Korn happy to vent their anger

When Korn started their world tour on February 24, in their hometown of Bakersfield, California, the mayor declared it official Korn day.

That travelling road show reaches Auckland on Monday night when the band play the Supertop in support of their latest album, See You On The Other Side.

And those accolades back home, their still rabid fan base, and the fact the new album is one of their best yet, shows that even after 14 years they remain an important band.

Since the early 90s, with songs like Shoots & Ladders, A.D.I.D.A.S., and Freak On A Leash, they've taken heavy music mainstream and became one of the most popular bands around.

"At our shows now I see 8-year-olds and 10-year-olds because we've been round long enough to have the kids who were into us in the beginning bringing their kids. It's crazy," laughs singer and songwriter, Jonathan Davis.

For a guy who's been the voice of an angry generation since Korn formed in 1992, he's a softly spoken and polite chap.

The last year and a half has been a big one for Davis and his band.

In February 2005 Korn's long-time guitarist, Brian "Head" Welch, left the band to become heavy rock's most famous born-again Christian.

"You're only as strong as your weakest link and Head was definitely that," says Davis adamantly. "When he left, the band breathed a sigh of relief."

Although he says things are good between him and Head now, they didn't talk for a long time.

"I hadn't talked to him for a year but he called me and we said our piece and we're not going to talk anymore. We're done."

It's also been an interesting year for 35-year-old Davis. Late last year he got rid of his extensive collection of serial killer memorabilia, including Ted Bundy's VW Bug. He sold the collectables out of respect for the killer's victims. However, he did keep Bundy's car.

Plus he and his wife, former porn star Deven Davis, had their first child who they call Pi (short for Pirate). Davis also has a 10-year-old son from a previous relationship but says becoming a dad for a second time has "definitely made me a happy person".

So is Davis mellowing in his older age?

Not a chance, he insists.

"A lot of people used to think I was a depressed, suicidal guy, but no, I have a lot of happy things in my life, too. But happy things don't inspire me to write. It's the bad things in my life that I write about. That's why I do what I do - to get that stuff out."

And that comes through on songs like Twisted Transistor and Hypocrites from See You On The Other Side. We'll see you there.

LOWDOWN

WHO: Korn
FORMED: Bakersfield, California, 1992
LINE-UP: Jonathan Davis (singer), Fieldy (bass), Munky (guitar), David Silveria (drums)
PERFORMANCE: Monday, Supertop, Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
ESSENTIAL ALBUMS: Korn (1994), Follow The Leader (1998); Issues (1999); Take A Look In the Mirror (2003); See You On The Other Side (2005)