Altsounds - The Lowdown: Jonathan Davis of Korn

I have been interviewing artists and music biz people for a number of years now. The thing that I love about it is someone has the ability to completely change your perception of them and what they do in one conversation. Alex Patsavas, for example. I fuckin hate the OC, but talking to her made me want to check it out and got rid of some of my preconceived notions. I was stoked about interviewing Jonathan Davis from KORN. I did an interview with the whole band YEARS ago when I was doing radio, but a lot has happened since then. More recently they have lost a member to Jesus, switched labels, and recorded a new full length with new producers. I was hoping my interview with Jonathan Davis would really open me up and let me know what KORN is all about… and that’s exactly what happened…

Interview conducted by AJ, VP of Altsounds.com

AltSounds: So your new record ‘See You On The Other Side’ comes out tomorrow...any big plans?

Jonathan Davis: Um...I know we’re playing FUSE. Hold on… [to someone else] hey, what are we doing tomorrow for the record release? [back to me] Sorry, I’m in the middle of this press thing, I don’t know what’s going on.

AltSounds: Is this a bad time? We can do this later if you want.

Jonathan Davis: No, it’s cool. Oh, so we’re doing something with K-Rock. Our big event was that plane ride with Rammstein. Oh, and a Tower Records in-store tomorrow.

AltSounds: Very nice. I know you usually bounce around to do your albums, where did you record this one?

Jonathan Davis: In Hollywood. We have a new clubhouse...got it a while ago. We do our recording there now.

AltSounds: It’s been about 2 years since your last album, not including the Greatest Hits record that came out last year. Have you been writing this whole time?

Jonathan Davis: No. We have been touring. We did the tour for Take A Look In The Mirror and then toured for the Greatest Hits. We didn’t start writing until January. It took about 6 months to write and record. Now we’re doing this press thing for it.

AltSounds: Well, I was reading your website about this album earlier. Have you checked that out?

Jonathan Davis: No.

AltSounds: Oh. Well… it’s kind of over the top on the hype, talking about how you are revolutionizing music again and even says you are ‘redefining heavy.’ Do you think that’s what you’re doing? Do you think this new album will be as revolutionary as what you put out 10 years ago?

Jonathan Davis: I don’t think so. I mean that’s what started it all. Our new stuff is very different though.

(I pause… waiting for an answer to the question… ain’t happenin)

AltSounds: There aren’t a lot of bands that sound like you. It seems that…

Jonathan Davis: There are bands that try.

AltSounds: I suppose, but I can’t think of any bands with mainstream success that sound like a KORN ripoff.

Jonathan Davis: There are bands that have tried…and are still trying. No ripoffs though, yeah.

AltSounds: … Right… Like there are a lot of bands you have influenced, but not many try to sound exactly like you. No obvious imitators.

Jonathan Davis: Yeah.

AltSounds: Alllright? Forget that. So.. why did you leave Epic?

Jonathan Davis: We were done with them. We had been with them for 10 years and we just wanted to work with other people and get some new ideas going.

AltSounds: Are you happy with the deal you got from Virgin?

Jonathan Davis: Yes, very happy.

AltSounds: Ok… Great! So, your video for Twisted Transistor… It’s ****in hilarious first of all. It said on your hype sheet that you put rappers in it so it would get airplay on MTV…

Jonathan Davis: Yeah, that seems to be the only way.

AltSounds: You don’t seem like the kind of band that would really give a shit about MTV airplay.

Jonathan Davis: Oh..we don’t. That’s the joke.

AltSounds: I see…So, you put rappers in the video so you can get MTV airplay, but you don’t care about MTV airplay?

Jonathan Davis: Yeah, I mean it really paid off. It’s a great video. Really funny. Everyone likes it.

AltSounds: It is really funny, yeah. Snoop is hysterical. You’re working with Lil Jon and Xhibit for the second time now, the first being on the XXX soundtrack. Are you in their posse now? Heh.

Jonathan Davis: I have been for a long time.

AltSounds: You should have HR Giger make you a chalice to match your mic stand.

Jonathan Davis: Lil Jon already gave me a chalice.

AltSounds: Yeah, but a Giger chalice would kick ass.

Jonathan Davis: And cost me a lot of money.

AltSounds: Alllllright then. Well, this next question you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to…you might think its dick, but you guys started out really strong 10 years ago with your records selling like mad. It seems the sales have progressively declined over the years. Are you at all concerned about the sales of this new one?

Jonathan Davis: We’ve been doing fine. They sell well. We always go multi-platinum. I don’t care if it’s 5 times or 2. The last 2 records sold over 2 million. That’s more than a lot of bands.

AltSounds: Do you think downloading has anything to do with that?

Jonathan Davis: Yes. I mean you can get the record for free pretty much anywhere. Music is more popular now than ever, but it’s obvious that people are downloading it more than buying it.

AltSounds: I saw you guys play on SNL... what was that like?

Jonathan Davis: It was cool. We hadn’t done that before.

AltSounds: I noticed the performance wasn’t as full as when you play regular live shows. Is there a certain way they do things there that kept it from being as explosive as a normal live performance?

Jonathan Davis: I don’t know. It’s live TV. Probably just the way they mixed it.

AltSounds: I see. How do you feel about kids getting hurt at your shows? I know its becoming an issue again for you.

Jonathan Davis: Shit happens.

AltSounds: Do you feel artists have any responsibility for what happens to their fans at shows?

Jonathan Davis: No. If you don’t want to get hurt, don’t go in the pit.

AltSounds: I kind of thought that’s what you would say. So, you have done some soundtrack work and you all have little things going with other people. Like Munky doing that thing on Corporate Punishment and…

Jonathan Davis: What thing with Corporate Punishment? He’s not doing anything with them.

AltSounds: Well, he makes an appearance on that KCUF record…

Jonathan Davis: He’s on one song. That’s not a side project.

AltSounds: Well, I just mean you guys work with other people and do things outside of KORN… do you think that makes KORN stronger? Or can it be a distraction?

AltSounds: Jonathan Davis: I think it’s cool. It makes us stronger. I think its fun to play with other people.

AltSounds: Ok…I’ll wrap this up. Let’s pretend your hype sheet doesn’t exist. What’s the one thing you want people to know about this record…fans and non-fans?

Jonathan Davis: Just go pick it up. You’ll see our progress. We’re a 4 piece now, so we sound different. We experimented a lot.

AltSounds: Right..well..thanks for talking to me.

*CLICK*

See You On The Other Side in stores everywhere 12/6/2005 on Virgin Records.