Korn Guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch Says He's Not Religiously Addicted, Just Too Passionate

Brian "Head" Welch (Instagram @brianheadwelch / @beverlykillsca)

JAKARTA - KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch has once again clarified his recent comments about Christianity. Welch insisted he was simply referring to the fact that he was "overzealous" and "irritating" about his faith when he first became a Christian.

In an appearance on the Machine Head vocalist's podcast, "No Fuckin' Regrets With Robb Flynn", Welch talks about the impact his newfound consciousness has had on his life, his family, and the influential numetal band he co-founded nearly 30 years ago.

It is known that the guitarist left KORN in early 2005, at the same time announcing that he was giving up his drug and alcohol addiction by becoming a born-again Christian.

Asked if he thought religion became a "new addiction" after leaving KORN, Welch said: "The crazy thing is that I have experiences with something from another dimension. And that's not religion — going to church and being a good kid."

"It was, like, I felt something come into my house, and I can't explain it to this day. But I believe that it was Christ who did something in me. So it was real — it was very real. But yeah, I think I too far with him. And I was obsessed with him, just as I was obsessed with drugs. I believe I did, for sure.

"And I had to get out of that and find normalcy, because there's nothing worse than an obnoxious religious person just stuffing it down your throat—nothing worse than that."

What Welch said is reflected in the documentary Loud Krazy Love, which documents his journey to serenity. However, the band's vocalist, Jonathan Davis, seems to hate the guitarist.

"People can't stand them (KORN). And for years, we've had Christians outside KORN concerts, saying KORN about the devil, and all this. It's crazy — it's a crazy thing.

"But I'm glad I got through that. And I'm glad that I am who I am now, and I have a lot of peace and quiet for my soul. I feel very calm and at peace with myself."

Welch discusses the negative feedback he received for his "No Fuckin' Regrets" comments in a new, three-minute video uploaded to his YouTube channel entitled "Am I Still Christian?".

"Christian news media and other websites, especially Christian parties, there's a lot of stories about Christian musicians leaving their faith. So it's really great for clickbait. A lot of these media pick it up and listen to it and think I'm leaving it. So it must have been taken outside context," Welch said.

"When I first became a Christian, I stopped taking methamphetamine and I had a very powerful encounter where God revealed Himself to me.

So, both sides of the coin — coming from methamphetamine and the power of encounters — I didn't know how to react and I was just too excited, I looked irritating with my faith, and it took me a while to let the levels down. That's all I was trying to say in the video."