BRIAN WELCH

'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 lead guitar with the act as well as provided backup vocals.

Contents

Early life

Musical career

1991

With Korn

Guitars

As a solo artist

Personal life

Works

With Korn

With Limp Bizkit

Solo

Books

References

External links

Early life

Welch was raised 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.

Musical career

1991

Welch met Reginald Arvizu (aka Fieldy), Korn's future bassist in high school and they formed a group called Pierct, which later changed their name to Toy after a few line up changes, which included the addition of guitarist James 'Munky' Shaffer, who would also later join Korn. 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 Munky. Welch toured with L.A.P.D. and acted as their roadie. 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 Korn.

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]

Guitars

Welch's main — if not exclusive — guitar 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.

As a solo artist

As of February 2005, 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.

Personal life

On July 6, 1998, while the band was on the UK version of Ozzfest, Welch's wife Rebekah 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. The two reside in Arizona.
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."
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.
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 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 been tattooed with the words ''Matthew 11:28'' ("Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."), Matthew 6:19 ("Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.") 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]
He has recently built a home, which he calls "head home" for a group of Indian children numbering over 200.

Works

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)
Other work

★ ''Neidermeyer's Mind'', 1993

With Limp Bizkit

★ Results May Vary 2003 (Welch helped with guitar on some songs for the album after orginal guitarist Wes Borland left the band in 2001. Some songs recorded with Welch were left unreleased, along with a number of songs for those recording sessions for the album. Welch stopped recording with the band after Mike Smith (guitarist) became the new Limp Bizkit guitarist). Welch is credited with playing the guitar parts in the song "''Build a Bridge''".

Solo

★ ''It's Time to See Religion Die'', to be released in late 2007

Books

★ ''Save Me From Myself'', released July 3 2007: http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11539347/

References

1. Brian 'Head' Welch Leaves Korn, Citing Moral Objections To Band's Music. ''mtv.com''
2. Ex-Korn guitarist baptized in Jordan River. ''usatoday.com''
3. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/jonathan_davis_vs_head.html
4. Paula Zahn Now: Guitarist Finds God. ''transcripts.cnn.com''
5. News Archive: Former KORN Guitarist: 'The Jesus Tattoo On My Hand Keeps Me From Masturbating'

External links

★ Welch's official website

★ Interview with Christianity Today (dated 8/07)