Now that Brian “Head” Welch has discovered Christianity, and changed his title from “founding Korn guitarist” to “former Korn guitarist,” he feels like there’s nothing left to explain to the band’s fans. But he’s always open to a good conversation.
“When it was first announced that I was leaving the band and rededicating my life to Christianity, I thought it was weird that people thought it was weird,” he said. “And rather than maybe giving Christ a chance, people just start trashing my decision, because they’re afraid of taking that chance. If people cared about me, they would sit down, talk to me, and come out and experience everything I’ve been experiencing lately. Then maybe they’d open their ears and hearts and try it for themselves.”
Welch is quick to add that he’s not trying to “preach” to anyone about his newly discovered spirituality, despite taking to the pulpit last weekend at a church in Bakersfield, California. He said he just wants to reach out to people who are in the same spot that he was in four months ago – depressed, addicted, even suicidal.
“I had nothing to lose. I remember lying in bed, thinking, ‘Take me home, Lord.’ But he helped me through it. He made me the happiest man alive,” Welch said. “And anyone who makes fun of me for it, I welcome them to try it out. So many people just don’t want to try, and I want to reach out to them.”
One way Welch plans to reach out to his naysayers is through his new music, which he had previously described as “an extension of the Korn family”. Initially he was tight-lipped about the details, but after reading his first interview with MTV News, he was quick to clear a few things up. Primarily, he was concerned that it was reported that his new songs wouldn’t be “Christian music.”
“My music is going to have a Christian, spiritual edge to it, for sure. I didn’t mean to be confusing earlier,” he said. “I mean, I have a song called ‘Kry,’ which I feel is like God talking to me. I mean, it’s not heavy Christian music. It’s just a reflection of how I feel now. It’s about life experiences. It’s happy, uplifting, fairy tale music.”
Welch is writing more songs now while he is in Israel with members of the Valley Bible Fellowship, the Bakersfield church where he spoke last weekend, and he’s confident that the music will speak for itself. “I want to make music that will help people. I want to use every dime of the money I make off the songs to build skate parks for kids,” he said. “My life now is about helping kids.”
Welch said he plans on recording a cover of U2’s “With or Without You,” done “very different from the original.” And he’s also working on a politically inspired tune tentatively titled “Bleeder.” But he’s not just working on new tunes – he’s also taking his mission of helping to another medium: TV.
“I want to do a reality show on my life change. I’m going to be writing checks for a quarter, a half-a-million dollars at a time on big business deals,” he said. “People will tune in to see what kinds of things I’ll be buying for them with our money we make from my solo career. I don’t like money unless it helps people…. We’ll make TV history.”
And just to put any lingering doubts to rest, Welch wants his fans to know that while he wishes his former bandmates all the best, there’s no way he’ll be returning to the Korn camp anytime soon – if ever.
“If I went back, that would confuse my kid. I don’t ever see myself going back. I’m not going to change. I finally was able to stand up for myself and quit being addicted to money,” he said. “I don’t want to pollute the world anymore. I want to spread a message of love and understanding, and that’s what I’m going to do.”