Brian Welch

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Brian Welch
Brian "Head" Welch, April 2009, Shift 09, Phoenix Arizona, First Youth Pavillon Brian "Head" Welch, April 2009, Shift 09, Phoenix Arizona, First Youth Pavillon
Background information
Birth name	Brian Phillip Welch
Also known as	Head,
Born	June 19, 1970 (1970-06-19) (age 39) Torrance, California, U.S.
Genres	Nu metal, alternative metal
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1989—present
Labels	Driven, Warner
Associated acts	Brian Head Welch, Korn
Website	www.brianheadwelch.net
Notable instruments
Ibanez K7 Ibanez Baritone Ibanez RG

Brian Phillip Welch (born June 19, 1970), better known as Head, is an American musician best known as the former lead guitarist/co-founder of the multiplatinum metal band Korn, whose trademark style was sporting a constellation of rubber-banded braids in his hair^[1]. Along with fellow Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer, Welch helped patent Korn's distinctive sound, a mix of sirenlike shards of dissonant guitar that mimicked a turntablist's various effects and rumbling down-tuned riffing that defined the nü metal aesthetic beginning in the mid-'90s^[1]. Welch left the band in 2005 due to personal beliefs and to focus on life as a father. Head and Munky ranked at #26 of GUITAR WORLD's 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists Of All Time.

Contents [hide] 1 Biography 1.1 Early life (1970–1993) 2 Korn (1993–2005) 2.1 Formation 2.2 Departure from Korn 3 Solo career (2005–2009) 3.1 Save Me From Myself 3.2 Second Solo Album 4 Band members 5 Musical equipment 5.1 Guitars 5.2 Effects 5.3 Amplifiers 6 Discography 6.1 Korn 6.2 Brian Head Welch 6.3 Music videos 6.4 Other appearances 7 Bibliography 8 Filmography 9 See also 10 References 11 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life (1970–1993)

Welch was raised in Bakersfield, California. Welch claims that, early in his life he was different from most kids and was picked on a lot in school. His one passion was music. Originally, Welch expressed interest in playing drums but his father pushed him to guitar since it was quieter, and began playing the guitar at the age of 10. His first guitar was a Peavey Mystic, which he referred to as "the most metal looking guitar you have ever seen" in his book Save Me from Myself. Growing up he was a very big Ozzy Osbourne fan.

On how he got his nickname "Head", Welch said, "I got a big head...go get me any hat, and it won't fit. 'Cept this one, cause it's stretchy." – from the home video Who Then Now?

[edit] Korn (1993–2005)

[edit] Formation

While in seventh grade, Welch met Reginald Arvizu (better known as Fieldy), who also started at guitar, but Welch said Arvizu wasn't very good at the guitar, so he suggested Arvizu play bass since it was a different playing style and it stuck.

Korn formed after the group L.A.P.D. folded, due to singer Richard Morrill's drug addiction. Musicians Reginald Arvizu, James Shaffer, and David Silveria wanted to continue, and recruited guitarist Brian Welch and started a new band called Creep.

In early 1993, the band took notice of vocalist Jonathan Davis after seeing his band Sexart and attempted to get him to join Creep. Davis initially did not want to join the band, but after consulting a psychic he decided to audition and then joined the band, as mentioned by Jonathan Davis himself in interview in the DVD Who Then Now?. After Jonathan was recruited, they decided to get a new name. Soon, they later changed their name to "Korn". Jonathan suggested Korn as just a brainstorm, but everyone else enjoyed it. So Jonathan got a Crayola crayon and wrote their logo in a child's handwriting, with a "K" instead of "C" and a backwards upper-case "Я"^{[citation needed]}.

Starting with Korn's self-titled debut album, and with subsequent albums Life Is Peachy, Follow The Leader, Issues, Untouchables and Take A Look In The Mirror, the band gradually became one of the top-selling hard rock groups in the land, scoring $25 million royalty payments and selling out arenas the world over^[1].

In 1995 Welch's wife Rebekah gave birth to a child, but she decided to give it up for adoption. When she got pregnant again, they decided to keep the child. On July 6, 1997, Welch's wife Rebekah gave birth to their second daughter, Jennea Marie Welch. The band was scheduled to be on the UK version of Ozzfest but dropped out before it started so that Welch could be by his wife's side. He and his wife have since divorced and Welch has custody of their daughter. The two reside in Arizona. Despite being divorced, Welch does keep in touch with his ex-wife.

By 2003, Welch had begun to sink further and further into a crippling speed habit. He'd prepare for tours by stashing as much methamphetamine as he could in vitamin capsules, deodorant containers and his clothes^[1].

According to Welch, the band members also suffered personal battles with addiction: "We were only sober for just a couple of hours a day in Korn. Every day. And then when you come home and you've got to deal with real life and your wife isn't having that, crap goes down^[1]."