He is one of the significant and greatest guitar players of the millennium, a pioneer who was part of creating and shaping one of the greatest areas in music, the Nu-Metal era!!
(Photo: timesreporter.com)
= Brian Welch, also known as "Head," was born on June 19, 1970, in Torrance, California, United States.
= Initially interested in playing the drums, Welch's father convinced him to take up the guitar to avoid the hassle of transporting a drum kit. He began playing the guitar at the age of 10.
= Welch's first guitar was a Peavey Mystic, which he described in his book "Save Me from Myself" as "maybe the most metal-looking guitar you have ever seen."
= Welch earned the nickname "Head" due to his head appearing larger in proportion to his body. His peers started calling him "Head," and the nickname stuck.
= Welch's early musical influences included bands like "Metallica", "Megadeth", and "Slayer", which contributed to the heavy and aggressive sound that would become characteristic of "Korn".
(Photo: guitar.com)
= In high school, Welch formed a band called L.A.P.D. (Love and Peace Dude), which later evolved into the band "Korn". Musicians Reginald Arvizu, James Shaffer, and David Silveria wanted to continue making music and hired Brian Welch to play guitar in their new band, initially named "Creep."
= The band discovered vocalist Jonathan Davis after seeing his band "Sexart" and attempted to recruit him. Davis initially hesitated but changed his mind. He auditioned and was ultimately hired. Following Davis' addition, the group decided to rename themselves, with Jonathan suggesting the name "Korn" due to its association with the horror movie "Children of the Corn."
(Photo: lastfm.com)
= As the lead guitarist of "Korn", Welch played a pivotal role in shaping the band's signature sound, characterized by down-tuned guitars, aggressive riffs, and a fusion of metal, hip-hop, and alternative influences.
= "Korn" gained significant attention and success with their self-titled debut album, released in 1994. The album featured iconic tracks such as "Blind" and "Shoots and Ladders."
= Welch's innovative guitar playing style, which often utilized heavy distortion and unconventional techniques, helped define "Korn's" unique sound and contributed to their rapid rise in popularity.
= Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, "Korn" released several critically acclaimed albums, including "Life is Peachy" (1996), "Follow The Leader" (1998), and "Issues" (1999). These albums solidified "Korn's" status as one of the leading bands in the nu-metal genre.
= Welch and Munky were recognized for their guitar skills and influence, ranking at No. 26 on Guitar World's list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time.
= By 2003, Welch had developed a drug addiction. He struggled with methamphetamine use and would hide the drug in vitamin capsules, deodorant containers, and his clothes before going on tour.
= Welch revealed that addiction was prevalent within the band, and they were only sober for a few hours each day. The challenges of addiction, combined with the demands of touring and personal relationships, took a toll on Welch's well-being.
= Despite achieving his dreams, Welch did not find fulfillment in the touring life with "Korn". He described feeling disconnected and lonely, surrounded by a transient lifestyle and unable to form meaningful connections.
= On February 13, 2005, Welch left "Korn" to focus on his spiritual journey and address his drug addiction.
= Welch experienced a personal transformation and embraced Christianity. He released an autobiography titled "Save Me from Myself" in 2007, sharing his struggles and faith journey.
= Welch embarked on a solo career and began working on a solo record. Several demo songs, such as "A Cheap Name," "Dream," and "A Letter to Dimebag," surfaced during this period.
= In March 2008, Welch founded the record company Driven Music Group and rebranded his solo album as "Save Me from Myself," the same name as his autobiography. "Save Me from Myself" was released on September 9, 2008. Welch contributed most of the instruments for the album, and it achieved moderate success, peaking at No. 63 on the Billboard 200.
= Welch joined other artists, including his former "Korn" bandmates, in contributing to "A Song for Chi," an instrumental track to benefit "Deftones" bassist Chi Cheng.
= In 2012, Welch rebranded his music under the name "Love and Death", forming a band with that name. They released the EP "Chemicals" in April 2012, followed by the full-length album "Between Here & Lost" in January 2013.
= In 2013, Welch made a highly anticipated return to "Korn", reuniting with his bandmates. His comeback brought renewed energy to the band, and they continued to release successful albums, including "The Paradigm Shift" (2013), "The Serenity of Suffering" (2016), "The Nothing" (2019) and "Requiem" (2022).
= In 2016, Love and Death released the single "Lo Lamento," and in 2021, they released their second album, "Perfectly Preserved," with singles "Down" and "White Flag" to promote its release.
= Welch actively engaged in philanthropic work, expressing his desire to use the proceeds from his music to build skate parks for kids.
Listen to "Love and Death" latest album on: Spotify, Apple Music