Brian Welch

Also known as Head
Born June 19, 1970 (1970-06-19) (age 38)
Origin Bakersfield, California
Genre(s) Rock, Nu metal, Alternative metal, Christian
Years active 1993 - 2005 (with Korn), 2006-Present
Associated acts Brian Head Welch, Korn, L.A.P.D., Toy, Pierct, Creep

Brian Phillip Welch (born June 19, 1970 in Bakersfield, California) better known by his nickname Head, is the former guitarist and a founding member of Korn, a multi-platinum, Grammy award winning nu metal band and a major influence in the rise of the nu metal movement. Welch also provided backup vocals. He left the band in 2005 to dedicate his life to worshiping Jesus Christ and has recorded a solo album.

Early life

Welch was raised in the industrial farm town of Bakersfield, California. Early in his life, Welch claims that he was different from most kids and was picked on a lot in school. His one passion was music. Welch had started playing the guitar at the age of 10. His first guitar was the legendary Peavey Mystic, what he refers to as "the most metal looking guitar you have ever seen." Originally, he expressed interest in playing drums but his father pushed him to guitar since it was quieter. While in high school, Welch met Reggie "Fieldy" Arvizu, in 10th grade. Reggie also started at guitar, but Brian said the bass was easier and it stuck. Brian's first band was called "Pierct" which is pronounced as Pierced. Growing up he was a very big Ozzy Osbourne fan.

Guitars

Welch's main — if not exclusive — guitar is an Ibanez 7-string. Most were custom made guitars built and assembled at the Ibanez LA Custom Shop. During the later days in Korn, he, along with James "Munkey" Shaffer, made a signature series Seven String Guitar called the Ibanez K7, which was distributed by Ibanez Guitars. He and Shaffer mainly used Mesa Boogie amps (specifically, a Triple Rectifier or Road King). Favored effects included the Digitech "Whammy pedal" [then known as the Digitech XP-100 Whammy Wah pedal], the Dunlop UV-1 Uni-Vibe, Boss PH-2 Super Phaser, Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Rocktron Tremolo, and the Boss RV-3 delay. Brian's first ever guitar was a "Peavey Mystic". He later sold this guitar along with a practice amp to KoRn's other guitar player James "Munky" Shaffer.

As a solo artist

As of February 2005, Welch was reported to have been working on his solo album, Save Me From Myself, under the name Head. He has already made his debut with the songs "Kry" and "A Cheap Name," a controversial song about the rapper 50 Cent. He was also said to be releasing a documentary film, Washed by Blood, which would show Welch's personal struggle with alcohol and drug-addiction at the pinnacle of his career and his later choice of a new life and Christian faith. The film would show life as a recording artist, along with animated vignettes, interviews with current friends, associates and former band members and travel footage from his philanthropic work in India. He has recorded several other songs including "Dream" and "Letter to Dimebag" which is an instrumental tribute to "Dimebag" Darrel Abott, guitar player for Pantera and Damage Plan. In his autobiography, Welch mentions the songs "Washed By Blood" "Save Me From Myself" and "Rebel." The album has been given scheduled release dates which keep being postponed but the album is apparently in its final mixing stages and should be out in a few months. Brian Welch has also said he will be performing his solo acts, according to www.cornerstonefestival.com, at the Cornerstone Festival on July 5, 2008, along with Demon Hunter, As I Lay Dying, Haste The Day, and Still Remains.

Brian Welch is now with Driven Music Group. The album title has also been changed to match his first book, Save Me from Myself. Following this, his official MySpace profile went online, and the domain name for this official website was moved to www.brianheadwelch.net, originally www.headtochrist.com, and is now up and running. Originally, Welch planned for the project to follow the "Head" moniker, but was persuaded otherwise, so as not to be sued by the tennis equipment manufacturer of the same name. Though the project has since been dubbed "Brian Head Welch," the album continues to carry the imprint of the project's original title. According to Welch's MySpace profile, Save Me from Myself will be released during September 9, 2008.

In a podcast with Headbanger's Blog, on May 30, 2008, Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis expressed interest in playing with Welch on the band's upcoming album, but stated that it isn't likely.

Personal life

In 1995 Brian's girlfriend Rebeka gave birth to a child, but she decided to give it up for adoption. When she got pregnant again they were ready. On July 6, 1998, 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 Brian has custody of their daughter. The two reside in Arizona.

From the early stages of KoRn, Brian used methamphetamines "Speed" on and off until 2005 when he and Rebeka got divorced and he developed a consuming addiction to the drug which led him into a deep depression. His addiction, along with wanting to spend more time with his daughter because he gained custody, was a key reason for his leaving the band in 2005.

On how he got his four-letter moniker, Welch says, "I got a big head... go get me any hat, and it won't fit. 'Cept this one, 'cause it's stretchy."

On February 22, 2005, Korn's management announced that after almost 12 years, Welch had parted ways with the band, citing that he had "...chosen the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, and will be dedicating his musical pursuits to that end.

On March 10, 2005, Welch was baptized in the Jordan River with a group of believers [1] hailing from Bakersfield, California. He has declared that he has rid himself of all drugs in his "own personal rehab" with God, in which he had checked into a hotel room and sat in his bed for countless hours.

Welch and Davis have attacked each other in the media since the former's departure. After he said that Davis and the rest of Korn care only about money, Davis responded in kind, opening a rift between them that may or may not have been resolved. But recently, in an interview with Beliefnet.com in which Welch was asked about his book and Korn's reaction to the book and the attacks in the media he made earlier at the band:

How did the other members of Korn feel about your having written the book? Do you still talk to them and know what they think about it?

They heard that I'd written it, and there was rumors going around in Hollywood that I was totally trashing them and that it was a "tell all" book about everything they did and I did. And so they actually wrote two songs on their new album bashing me about the book. But once I heard that they were concerned about the book, I sent them a copy and put a note in there and said, "I love you guys. I didn't trash you like people say. Read it yourselves. It is what it is." And now they're doing interviews, and I've read that they're totally cool with the book, and it's not what they thought it was going to be. So everyone's happy. But, now they've got two songs hating on me on their record. But it's cool. It's all good. I love them, they love me. I think maybe I deserved those songs because of some of the stuff that I said after I quit the band. So it's all good.


In July 2005, Welch appeared on CNN's feature-format program "People in the News" where he admitted to having been addicted to alcohol, methamphetamines, Xanax, and sleeping pills before being reintroduced to the Christian faith.

Following his conversion to Christianity, Brian went to some of the more poverty stricken areas of India to build orphanages or "Head Homes". He visited a tribe of head hunters who were apparently reduced to cannibalism because of lack of food.

Welch has been tattooed with the words Matthew 11:28 ("Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."), Matthew 6:19 ("Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.") and Matthew 5:8 ("Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."). He also has a Jesus tattoo on his hand that Welch claims keeps him from masturbating.[6]

In March 2008, Welch started a record company with Mark Nawara and Greg Shanabeger called Driven Music Group. The company has a distribution deal with Warner Music Group.

Works

With Korn

Studio albums

* Korn, released: October 11, 1994
* Life Is Peachy, released: October 15, 1996
* Follow the Leader, released: August 18, 1998
* Issues, released: November 16, 1999
* Untouchables, released: June 11, 2002
* Take a Look in the Mirror, released: November 21, 2003

Compilation albums

* Greatest Hits Volume 1, released: October 5, 2004
* Live & Rare, released: May 9, 2006 (Head was not in the band at the time however the songs were partially his work)
* Playlist: The Very Best of Korn, released April 29th, 2008

EP's

* Neidermeyer's Mind, 1993

With Limp Bizkit

* Results May Vary (2003) (Welch helped with guitar on some songs for the album after original guitarist Wes Borland left the band in 2001. Some songs recorded with Welch were left unreleased, along with a number of songs for those recording sessions for the album. Welch stopped recording with the band after Mike Smith became the new Limp Bizkit guitarist). Welch is credited with playing the guitar parts in the song "Build a Bridge". He also played with Limp Bizkit at WrestleMania XIX, performing on "Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" and "Crack Addict"

Solo

* Save Me from Myself, September 9, 2008

Books

* Save Me From Myself, released July 3, 2007