HIT PARADER
January 1997 GUITARKORN:
AIN'T LIFE PEACHY?
by Winston Cummings
You've got to hand it to Korn's record company. While most labels assume a
haughtier-than-thou stance when discussing their upcoming product, leading us weak-minded media types to believe that their new discs are designed to starve off world hunger or at least serve as a cure for the common
cold, the folks at Epic certainly showed a marked sense of humor when describing the latest release by their prodigious young entry into the hard rock sweepstakes. When the label people first sent out advance demo
tapes of Korn's new album, "Life is Peachy," it was accompanied by a note stating that most recipients would have one of two extremely divergent reactions. Either they would excitedly run over to their
trusty tape players to instantly inhale the latest sonic musings of Jonathan Davis, Fieldy, Head Welch, Munky and David, or they would just-as-quickly run over and dispose of the unwanted bit of plastic in the nearest
trash receptacle.
Such is the wildly differing reaction that this California-based unit has garnered during the two years that they have resided in the public eye. With the success of
their self-titled 1994 debut, Korn established themselves as one of hard rock's most inventive, albeit surprising, success stories. By blending the normally divergent worlds of rap, funk and heavy metal together
into a seamless melange of super-pumped energy, these hard-edged rockers managed to succeed where many others had failed. Their sound came across as sincere, honest and natural, a far cry from the often stilted,
artificial musical stances that certain hipper-than-hip bands have recently assumed. No, Korn's rugged, incendiary style was certainly not for everyone, but according to Davis, the band's music was never designed
for mass public consumption. In fact, he's been as surprised by the band's immediate success as anyone
"When the first record came out, we hoped that it would slowly build a
following," the singer said. "And for the first six months after it came out, the key word was definately 'slow.' It really wasn't selling at all. But then MTV got behind us, and the radio
started playing some of our songs, and things started to happen. Before we knew it, the record had gone gold, and we were on the road with people like Ozzy Osbourne. It was all kind of amazing.
Indeed the ban's non-stop road outings with the likes of Ozzy, Marilyn Manson, 311 and even Cypress Hill helped expose Korn to an ever-widening circle of admirers, many of whom were quickly won over by both
Korn's surprisingly deft songwriting touch and the band's visceral live energy. By tour's end, Korn "Korn" had sold in excess of 700,000 copies and, and the group was being handed "Best New
Band" awards from all corners of the rock world. It was all quite an experience for these still wet-behind-the-ears rockers, far exceeding even their wildest rock and roll fantasies. But almost before
they could wipe the smiles off of their faces, friend and foe alike started asking the age-old question, "well what's next?" Now, with the release of "Life is Peachy," we all have the answer!
Recorded last summer in a faster-than-light two months, Korn's second disc finds these space-age street urchins blasting into previously
uncharted rock and roll terrain. From their
cover version of Public Enemy's [Zack's note: actually Ice Cube's] "Wicked" (featuring a guest vocal from Chino Moreno of the Deftones) to their wacked-out version of "Low Rider" (which
actually features Davis on bagpipes), "Life is Peachy" is an album that not only breaks all the standard rock and roll rules, but acts as if this band has never even HEARD of those rules. Everything that
traditionalists state "can't be done" are at least attempted here; a rich melding of totally divergent musical styles, a defiantly non-commercial bold, in-your-face instrumental attack are just a few of the
key ingredients that makes this disc so darn "peachy."
"We're a young band that just plays the music we like," Davis said. "Our influences are probably a little
different than a lot of other groups out there. We listen to everything we can get our hands on. If we like it, then it becomes an influence. It's really that simple. We kind of ound it amusing
that a lot of people were getting caught up in the energy of our music and calling us a 'metal' band after the first album came out. There's no denying that there are metal influences in there, but we think that
being just metal is too limiting. We don't want to label what we do in any way; once you do that you start to put restrictions on yourself, whether you know it or not."
Korn have
certainly made a quick mark on the rock world by blasting apart as many restrictive elements as the law allows. It should be fascinating to see if their "outlaw" approach to music will be as readily
embraced by the forces at rock radio and MTV as it was the first time around. It is often said that a band's second release is the most important of their career; two consecutive hit discs enhances any group's
stellar credentials and proves they're something more than the proverbial one-hit-wonder. While Davis refutes to know nothing of "sophomore jinxes" and "one-hit-wonders" he does acknowledge
that the degree of success Korn enjoyed durin their first go-round has heaped a little additional pressure on the band's broad shoulders. However, he feels that he and his boys are more than ready to handle any
new challenge that may be placed in their path. After all, for Korn, life is peachy.
"The album title is supposed to be taken at face value," the vocalist said.
"People may think we're making fun of things-- or of ourselves. I think anyone who has heard the new music knows that this isn't a fun, up-beat record. We all know that life isn't peachy. For a
lot of people it's really tough. The funny part is that everyone thinks that just because we've sold a few records and spent a year on the road that our lives are totally peachy now. Well, it's not bad, but
we're not really talkin' about ourselves in the title. This is a tough, harsh record about a tough, harsh world. It certainly ain't peachy out there."
