KORN Guitarist Is In No Rush To Find Replacements For Departed Members

Denver Westworld recently conducted an interview with KORN guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Westworld: Let's talk about the new disc, then. You guys started working with the Matrix again, and they you decided to go in a different direction, right?

Munky: Well, we started writing with them in the beginning, and we wrote a few songs. I wrote a lot of guitar stuff with the Matrix, and they had taken the songs and I think me, myself and the Matrix wrote something like eighteen songs over a few months. And then we wrote about ten songs with Atticus Ross after that. So what we did was took the best of both of those sessions. We took the Matrix sessions and rerecorded them with real drums to give those songs a more organic feel. It started to feel like there were two different producers, but we wanted the album to sound all the same as far as recording. So we went and took four of the songs that the Matrix did and I think seven of the songs that Atticus did, and rerecorded the four songs with Atticus, and that gave us the album.

Westworld: When you guys started working with the Matrix in the first place, it was controversial given the kinds of artists they'd worked with in the past. Some people might think you decided not to do a whole album with them again because you had some dissatisfaction with the Matrix. What's your take on that?

Munky: My take on that is, they had a lot of creative input, and somehow it's been downplayed. And just for the record, I think they're a very talented writing team, and they had a tremendous influence on the album.

Westworld: And you in no way want it to seem that they were watering you down? You're still positive about their contributions?

Munky: Absolutely.

Westworld: You said the first batch of songs didn't have live drums on them. Was that because of David [Silveria]'s departure?

Munky: Even on the "See You On the Other Side" album, the drums were programmed to a lot of the songs to the guitar riffs I had written, and then David had come in and retracked the drums and made them better. So that's how they started out again, and since David isn't with us, we had Brooks Wackerman come in and rerecord those four songs we wanted to put on the album.

Westworld: David's departure and Brian's [Welch, guitar] departure not that much earlier meant that there was a lot going on in the band. Had you guys thought about adding two permanent members? Or was the timing such that it didn't make sense in that short a period of time?

Munky: The timing was definitely a factor. It's hard because these are members who were with the band for fifteen years, and they're brothers. If your brother leaves home, you don't just go out and get a new brother. And that's how it is. Until we find the right people, I think it'll just be the three of us for the moment.

Westworld: So you're not opposed to adding new permanent members, but you want it to be organic, as opposed to lining up a bunch of players and having auditions?

Munky: Yeah. That's not our style.

Westworld: The critics seem to be laying for you on this disc. They've been pretty nasty so far. But it seems like you guys have never really been a critic's band. Is your point of view that it doesn't really matter what they think? It matters what the fans think?

Munky: It's always about the fans. I know Jerry Springer might make good TV for some viewers, because people like to bash and it makes for good reading. But ultimately it's the fans' opinion that matters to us. [Pause.] I don't know why I just referenced Jerry Springer…

Westworld: I was trying to figure that one out…

Munky: Don't try to figure it out. I've had a really long morning. But at the end of the day, it's the fans' opinion that counts. That's why we try not to read too many reviews, either good or bad.

Westworld: Speaking of reading, I have to ask if you've read Brian's book.

Munky: I have not.

Westworld: Any interest?

Munky: Do you know why I haven't?

Westworld: Why?

Munky: Because I was with him. I know what the book's about. The only thing that I know, and I've been told, is that I didn't know he had such a bad drug addiction. And nobody else in the band did, either. But everything else, I lived it with him. I was there.

Westworld: But everyone's got a different point of view, and from what I understand — and I haven't read it yet, either — he's pretty hard on the band in general.

Munky: Have you read it?

Westworld: No, I haven't read it. But from what I've read it about it, and from some people's reactions, it suggests that he kind of blames the band for his addiction and him getting into a bad mental state.

Munky: Yeah, I can see how that could happen. Being in a rock band in general, and this type of lifestyle, as everybody knows, it can run you into drug addiction. I'm definitely going to want to pick up the book and read it now, because it's the lifestyle. It's hard to be away from your family. A lot of people don't realize that. You're gone a lot, and when you're a single parent like he was, it becomes very difficult. I'm a single parent, and it's really hard to be away from my daughter. She just turned six, and it was one of my most difficult times to be away from home. I missed her sixth birthday.

Westworld: That is hard…

Munky: You know, some people use crutches to deal with that type of thing, and those crutches become addictions. But let me tell, just for the record, I love the guy. I really miss him.

Westworld: So it sounds like when you read the book, you're not going to take it personally, because you know how you feel about him, and how he feels about you?

Munky: Yeah. There's probably nothing in there that's going to offend me.

Read the entire interview at this location.