Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Korn
68 languages

Article
Talk

Read
View source
View history

Tools

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Korn (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Corn.
Korn
Korn performing at Rock am Ring in 2022
Background information
Origin Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Genres

Nu metal alternative metal

Discography Korn discography
Years active 1993–present
Labels

Loma Vista Concord Prospect Park Caroline[1][2] Roadrunner Elektra Virgin Epic Immortal

Spinoffs

Sexart Jonathan Davis and the SFA

Spinoff of L.A.P.D.
Members

Jonathan Davis
James Shaffer
Reginald Arvizu
Brian Welch
Ray Luzier

Past members

David Silveria

Website kornofficial.com

Korn (stylized as KoЯn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream.

Originally formed in 1993 by three members of the band L.A.P.D., Korn's current lineup features founding members James "Munky" Shaffer (guitar); Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu (bass); Brian "Head" Welch (guitar, backing vocals); and Jonathan Davis (lead vocals, bagpipes), with the addition of Ray Luzier (drums) in 2007, replacing the band's first drummer David Silveria.

Korn made a demo tape, Neidermayer's Mind, in 1993, which was distributed free to record companies and on request to members of the public.[3] Their debut album Korn was released in 1994, followed by their commercial breakthrough, Life Is Peachy, in 1996. The band first experienced mainstream success with Follow the Leader (199 cool and Issues (1999), both of which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.[4] The band's mainstream success continued with Untouchables (2002); Take a Look in the Mirror (2003); and See You on the Other Side (2005).

A compilation album, Greatest Hits Vol. 1, was released in 2004, spanning a decade of singles and concluding the band's recording contract with Immortal Records and Epic Records. They signed to Virgin Records, releasing See You on the Other Side in 2005, and an untitled album in 2007. The band's other recent albums, Korn III: Remember Who You Are (2010) and The Path of Totality (2011), were released via Roadrunner Records, with The Paradigm Shift (2013) being released via Prospect Park and Caroline Records. The Serenity of Suffering saw their return to Roadrunner Records, through which The Nothing was released on September 13, 2019. Their latest album, Requiem, was released via Loma Vista Recordings on February 4, 2022.

As of 2021, Korn had sold more than 40 million records worldwide.[5][6] Twelve of the band's official releases have peaked in the top ten of the Billboard 200, eight of which have peaked in the top five.[4] Seven official releases are certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); two are certified double platinum; one is certified triple platinum; one is certified five times platinum; and two are certified Gold.[7]

Korn has released seven video albums and 50 music videos. The band has released 48 singles, the most notable of which include "Blind"; "Got the Life"; "Freak on a Leash"; "Falling Away from Me"; "Here to Stay"; "Did My Time"; "Twisted Transistor"; "Coming Undone"; and "Get Up!"[8][9][10][11][12] Korn has earned two Grammy Awards out of eight nominations[13][14] and two MTV Video Music Awards out of 11 nominations.[15]
History
Early years and formation (1989–1993)
Korn's original logo

Before Korn was formed, three of the original members of the band were associated with the band L.A.P.D. – James Shaffer, Reginald Arvizu, and David Silveria.[16][17][18] Originally consisting of Richard Morrill, James Shaffer, and Reginald Arvizu, David Silveria joined when he was 16.[17] When the band moved from Bakersfield, California to Los Angeles, Silveria dropped out of high school and Shaffer stayed in Bakersfield.[19] When Shaffer reunited with the band, they found a manager and released an EP entitled Love and Peace Dude in 1989 through Triple X Records.[20][21] L.A.P.D. released their first full-length studio album on May 3, 1991, which consisted of 11 tracks. The album was entitled Who's Laughing Now.[22] After releasing two albums, L.A.P.D. broke up. They were also briefly known as Creep, recording a demo with a singer named Corey until Shaffer, Arvizu, and Silveria enlisted Brian Welch and Jonathan Davis to form the band that went on to become Korn.[23]
"Predictable" (1993)
Duration: 27 seconds.0:27
30-second sample of the song "Predictable" which the band would eventually re-record for their debut album. Neidermayer's Mind featured the first captured, recorded sound of Korn in the form of four tracks.[3]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

When thinking of a band name, someone suggested "corn", but the band rejected that name, so Shaffer had the idea to spell the name with a "K" instead of a "C", and a backwards "R", so the band's name would appear as "KoЯn".[23] The idea of using a backwards "R" came from the logo of toy retailer Toys R Us, for which many of the band members had previously worked.[23] The logo was designed by vocalist Jonathan Davis.[3] Silveria explained, "the music makes the name, because Korn's a dumb name. But once we get established, it makes the name cool."[3]

Korn rented a studio from Jeff Creath called Underground Chicken Sound, in Huntington Beach, California. While they were recording at Underground Chicken Sound, a crowd had been loitering outside the studio.[24] The band began playing a prelude to a later song "Clown", resulting in a larger crowd gathering. Arvizu said the crowd gathered because it sounded so "different."[25] Korn started performing at gigs in the summer of 1993, with members saying that touring was a "pain-in-the-a**." While in Huntington Beach, the band was spotted by Immortal Records A&R employee Paul Pontius. Pontius would describe Korn's sound as "the new genre of rock." In 1993, Korn released their first demo album, Neidermayer's Mind. The album had very limited printing and was not well received by critics or the public.[3] It was released to record companies and to people who filled out a flyer given out at gigs they played for free with Biohazard and House of Pain.[3] With this demo, Korn pioneered the nu metal sound, riffs, and rhythm.[26][27]
Korn (1994–1996)

By May 1994, Korn began recording their debut album with Ross Robinson.[28] It was finished recording by the end of June 1994.[25] On October 11, 1994, Korn released a self-titled album through Immortal Records (an Epic imprint label)[29] which peaked at number one on the Heatseekers Albums chart[30] and would eventually reach number 72 on the Billboard 200 in February 1996.[4] The album received positive reviews by critics, and it is said to have established the new wave of metal.[31][32] As well as sparking the nu metal genre, the album also started record producer Ross Robinson's music career.[31] It also influenced other bands, such as Slipknot, Coal Chamber, and Limp Bizkit.[31][32]

After Korn finished recording the album, they began touring with Biohazard and House of Pain. Their record company gave them enough money for their own tour bus. Korn's first gig was in Atlanta.[33] About halfway through the tour, the tour bus that their record company gave them stopped working and Korn had to find a new one.[34] Their first tour was not very successful in promoting the album.[35]

The band went on tour with Sick of It All in January 1995.[36] The band embarked on their first European tour, including at LA2 in London and L'Arapaho in Paris.[37] Later that year, Korn was chosen alongside Deftones as direct support for Ozzy Osbourne.[38] The self-titled album went gold in the midst of the tour[38] and was eventually certified two-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[7] Aside from touring, Korn released four singles. "Blind" was released on August 1, 1994, and "Shoots and Ladders" was released on October 31, 1995. The latter received a Grammy nomination in 1997 for Best Metal Performance.[39] "Need To" was also released in 1995, on April 8. The fourth and final single, "Clown", was released on February 2, 1996. "Blind" was the only single to chart, peaking at number 15 on the Canadian RPM Alternative 30.[40]
Life Is Peachy (1996–1997)

After the success of their debut, Korn decided to enter the studio again for a second album.[35] By then, the band had created a large fan base and the expectations for their follow-up album were high.[35][41] They went back into the studio in early April 1996 at Indigo Ranch Studios, Malibu, California.[35]

…We went in really fresh, and we wanted to get it done quickly to capture that energy. So it was probably about 60% knowing what I was going to play and 40% just playing whatever came to mind at that moment… It ended up really good, and it has a kind of energy I probably wouldn't have gotten if I'd worked everything out before hand.

David Silveria on Life Is Peachy's drum quality.[42]

The album was released October 15, 1996[43] and despite minimal radio airplay and television attention, Life Is Peachy debuted at number three on the Billboard 200,[4][35][42] and peaked at number one in New Zealand.[44] The album sold 106,000 copies in its first week.[45] Jon Pareles from The New York Times said that the band was "mad at everybody, including themselves." The album was certified double platinum in the United States, platinum in Australia, and gold in Canada.[7][46][47]

The first single, "No Place to Hide", spawned a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.[48] "A.D.I.D.A.S." was released as the second single on March 4, 1997. It became the band's first charting single on Billboard, peaking at number 13 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[49] The third single, "Good God", was released on July 14, 1997.[50] A promotional disc was released in 1997 to promote both the band and the Life Is Peachy Tour featuring Incubus and the Urge and included three live tracks.[51]
Korn onstage performing under red lights
Arvizu (left) and Silveria (right) at the Brixton Academy in London during the Life Is Peachy Tour, February 24, 1997

Korn gained more popularity after co-headlining the Lollapalooza summer tour festival in 1997 with Tool. However, Korn was forced to stop touring after Shaffer was diagnosed with viral meningitis.[52] The band remained relatively quiet during the end of the year, resting and setting new goals.[53] The band then founded their own label, Elementree Records, to sign and introduce new bands to their fans.[54] The label was run by Davis who first signed Orgy.[55] Silveria influenced Davis to sign them.[56]

Prior to the release of 1998's Follow the Leader, Gretchen Plewes, a Zeeland, Michigan high school assistant principal, said in an interview for a Michigan newspaper that Korn's music is "indecent, vulgar, obscene and intends to be insulting" after giving a student named Eric VanHoven a one-day suspension for wearing a shirt with the Korn logo on it.[57] WKLQ was filmed giving away hundreds of free Korn T-shirts, which were donated by the band outside the school. Ottawa County policemen also helped hand out shirts.[58][59] Korn filed a cease and desist order against Plewes and the school district for their comments. They also threatened a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, but both actions were dropped due to the band members' personal lives.[60] The period from 1993 to 1997 was embodied by wearing apparel that contained Adidas clothing brand.[61]
Follow the Leader (1998–1999)

In 1998, Korn signed a publishing contract with Warner Chappell Music.[62] While Korn was waiting for a full partnership with Adidas (which had previously sponsored Run-DMC), the brand refused to sign a contract with Korn. In a contradictory argument, Adidas told them: "We do sports, not music". In 1998, Puma seized the opportunity and offered a $500,000 deal to Korn, including their music featured in Kevin Kerslake-directed advertisements. Korn accepted the contract; Davis said, "That's more than Adidas ever did for us! It wasn't a sell-out thing. It was about respect."[63][64]

Prior to the release of the band's third album, Korn produced a weekly online TV show called KornTV,[65][66] which documented the making of the record and featured special guests such as porn star Ron Jeremy, Limp Bizkit, and 311.[66] The project also gave fans (nicknamed "nibletz" wink the chance to call in and ask the band questions, an approach that represented one of the first times a band utilized the Internet in such a way.[67] Korn released their third album Follow the Leader on August 18, 1998,[68] which featured a number of guest vocalists such as Ice Cube; Pharcyde member Tre Hardson; Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit; and actor Cheech Marin on the hidden track "Earache My Eye" (written by Marin himself).[67]
"Freak on a Leash" (199 cool
Duration: 28 seconds.0:28
Both "Freak on a Leash" and "Got the Life" are considered to be among the first music videos retired from MTV's Total Request Live.[69] The song was described as a "rolling exorcism."[70]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Korn launched a political campaign-styled tour to promote Follow the Leader’s release, [71][72] which took the group on a chartered jet all over North America.[71] They talked to fans and answered questions during special "fan conferences" organized at every stop along the tour route and signed autographs. Jim Rose of the Jim Rose Circus hosted the entire "Kampaign" tour.[71][73]

The album was considered a complete success by the band, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 with at least 268,000 copies sold in its first week of release[74][75] and, among other singles, spawning two of their biggest singles: "Got the Life" and "Freak on a Leash".[71] They both exposed Korn to a wider mainstream audience, with the music videos being mainstays on MTV's Total Request Live. "Got the Life" was the show's very first "retired" video,[69][76][77] with "Freak on a Leash" also reaching retirement several months later.[69][78][79] In September 1998, Korn signed with a second music publisher, Zomba Music Group, through negotiations of the band's then-manager Jeff Kwatinetz (the former CEO of The Firm), along with co-founders Peter Katsis and Michael Green.[62]

"Freak on a Leash" won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form, and received a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.[80] The video also earned nine MTV Video Music Awards nominations for Video of the Year; Best Rock Video; Breakthrough Video; Best Direction; Best Special Effects; Best Art Direction; Best Cinematography; Best Editing; and Viewer's Choice.[81] It eventually won two awards for Best Rock Video and for Best Editing.[69][82][83] "Freak on a Leash" failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100, although it did manage to peak at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[49] Follow the Leader is considered by members of Korn to be the band's most commercially–successful album,[69][84] being certified five-times Platinum by the RIAA[7] and having sold almost 10 million copies worldwide.[85]
Issues (1999–2001)

The band's fourth album, Issues, produced by Brendan O'Brien, was released on November 16, 1999,[86] featuring cover art designed by Alfredo Carlos, who won an MTV contest held for the fans.[87] Issues was released during a week of many highly anticipated records. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with at least 573,000 copies sold,[88] keeping Dr. Dre's second album 2001 and All the Way... A Decade of Song by Céline Dion from hitting number one.[88]

To celebrate the album's release, the band performed the record in its entirety in front of a live audience at New York's historic Apollo Theater and broadcast the concert simultaneously across many radio stations.[89][90] This performance marked the first performance by a rock band since Buddy Holly in the late 1950s.[91] This special event featured the New York Police Department marching drum and bagpipe band conducted by Richard Gibbs, as well as a group of backup singers to enhance the more melodic choruses Davis used on the album.[91] A snippet of "Falling Away from Me" was featured on RealVideo with a brief interpretive dance by bassist Reginald Arvizu,[92] and also featured on their official website as an MP3 file, although its release was against the advice of its attorneys and the corporate establishment.[93] The album was also promoted by the band's highly successful Sick and Twisted Tour.

A little before Korn's album Issues was released, the band appeared on an episode of South Park titled "Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery", in which the first single from Issues, "Falling Away from Me", was premiered.[94][95] The single became Korn's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 99.[8] "Make Me Bad" was released as the album's second single in February 2000, peaking at number 14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[49] A third single, "Somebody Someone", followed with more moderate success.

Music videos were filmed for all three singles, with long-time friend Fred Durst directing "Falling Away from Me" and Martin Weisz directing a concept video for "Make Me Bad", as well as a performance-based video for "Somebody Someone", which featured CGI effects. Every video was a staple on Total Request Live, two of which made it to retirement.[78] Issues was described by Stephen Thomas Erlewine to be less hip hop-oriented than Follow the Leader.[86] It was certified three-times Platinum,[7] following up the success of Follow the Leader. In 2001, the brand PONY reappeared in the clothing industry and initiated a partnership with Korn.[64]
Untouchables (2002–2003)
"Here to Stay" (2002)
Duration: 31 seconds.0:31
"Here to Stay", the first single from Untouchables, went on to win Korn a Grammy in 2003. Jon Wiederhorn said "Although 'Here to Stay' is clearly a scathing commentary on contemporary America, Davis stressed that it's merely a wake-up call, not a cry for action."[96]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

On June 11, 2002,[97] Korn re-emerged into the media with their fifth album Untouchables. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with 434,000 in sales.[98] The band has blamed music piracy for the drop in sales, as an unmastered version of the album had leaked three months prior to its official release date.[99][100] On April 2, 2002, the Opie and Anthony Show began airing songs from Untouchables.[100] After playing a few songs, the broadcasters received a cease-and-desist letter from Sony Music Entertainment. Opie and Anthony said "The reason for the premature premiere was to infuriate a rival New York station, which disallows their in-studio guests to appear on 'The Opie and Anthony Show.'"[100] The release of this album was preceded by a show at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York a day prior to the album's release broadcast digitally throughout movie theatres in the United States.[101]

The album contained experiments and styles never previously attempted by Korn. AllMusic related: "The band is far more experimental this time out, delivering Helmet-like ringing guitars that melt and morph into each other, a mix of Metallica-esque blastbeats and tight funk drumming from the constantly improving David Silveria, and memorable riffs that take the shape of dark sound structures and offer more than just a collection of chords."[102] The first two music videos from Untouchables, "Here to Stay" and "Thoughtless", were directed by the Hughes Brothers.[103] "Here to Stay" earned Korn a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.[104] "Here to Stay" peaked at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] During an interview with Wall of Sound, Munky revealed the album was the band's most expensive to make, but it produced several of his favourite songs, including "Thoughtless" and "Here To Stay".[105]
Take a Look in the Mirror and Welch's departure (2003–2005)

Due to the album Untouchables leaking onto the Internet, Take a Look in the Mirror was released on Friday November 21, 2003– four days earlier than its original release date.[106] The album therefore received a weekend's worth of sales, which resulted in a poor showing on the Billboard 200.[107] During its first full week, Take a Look in the Mirror soared ten places from number 19 to number 9, increasing the album's total sales to 179,000.[107]

It is the first album self-produced by Korn. The band explained that they wanted fans to hear the music as it should be.[106] The album presented different styles and themes compared to previous albums. Lead vocalist Jonathan Davis related: "The whole album is about love, hate and my hate of people and just losing my mind. The previous albums I did, I think the last three, I was coming from a place of hurt. And I just finally got to the point where I'm done hurting and I'm just pissed off about it now. It's turned back to just sheer hate and anger. And it definitely comes across on the album." MTV News said that Davis convinced his fans that they "will be shocked, particularly with the album's second track, 'Break Some Off,' which he called 'brutal'."[108]

Korn released the single "Did My Time" on July 22, 2003,[109] which was used to promote the film Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life but did not appear on its soundtrack due to unspecified legal issues.[110] The single debuted and peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Korn's first and only top 40 hit in the United States.[8] "Did My Time" gave Korn another Grammy nomination in the Best Metal Performance category.[111]

Korn released their greatest hits album, Greatest Hits Vol. 1, on October 5, 2004.[112] The album debuted at number four on Billboard, selling more than 129,000 copies.[113] This album assembles choice tracks from six Korn studio albums released between 1994 and 2003. The first single was a cover of the song "Word Up!" originally composed by Cameo.[114] The single peaked at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[49] Special editions of Greatest Hits Vol. 1 included a DVD titled Korn: Live at CBGB, featuring seven select songs from their show of November 24, 2003 at CBGB.[115]

In early 2005, Brian Welch announced that he would be quitting the band. In front of a crowd of 10,000 in three services at Valley Bible Fellowship in Bakersfield, California, Welch said "I was addicted to methamphetamines and tried everything ... rehab, stuff on the Internet, but nothing helped me kick it. I was trying on my own to quit and couldn't do it. I wanted to die. No one knew what I was going through. I could not quit. Church was my last shot. I would sit in church high [on drugs]. I would wonder why people would go up to the front after the service. But one day it was for me. I said [to God], 'Show me how to quit.'"[116][117]

In a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone, Head described his final moments in the band as very tense: "the last year I was in the band, we were gonna kick out the bass player, Fieldy, and this guy's girlfriend couldn't be on this side of the stage because there were fights with another wife in the band. And obviously the drugs – it's no secret I was into the drugs, so crazy stuff, like having to finish our blow right before we got to the border because they were gonna come check to see if we had anything."[118] Following his departure from Korn, Welch released two autobiographies, a solo album, and formed a band named Love and Death, which released a debut album in 2013.[119][120]
See You on the Other Side and Silveria's departure (2005–2007)
Korn in 2006

Upon completing their record deal with Sony, Korn partnered with EMI and signed to Virgin Records. As part of this innovative arrangement, Virgin paid Korn $25 million upfront in exchange for a share in the profits of their next two studio albums, including tours and merchandising. Virgin also received a 30 percent stake in the band's licensing, ticket sales, and other revenue sources.[121][122]

It's taking Korn into another dimension for the listener, I think, that takes you to another world. I think it's really emotional, as far as it's not so anger-based. You know, I think it's a more well-rounded emotional journey it kinda takes you on, the listener.

James "Munky" Shaffer on See You on the Other Side.[123]

The band's first album for Virgin Records, See You on the Other Side, was released on December 6, 2005,[124] and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200,[4] scanning close to 221,000 copies.[125] The album managed to stay in the top half of the Billboard 200 for 34 consecutive weeks.[4] The first single from the album, "Twisted Transistor", was accompanied by a music video directed by Dave Meyers in which hip hop artists Xzibit, Lil Jon, Snoop Dogg, and David Banner portray Korn.[126] "Twisted Transistor" peaked at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] The second single, "Coming Undone", was released in February 2006, peaking at number 79 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] The music video was directed by Little X.[127] See You on the Other Side was certified Platinum in the United States,[7] and by mid-2007, the album had sold over 2.2 million copies worldwide.[128]

Korn held a press conference at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on January 13, 2006, announcing the See You on the Other Side Tour.[129] 10 Years and Mudvayne were selected to open all dates of the tour, which kicked off in their hometown of Bakersfield on what Mayor Harvey Hall officially declared as "Korn Day", February 24.[130] The resurrection of their Family Values Tour was announced on April 18, 2006, which featured co-headliners Deftones, Stone Sour, Flyleaf, and the Japanese metal group Dir En Grey on the main stage.[131] Korn and Evanescence co-headlined the 2007 edition, with Atreyu, Flyleaf, Hellyeah, and Trivium rounding out the main stage.[132]

While promoting See You on the Other Side in Europe, Jonathan Davis was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a blood platelet disorder that hospitalized him for the weekend and prevented him from performing at the renowned Download Festival.[133] Despite the illness, the band still performed with guest singers, including Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour fame; Trivium's Matt Heafy; Skindred's Benji Webbe; and Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows. This led to Korn canceling the rest of their European bill for 2006,[134] including the Hellfest Summer Open Air. It was originally unknown to the public what his ailment was, but the singer revealed in a letter to fans that he was "dangerously low on blood platelets and at a high risk of death from a hemorrhage if the problem was not treated".[135]

In early December 2006 it was announced that founding drummer David Silveria would be taking an indefinite "temporary hiatus" from the band.[136][137] Korn then performed at the MTV studios in Times Square on December 9, 2006, for the MTV Unplugged series, which was broadcast on February 23, 2007, through MTV.com and on March 2, 2007, across North American, South American, European, and Asian MTV stations.[138] Korn played a 14-song acoustic set, complete with guest appearances by the Cure and Amy Lee of Evanescence.[139] The performance was eventually cut down to 11 songs for the album, two of which did not air on MTV. Sales of nearly 51,000 brought MTV Unplugged: Korn to number nine in its first week out.[140]
Untitled eighth album and Luzier's addition (2007–200 cool

Korn's untitled album was released on July 31, 2007, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 with 123,000 copies sold in its first week.[141] The album was certified gold by the RIAA.[7] It concluded Korn's deal with Virgin Records[142] and features touring keyboardist Zac Baird.[143] Drumming duties were left up to Terry Bozzio and Bad Religion's Brooks Wackerman, as David Silveria went on a hiatus.[144] Joey Jordison from Slipknot played drums during Korn's live shows until the permanent addition of Ray Luzier (Army of Anyone, David Lee Roth). This confirmed David's departure.[145][146][147]

"Evolution" and "Hold On" were released as singles to promote the untitled album. The former peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[49] A third single, "Kiss", had a limited release in April 2008.[148] Korn covered the song "Kidnap the Sandy Claws" in 2008, which was originally performed by Paul Reubens, Catherine O'Hara, and Danny Elfman and was released on the compilation album Nightmare Revisited.[149]

Ubisoft reported in October 2008 that Korn had "written and recorded an original song inspired by Ubisoft's Haze video game, simply entitled "Haze",[150] which was released on April 22, 2008.[151] Korn also released a live DVD, Live at Montreux 2004, one of their performances with former guitarist Brian Welch on May 12, 2008.[152]
Korn III: Remember Who You Are (2009–2011)
"Oildale (Leave Me Alone)" (2010)
Duration: 29 seconds.0:29
Roadrunner Records said that "Oildale (Leave Me Alone)" "buzzes with an eerie clean guitar that slowly gives way to a steamrolling bass and riff assault."[153]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

In a YouTube video, bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu affirmed that a charity song titled "A Song for Chi" would be released, featuring Slipknot guitarist Jim Root; Clint Lowery of Sevendust; drummer Dave McClain of Machine Head; and former Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, among many other musicians.[154] The song was intended to raise money for Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who fell into a comatose state following a car accident in November 2008.[155]

...Korn III: Remember Who You Are isn't a numbering device, it signifies an opening of another phase in Korn's career. Somehow, the band has bypassed a Korn II altogether in their discography, but it's commonly acknowledged that the tail-end of the 2000s found the group floundering a bit, going so far as to flirt with the Matrix in an attempt to figure out which direction to go now that they've hit middle age.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine on Korn III: Remember Who You Are[156]

Along with the announcement of the Ballroom Blitz Tour in March 2010, the title for the new album was revealed as Korn III: Remember Who You Are.[157][158] Later that month, Munky announced that Korn has officially signed to Roadrunner Records.[142] Jonathan Davis later confirmed the record deal: "We're going to go to Roadrunner. [It is] real exciting for us, too, because they're one of the last record companies to let you do what you want to do." Davis continued, "All the great bands around are on that label and everything seems to just work out right and it seems like a good home for us right now."[142]

The lead single, "Oildale", was made available for streaming in May 2010.[159] "Oildale (Leave Me Alone)" was simultaneously released to radio stations and became a top-10 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock airplay chart.[10] A music video directed by Phil Mucci received an exclusive premiere on MTV2.[160]

Korn III: Remember Who You Are was released on July 13, 2010.[156] It debuted and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 with 63,000 purchases reported.[4][161] A second single, "Let the Guilt Go", was released that same month, reaching number 23 on Mainstream Rock.[10] "Pop a Pill" was scheduled to be the third single from Korn III: Remember Who You Are, but plans were scrapped by Roadrunner Records due to unsatisfactory results with previous singles.[162] Korn co-headlined the Music as a Weapon V tour with Disturbed in late 2010 and early 2011.[163] The tour also featured supporting acts Sevendust and In This Moment.[163]