Jonathan Davis
Jonathan Howsmon Davis was born in Bakersfield, California, on the 18th of January 1971. His childhood began with severe asthma that forced him into the hospital every month from age three to ten. He survived a critical attack at five years old when his heart stopped and he saw no light or heard any music. This early trauma shaped a psyche that would later fuel his intense vocal performances.
At sixteen, Davis worked as an assistant coroner in Kern County. He spent days poring over embalming textbooks and nights living inside funeral homes. The job exposed him to dead babies and children who died after finding their parents' drug stashes. Post-traumatic stress followed him home, creating nightmares that required therapy to fade away. He later told Kerrang! magazine that these experiences made him appreciate life more despite the horror.
Davis formed his first group called Buck Naked while still in high school. Only two songs were recorded on demo tapes for this mysterious formation. He distributed copies to friends before joining Ryan Shuck's band Sexart in 1991. Davis admitted he had no clue what he was doing with his voice during those early rehearsals.
In early 1993, members of L.A.P.D. noticed Davis performing at The John Bryant club in Bakersfield. They invited him to join their new group named Creep. A psychic convinced him to leave Bakersfield and move to Los Angeles to audition. He resigned from his job at the judicial police department and moved into a house in Huntington Beach with David Silveria and Brian Welch.
The band changed its name to Korn shortly after forming. Davis proposed the spelling Corn as a reference to the horror film Children of the Corn. The name quickly became KoЯn to reflect their unique identity. This transition marked the beginning of their pioneering role in the nu metal genre.
Davis began working on a solo album in 2007 by forming Jonathan Davis and the SFA. The acronym stood for Simply Fucking Amazings. Two live albums emerged from this project before guitarist Shane Gibson died in 2014. The band disbanded that same year without releasing any studio recordings.
He announced plans for a debut solo album in December 2017. His first single called What It Is arrived in January 2018 alongside a music video for American Satan. Black Labyrinth followed on the 25th of May 2018, released through Sumerian Records. The writing process started back in 2007 while touring.
His electronic alter ego JDevil has been active since 1987 when he DJed at high school dances. He introduced the persona to the world in 2011 during Infected Mushroom appearances. Killbot emerged as an EDM collective with Sluggo and Tyler Blue in October 2012. These projects allowed him to evolve beyond Korn's sound after two decades.
Davis possesses a vocal range spanning four octaves and four notes from A one to E six. His recorded register peaks at F five according to The Range Place website. Critics describe his style as ranging from gruff distortion to odd dissonant scat singing. Tracks like Twist and Freak On A Leash showcase his guttural breakdowns reminiscent of jazz scatting.
Bagpipes entered his musical identity through a scene in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Mr Scott played Amazing Grace on Great Highland bagpipes at Spock's funeral. Davis decided then that he had to play bagpipes himself. His grandmother gave him his first set before he joined the Highland High School pipe band.
The instrument appeared on Shoots and Ladders as a joke that became real music. It also featured on Low Rider, Dead, and many other songs. At Woodstock Festival on the 23rd of July 1999, Davis performed his bagpipe routine before over 250,000 attendees. This unique combination defined much of Korn's sonic landscape throughout their career.
Davis struggled with excessive methamphetamine abuse during the recording of Life Is Peachy. He followed up by recording Follow the Leader under the influence of cocaine and heavy alcohol consumption. Jack Daniel's flowed constantly while drugs fueled the creative process. He described the album creation as fueled by speed and constant gallons of whiskey.
He quit methamphetamine addiction at age twenty-eight during the Family Values Tour. Sobriety increased anxiety and depression which co-occurred with substance use. A suicide watch period occurred from the late nineties into the early two thousands. In 2013, he was treated for Xanax addiction and smoked marijuana until 2015.
By 2018, Davis stated he continued to struggle with chronic insomnia and depression. He replaced drugs with medications including Prozac, Halcion, Benadryl, ZzzQuil, NyQuil, and melatonin. His health issues impacted touring schedules when he tested positive for coronavirus in August 2021.
An attempt to fund a Museum of Justice & Odditorium fell apart in March 2003. Arthur Rosenblatt sued Davis twice over broken promises about the project. The litigation resolved successfully in 2006 through attorney Ed McPherson. Davis started selling off items in December 2005 to move away from that environment for his children.
His home houses taxidermy art collected while touring South Africa. He hired guides to stalk animals and donated meat to feed families for months. Heads returned from Africa after a year wait. A human shrunken head from South America and a foetus named Luther complete parts of this diverse macabre collection spanning decades of global touring.
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Common questions
When and where was Jonathan Davis born?
Jonathan Howsmon Davis was born in Bakersfield, California on the 18th of January 1971. His childhood began with severe asthma that forced him into the hospital every month from age three to ten.
What job did Jonathan Davis hold at sixteen years old?
At sixteen, Davis worked as an assistant coroner in Kern County while living inside funeral homes. The job exposed him to dead babies and children who died after finding their parents' drug stashes.
How did the band Korn get its name from Jonathan Davis?
Davis proposed the spelling Corn as a reference to the horror film Children of the Corn before changing it to KoЯn to reflect their unique identity. This transition marked the beginning of their pioneering role in the nu metal genre.
Which album did Jonathan Davis release through Sumerian Records in 2018?
Black Labyrinth followed on the 25th of May 2018 released through Sumerian Records. The writing process started back in 2007 while touring and his first single called What It Is arrived in January 2018.
Why does Jonathan Davis play bagpipes in his music?
Bagpipes entered his musical identity through a scene in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan where Mr Scott played Amazing Grace on Great Highland bagpipes at Spock's funeral. His grandmother gave him his first set before he joined the Highland High School pipe band.