Rockezine.com interview with Korn on Oct 25, 2005

with Munky on Oct 25, 2005

A month ago I went to a listening session for the upcoming Korn album “See you on the other side” (see specials). After hearing the album I heard that there was a possibility to interview one of the Korn members. So, Tuesday 25th of October 2005 was the big day. I was going to meet Munky in the Grand in Amsterdam. After one hour waiting, listening to the new album, talking to other journalist and people from the record company it was time for me (and my friend Miguel, he was with me to write down everything we talked about) to meet Munky.
		Congratulations with your new and upcoming album. The sound is a bit different. Why this change? It seems to me there are a lot of Marilyn Manson influences, how come? The sound is more industrial/ electronic, you’re correct. The change of the sounds had a lot to do with the change of our new production theme. The same as Nine Inch Nails uses.
		The lyrics of the album are really different from your other albums. These are more political? Jonathan left the past for what it was and wanted to start a new chapter. That’s why the lyrics are more about social issues.
		When you make a new song, how does it see the light? Most of the time we start song writing with a guitar riff I bring in. Then the rest of the band adds the drum, bass and lyrics.
		The last song on the album (“Tearjerker”) is totally different, why is that? It’s spooky and a sad song. It wasn’t a choice to particularly make that song as the last one.
		When are the first tours coming up? First we only do promo stuff (interview, television radio etc.) for the new album. Then we take some rest, in January we are going to tour in Asia and Australia. Around April where’re back in Europe for the festivals.
		On the internet I saw somewhere that you bought your first guitar from Head. After a while you noticed that Head asked too much for the guitar, what did you do with him when you heard that? Haha, that’s just a joke. My dad always makes that joke, he’s always laughing with Head. When he comes around they’re always cracking jokes.
		When you’re on tour, what do you miss the most? My daughter.
		You have heard al lot of music throughout the years. What’s your favourite classic and what’s in your Discman at this moment? In my Discman is Lamb Of God. They are really cool. My favourite classic is Black Sabbath “We Sold Our Soul For Rock ‘n Roll”. Once I wanted to go to a concert of Black Sabbath with Ozzy and Randy Rhoades. I was very excited about it but the concert was cancelled because Ozzy’s food poisoning. I still have the ticket at home. I save a lot of things.
		Will you take Lamb of God with you on tour? I don’t know.
		Will you ever bring back the Family Values Tour? A lot of people are asking that. We are thinking about it. Only when we can do it in the line-up (Rammstein, Limp Bizkit, Ice Cube) we did the first time. We are also thinking about making it a festival like the Ozzfest.
		What’s the worst concert you’ve ever seen? …(thinking)… I think it’s a concert of my first band LAPD. At one night we played at the County club in the Valley. We started to play and we forgot how our songs were going.
		What’s the best concert you’ve ever seen? That’s Rage Against The Machine at the Reading festival in England. I think it was 1995 or 1996. RATM let us sit on stage so we had the best view. We saw the crowd and the band. Very cool!!
		Do you have any side projects? Not really. At the moment I’m busy with a soundtrack for the Orpheum Movie together with Jonathan.
		You played a lot of covers; will you ever bring out a cover album? Maybe, but not at this moment. We played some covers (Metallica, Pink Floyd) and brought out a greatest hits album. People are thinking that we are out of inspiration that we can’t make our own tracks anymore. So we had to make an album with our own songs, but a cover album is certainly one of the possibilities.
		If you weren’t playing in Korn, what would you do for a living then? I think that I would be working in a studio or I would be an electrician. When I was young I always was preparing my guitar.
		Do you know this Hotel is in the red light district area? Yes I know, I have to stay inside all day but I want to party and go outside.
		Thanks for this interview and when you’re done go out and party! Thank you too and good luck!
After the interview Miguel and I went to a bar in Amsterdam. We waited to see Munky and Jonathon on TMF (it’s a Dutch MTV). We saw it on television and got some free beers from the barman (thanks Dave). In the bar I remembered that I forgot a couple of questions, better luck next time. (Jeroen Habets)