Korn needs no introduction. For the last decade, the SoCal rap-metal powerhouse has barnstormed the American music scene, bringing its twisted take on heavy music to the mosh-pit masses. Pummeling tracks such as “Got the Life,” “Freak on a Leash” and “A.D.I.D.A.S.” are staples of every hard-rock diet, captivating fans and spawning a generation of imitators. The quintet recently marked the 10-year anniversary of its self-titled debut with a greatest hits compilation, underscoring the breadth of its catalog and the band’s super glue-like staying power. RedEye chatted with guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer, who phoned from a recent tour stop to tell us why Korn is still headbanging as hard as ever.
How would you summarize the last 10 years?
Exciting. A lot of fun and a lot of work. There’s a misconception about people in the music industry. I don’t think people realize the hours we put in.
Were you guys big party animals back in the day?
Every day was a party. Now we’re down to every other day.
Do you think you worked harder to make it or did you work harder after you made it?
I’d say after. For years, we were just going out and playing gigs. But once we started to gain recognition and our fan base started to grow, we had to work even harder to maintain that. It’s been hard to maintain the respect of our fans and the public.
Do you guys fight a lot in the studio?
There’s times when we butt heads, definitely, but it’s not a drawn-out fight or argument. For the most part, there’s very much a mutual respect throughout the band. We’re all so different. I think that’s what makes Korn so unique–we all bring something different to the table.
Korn travels in separate buses now. Has that affected your friendship?
We’ve been doing this a long time. When it’s time for us to have time apart, we respect that. We live together pretty much nine months a year. That’s what kind of keeps us together–respecting each other’s boundaries and knowing when not to cross those boundaries.
What’s the strangest thing a fan has ever asked you to autograph?
We were doing a meet-and-greet, and this guy brought in a dead raccoon. He wanted us to sign a dead raccoon he found in the street.
We were like, “That’s too weird, dude.” Then later that night at the show, there he is in the front row with it in his hands, shaking this thing at us.
Do you prefer huge arenas or smaller venues like the Aragon?
To me the Aragon is the perfect venue, even though it doesn’t sound the best. It feels intimate, but there’s just a huge pit out there. The stage is kind of tight, which I like because the energy is more condensed–you can just feel everybody and you’re close. I love the Aragon. Chicago fans have always been down for the Korn cause.
Korn
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Aragon Ballroom,
1106 W. Lawrence Ave.
Tickets: Sold out
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and alBerto Trevino (atrevino@tribune.com)
