Brian Welch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brian Phillip Welch (born June 19, 1970 in Torrance, California), better known by his nickname, "Head," is the former guitarist and founding member of Korn, a multi-platinum, Grammy award winning nu metal band and a major influence in the rise of the nu metal movement. Welch played rhythm and lead guitar with the act as well as provided backup vocals.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Welch was raised in a Christian home in the industrial farm town of Bakersfield, California. Early in his life, Welch claims that he was different from most kids and was picked on a lot in school. His one passion was music. Welch had started playing the guitar at a very young age. While in high school, Welch met James 'Munky' Shaffer, another budding guitarist, and they would play together often.
[edit] Musical career
[edit] Before Korn
Welch first joined a band called Rag Tyme, where he met Reginald 'Fieldy' Arvizu, Korn's future bassist. After the band split, Arvizu and vocalist Rick Morrill went on to form L.A.P.D. ("Love and Peace, Dude" and later, "Laughing As People Die") with future Korn drummer David Silveria and Welch's high school friend, James Shaffer. Welch toured with L.A.P.D. as their second guitarist. The band signed with independent label Triple-X Records and released a 12" single and album, Who's Laughing Now, in 1992. The band's name was then changed to Creep and Welch was taken on as a full-time member. When vocalist Morrill left the band, Welch and Shaffer discovered Jonathan Davis, vocalist for the band Sexart. Davis joined the band in 1993 and the name was changed to KoЯn.
[edit] With Korn
The debut album Korn was released in 1994 and would be the first of many successful albums, including Life Is Peachy in 1996, Follow the Leader in 1998, Issues in 1999, Untouchables in 2002, and Take a Look in the Mirror in 2003.
On February 22, 2005, Korn's management announced that after 13 years, Welch had parted ways with the band, citing that he had "...chosen the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, and will be dedicating his musical pursuits to that end." [1] Welch claims he decided to quit Korn finally after hearing his daughter sing the lyrics "All day I dream about sex" from the Korn song A.D.I.D.A.S.
[edit] Guitars
Welch's main — if not exclusive — guitar was/is an Ibanez 7-string. Most were custom made guitars built and assembled at the Ibanez LA Custom Shop. During the later days in Korn, he, along with James Shaffer, made a signature series Seven String Guitar called the Ibanez K7, which was distributed by Ibanez Guitars. He and Shaffer mainly used Mesa Boogie amps (specifically, a Triple Rectifier or Road King). Favored effects included the Digitech "Whammy pedal" [then known as the Digitech XP-100 Whammy Wah pedal], the Dunlop UV-1 Uni-Vibe, Boss PH-2 Super Phaser, Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Rocktron Tremolo, and the Boss RV-3 delay.
[edit] As a solo artist
As of June 2006, Welch was reported to have been working on his solo album, It's Time to See Religion Die, under the name "Head". He has already made his debut with the song "Kry" and "A Cheap Name", a controversial song about the rapper 50 Cent. He was also said to be releasing a documentary film, "Washed by Blood", which would show Welch's personal struggle with alcohol and drug-addiction at the pinnacle of his career and his later choice of a new life and Christian faith. The film would show life as a recording artist, along with animated vignettes, interviews with current friends, associates and former band members and travel footage from his philanthropic work in India.
[edit] Personal life
On July 6, 1998, while the band was on the UK version of Ozzfest, Brian and his wife Rebekkah gave birth to their first daughter, Jennea Marie Welch. The band left the tour so that Welch could be by his then-wife's side. He and his wife have since divorced and Brian now has custody of their daughter.
On how he got his four-letter moniker, Welch says, "I got a big head... go get me any hat, and it won't fit."
[edit] Public image and Christianity
On March 10, 2005, Welch was baptized in the Jordan River [2] with a group of believers [1] hailing from Bakersfield, California. He has declared that he has rid himself of all drugs in his "own personal rehab" with God, in which he had checked into a hotel room and sat in his bed for countless hours. He has recently built a home, which he calls "The Crib" for a group of Indian children numbering over 200.
Welch and Davis have attacked each other in the media since the former's departure. After he said that Davis and the rest of Korn care only about money, Davis responded in kind, opening a rift between them that may or may not have been resolved. [3]
In July of 2005, Welch appeared on CNN's feature-format program "People In The News" where he admitted to having been addicted to alcohol, methamphetamines, Xanax, and sleeping pills[4] before being reintroduced to the Christian faith.
Welch has also been tattooed with the words Matthew 11:28 ("Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.") and Matthew 5:8 ("Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."). He also has a Jesus tattoo on his hand that Welch claims keeps him from masturbating. [5]
[edit] Works
[edit] With Korn
Studio albums
- Korn, released: October 11, 1994
- Life Is Peachy, released: October 15, 1996
- Follow the Leader, released: August 18, 1998
- Issues, released: November 16, 1999
- Untouchables, released: June 11, 2002
- Take a Look in the Mirror, released: November 25, 2003
Compilation albums
- Greatest Hits Volume 1, released: October 5, 2004
- Live And Rare, released: May 09, 2006 (Head was not in the band at the time however the songs were partially his work)
- Neidermeyer's Mind, 1993
[edit] Solo
- It's Time to See Religion Die, possibly released during December 2006
[edit] References
- ^ Brian 'Head' Welch Leaves Korn, Citing Moral Objections To Band's Music. mtv.com
- ^ Ex-Korn guitarist baptized in Jordan River. usatoday.com
- ^ http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/jonathan_davis_vs_head.html
- ^ Paula Zahn Now: Guitarist Finds God. transcripts.cnn.com
- ^ News Archive: Former KORN Guitarist: 'The Jesus Tattoo On My Hand Keeps Me From Masturbating'. Note: This was listed as being untrue, but can be verified on his website www.headtochrist.com. He is very of proud of that fact! Since Head has left the band there has been some backlash such as the blasphemous "Korn Gave Head To God" t-shirt.
