Korn reflect on ‘culture shock’ of first European tour

Korn
Korn

Korn frontman Jonathan Davis says it was a “culture shock” when the band first visited Europe.

Speaking on a new documentary charting the band’s 2016 European tour, Davis reflects on their 1995 debut across the continent with Primus – and reports it was like visiting another planet when their plane eventually touched down.

Davis says: “We’ve been playing in Europe for more than 20 years. I remember our first tour ever in Europe was Korn and Primus. The plane got delayed, we sat in the airport for hours, and when we got on the plane, we got halfway to Europe and they said they were having problems and we might have to turn back.

“Somehow, we ended up there and started our first tour of Europe. I can remember getting off the plane and feeling like I stepped on to a different planet. Everything was so different – the beer was different, the people were different, the food was different. It was a huge culture shock for me and the rest of the guys.

“We did that tour and it was pretty crazy, amazing and insane all at the same time.”

The 18-minute online documentary – which can be viewed below – features live cuts and backstage footage, including their June 16 performance of Blind in Pratteln, Switzerland, when they were joined onstage by ex Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx.

Davis continues: “I think that was a check off the bucket list for the whole band. We all grew up listening to Nikki Sixx. I got my first Motley Crue tape when I was in eighth grade and at my 16th birthday party, I had a Motley Crue birthday cake.

“Shortly after that, my dad turned born again Christian and burned all my Motley Crue stuff. I wasn’t allowed to listen to that.”

Korn have been working on their as-yet-untitled 12th album and are currently on the road across North America.

Korn 2016 tour dates

Jul 19: Burgettstown First Niagara Pavilion, PA
Jul 20: Salt Lake City USANA Amphitheatre, UT
Jul 22: Albuquerque Isleta Amphitheatre, NM
Jul 23: Phoenix Ak-Chin Pavilion, AZ
Jul 24: Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA
Jul 26: Clarkston DTE Energy Music Theatre, MI
Jul 27: Holmdel PNC Banks Arts Center, NJ
Jul 29: Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre, CA
Jul 30: Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Events Center, NV
Aug 02: Austin 360 Amphitheatre, TX
Aug 03: Woodlands The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, TX
Aug 04: Dallas Gexa Energy Pavilion, TX
Aug 06: Noblesville Klipsch Music Center, IN
Aug 07: Cincinnati Riverbend Music Center, OH
Aug 09: Maryland Heights Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, MO
Aug 10: Bonner Springs Providence Amphitheatre, KS
Aug 17: Albuquerque Isleta Amphitheatre, NM
Aug 21: Clarkston DTE Energy Music Theatre, MI
Aug 23: Toronto Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, ON
Aug 24: Cuyahoga Falls Blossom Music Center, OH
Aug 25: Burgettstown First Niagara Pavilion, PA
Aug 27: Syracuse Lakeview Amphitheatre, NY
Aug 28: Mansfield Xfinity Center, MA
Aug 30: Holmdel PNC Bank Arts Center, NJ
Sep 01: Hartford Xfinity Theatre, CT
Sep 02: Camden BB&T Pavilion, NJ
Sep 03: Bristow Jiffy Lube Live, VA
Sep 24: Fargo Scheels Arena, ND
Sep 25: Omaha Baxter Arena, NE
Sep 27: Cedar Rapids US Cellular Center, IA
Sep 28: Peoria Civic Center, IL
Oct 02: Louisville Louder Than Life (Korn only), KY
Oct 05: Charlotte PNC Music Pavilion, NC
Oct 07: Pelham Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, AL
Oct 08: Southaven Landers Center, MS
Oct 09: Biloxi Mississippi Coast Coliseum, MS
Oct 11: Tampa Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, FL
Oct 12: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum, FL
Oct 13: Alpharetta Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, GA
Oct 15: Rogers Walmart AMP, AR
Oct 16: Tulsa BOK Center, OK
Oct 19: Colorado Springs World Arena, CO

Korn’s 12th album is ‘most intense’ says Head

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.