KORN's Debut Album Turns 30: Jonathan Davis Reflects on the Band's Legacy

Friday, October 11, marked 30 years since KORN unleashed their self-titled debut album (listen below). To commemorate the occasion, Jonathan Davis popped up on social media to share the album cover along with a few nostalgic words: “I can’t believe you’re 30 years old.”

In true reflective fashion, Davis added, “I’m so proud of this record; it changed so many things in my life.” And let’s be honest, it didn’t just change his life—it reshaped an entire music scene. He reminisced about his 24-year-old self, opening his heart to the world’s judgment, laying out his pain for everyone to poke and prod. “I was so nervous. I had opened my heart for the world to feel the pain I was going through at the time.” It’s not every day someone spills their emotional guts on a record and actually lives to see it help others with their own darkness.

There’s no shortage of gratitude, either. “Thank you, @ross_robinson, for capturing every emotional breath, the sound of my teeth grinding from tension.” You’ve got to love a guy who remembers even the sound of his own teeth gnashing during recording.

Of course, Davis didn’t forget to shout out his KORN brothers: “You guys gave me the most incredible music to do what I do. You made me feel safe, and I’m forever grateful.” That’s the kind of band brotherhood people romanticize, but here it sounds genuine. A shout-out to the fans was inevitable, as he thanked them for making him feel like he wasn’t stumbling through the darkness alone.

The post wrapped up with a simple, “Here’s to many more years!” Optimism—surprising from a guy who made a career out of turning pain into platinum records.

To celebrate this milestone, KORN hit the stage at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 5, for a special one-night show. The lineup was packed: EVANESCENCE, GOJIRA, DARON MALAKIAN AND SCARS ON BROADWAY, SPIRITBOX, and VENDED all turned up to join the festivities.

And if you think the band’s just going to sit around reminiscing, no, no, no. KORN has been busy on their 2024 North American tour since September 12, kicking things off in Tampa, Florida, at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre. Highlights? Their setlist included “Oildale” from their 2010 album “Korn III: Remember Who You Are” and “Hey Daddy” from 1999’s Issues, a song that hadn’t been performed live in nearly 25 years. Clearly, they’re still digging into the archives to keep things fresh.

The tour, produced by Live Nation, runs through 25 dates, wrapping up on October 27 in St. Paul, Minnesota, at Xcel Energy Center. They’re sharing the stage with GOJIRA and SPIRITBOX, proving they still know how to pick their tourmates wisely.

When the BMO show was first announced back in March, Davis shared a statement that’s probably as heartfelt as it gets for someone who’s seen it all: “Reflecting on thirty years of KORN fills me with immense gratitude. It’s humbling to see how our music has touched so many lives across the globe. From our small club beginnings to now headlining stadiums, it’s been an unforgettable ride.” Sure, it’s a bit of the usual “look how far we’ve come” rhetoric, but you can’t blame him. Thirty years is no small feat.

It’s wild to think about just how much KORN changed the game with that debut record. Dropped in 1994, the album practically invented nu-metal and blurred the lines between rock, metal, and alternative. The band has since sold over 40 million albums worldwide, snagged two Grammys, and earned a few too many platinum records to count. They’ve toured the globe countless times and left a legacy that most bands today can only dream of.

KORN has managed to transcend the usual music scene fluff. They’re more than just a band with a bunch of awards and accolades—they’re a movement. As The Ringer put it, “a genuine movement in a way bands cannot be now.” That’s the kind of praise most bands would kill for. KORN broke the mold and created a new archetype. All the genre boundaries? They bulldozed right through them.

So yeah, after 30 years, it’s fair to say that KORN isn’t going anywhere, right? Whether you love them or just tolerate them for changing the metal scene forever, they’ve earned their place in the music history books. Amen to that.