As it turns out, Human Waste Project vocalist Aimee Echo left quite a lasting mark on Korn frontman Jonathan Davis. In the mid to late 90s, her alternative metal band seemed poised to breakout amid their nü-metal contemporaries, signing with Hollywood Records for their lone album, their 1997 debut effort “e-lux“.
However, while the group managed to build up some steam overseas, “e-lux” didn’t fare as well in the United States, leading to the label problems. Those issues wound up compounding with creative differences within the band, leading to their ultimate dissolution in 1998.
Vocalist Aimee Echo and drummer Scott Ellis went on to form theSTART, an alt rock project who landed a deal with Geffen Records for their 2001 debut album “Shakedown!“. Human Waste Project guitarist Roman Marisak and bassist Jeff Schartoff also found a home at Geffen with their industrial nü-metal project Professional Murder Music, releasing their self-titled debut through that label in 2001 as well. Guitarist Mike Tempesta meanwhile went on to join Powerman 5000 in 1998, where he remained a member until 2004.
While Human Waste Project‘s legacy is frequently overlooked these days, Echo‘s impact and handiwork has at least been seen and heard by millions. A newly published retrospective on Human Waste Project over at Metal Hammer serves as a reminder that Echo actually gave Korn frontman Jonathan Davis his iconic eyebrow piercing as part of her day job at a body piercing shop.
A friendship between the pair would follow, with Davis, joining them on a cover of The Go-Go’s‘ 1981 single “This Town” (see below.) It would also seem that her friendship with Davis opened a number of doors for the group, including an introduction to Korn, Slipknot, etc. producer Ross Robinson, who would sit behind the boards for “e-lux“.
Echo‘s impact also spilled over into Korn‘s early catalog, as Davis‘ unrequited feelings for Echo in the early 90s inspired the lyrics for “Need To“, the second single from Korn‘s 2x platinum self-titled debut album. Davis came clean about the origins of his lyrics that track just over a decade ago, telling Metal Hammer in 2015:
“Do you remember the band Human Waste Project? Well, this song is about their singer, Aimee Echo. No one knows that, but you can print it. We were really good friends back in the day, and we never hooked up, and never did anything, but the vibe was there. I don’t think I ever told her this, but I guess she’s going to find out now…”
