BRIAN 'HEAD' WELCH Is 'Really Excited' About Reuniting With KORN

KORN will reunite with founding guitarist Brian "Head" Welch for several festival shows this summer, including two dates in Germany, one concert in the United Kingdom and at the upcoming Rock On The Range festival in Columbus, Ohio.

Welch joined KORN onstage for the song "Blind" last May at the Carolina Rebellion festival in Rockingham, North Carolina, marking the first time in eight years that KORN played with Welch.

Welch, who has just released an album with his new band LOVE & DEATH, is looking forward to performing full shows with his former bandmates for the first time since 2004. He tells ARTISTdirect, "This is going to be crazy for me in a great way."

He adds: "It's a bit surreal because I didn't expect it to happen. We have no hate for each other like some of these other bands that haven't talked in years. People grew. Everyone went to different places in life. I don't know. It was so long that I didn't see it happening, but then when it crept up on me last May during Carolina Rebellion, I saw the emotion. Nothing else mattered except reconciliation, brotherly love, and that family feel with the guys and the fans. People were in tears. I thought, 'This is a really good thing.'"

"When they hit me up about the shows this year, to me, it was time. This is the proper time. The reason I felt like it would never happen because it wasn't the proper time yet. As soon as the day hit when I felt it was right, it felt so good. I'm really excited about this year with them."

Welch left KORN in 2005 to become a born-again Christian. The band never officially replaced him and stayed a four-piece, although they've used several touring guitarists for live work.

Welch and bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu have said in interviews that a full reunion could be possible one day.

KORN has been touring for much of the past year behind its 10th studio album, "The Path Of Totality", but has also begun work on a new set of material.