Former Korn Guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch: I Still Play Korn Songs Live

Former Korn Guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch: I Still Play Korn Songs Live

2011-11-04

Story by Anne Erickson

Ex-Korn guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch says new album is ‘all guitars’

Former Korn axeman Brian “Head” Welch is back with a new single, “Paralyzed,” which dropped Oct. 4 on Headdog Music, and he’s also working on tracks for a fresh EP, which he’s gunning to drop spring of 2012. Welch recently chatted with SkullsNBones.com about the forthcoming album, plus what it’s like going from lead guitarist to frontman with his solo stint.

Jasen Rauch, former guitarist in Nashville Christian hard rock band RED, is twiddling the knobs for the new album, and Welch says thanks to Rauch, the release going to be heavier and more guitar-driven than his debut.

“I like the my first solo album, but I put strings in there and I put a lot of synthesizers and I was experimenting with sounds, trying to come up with my own sound, but this guy is pulling me back,” Welch told SkullsNBones.com. “He’s like, ‘What do you like to play?’ I go, ‘Oh, just heavy stuff. The ones that just go nuts like and you feel the energy.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, that’s what I want to hear from you , too.’ He’s pulling out good riffs and quality songs and stuff like that, and just all guitars. So, we’re going for it, and ‘Paralyzed’ is an example of what’s to come.”

Welch added that he’s getting more comfortable in the frontman role. “At first I was like, ‘Oh, singing things sucks,’ and it was kind of stressful,” he said. “But now, I’m having fun with it. So, I’m growing. It’s crazy. You can be 40 years old and still growing as a person. It’s pretty cool. It’s fun.”

Welch recently wrapped up a tour with RED, Echoes the Fall and Icon for Hire. He opted to rock out to some songs from his former band, Korn, on the tour. Why? “‘Cause I don’t like how my first solo songs on the first record; I don’t like how they feel live a lot of them, and I’ve been playing them for years, so I was like, ‘Dude, what else am I going to play?’” he explained. “‘Cause I’ve been stuck [in a deal] … with my old label, and I couldn’t put out new music, so I’m like, ‘I’m [going to play] these songs that I’ve played with the guys,’ and why not? ‘Cause they’re fun, and I’m stoked that I was a part of them.”

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.