Jonathan Davis

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Lore & Background

Davis's journey began in Bakersfield, where he co-founded Korn in 1993 following the dissolution of his previous band, Sexart, and the group L.A.P.D. Before music took center stage, he worked as a coroner's assistant, a role that exposed him to tragic scenes involving dead children and drug overdoses at just 16 or 17 years old. He later described suffering from severe post-traumatic stress, requiring therapy to manage nightmares, yet noted the experience made him appreciate life more. His early life was marked by bullying; he was persistently harassed for wearing eyeliner and listening to new wave music, an ordeal that inspired the Korn song "Faget" and his "HIV" tattoo. After moving in with his father following a difficult childhood split, Davis eventually found solace and purpose in music, leaving his mortuary job to audition for the group that became Korn.

In Their Own Story

In early 1993, ex-members of L.A.P.D. noticed Davis performing with Sexart at The John Bryant club in Bakersfield. Overwhelmed by his intensity, they pursued him relentlessly until a psychic advised Davis to leave Bakersfield and join them in Los Angeles. He resigned from the Kern County Coroner's Department and moved into a house in Huntington Beach with bandmates David Silveria and Brian Welch. It was there that Davis proposed the name "Corn," inspired by the horror film Children of the Corn, before renaming it KoЯn. From 2000 to 2001, he expanded his creative horizons by writing and producing the score for Queen of the Damned with Richard Gibbs. By 2018, he released his first solo album, Black Labyrinth, a project initiated on the road in 2007 that explored themes of religion, consumerism, and apathy.

Reader's Guide

Davis serves as the lead vocalist for Korn, utilizing a vocal style that alternates between angry tones, high-pitched atmospheric sounds, and aggressive screaming. He is also a multi-instrumentalist playing guitar, drums, bagpipes, piano, upright bass, violin, and clarinet. Beyond his work with Korn, Davis manages the EDM alter ego JDevil, performing DJ sets since 1987. As of 2018, he has sold over 40 million albums worldwide, earning fifteen platinum certifications in the U.S., eight in Australia, and six gold certifications in the UK. His accolades include two Grammy Awards from eight nominations. He remains active with solo projects and collaborations across metal, alternative rock, rap, and electronic genres.

Did You Know?

• Davis worked as a coroner's assistant from age 16 and was a professional embalmer before joining Korn.
• He survived a critical asthma attack at age five where his heart stopped.
• His "HIV" tattoo and the song "Faget" were directly inspired by severe bullying he faced in high school for wearing eyeliner.
• Davis performs as JDevil, an EDM alter ego, having started DJing in 1987 while still in high school.
• He co-wrote and produced the entire soundtrack for the 2000 film Queen of the Damned with Richard Gibbs.