’s a lot more to be read from Davis over at Westworld.com.
