Brian Head Welch

Brian "Head" Welch — born in the United States on 19 June 1970 — is Korn's guitarist across two periods, and the central figure in one of American metal's most discussed departures. With James Shaffer he formed the guitar pair that created nu metal's vocabulary: seven-string instruments in very low tuning, riffs without clear melodic definition and the complete absence of solos. That combination defines the albums that made Korn the most influential band at the turn of the millennium, from Follow the Leader (1998) to Untouchables (2002). In 2005 he left the group at its peak. The departure had two publicly stated reasons: methamphetamine dependence, which had brought him to a critical state, and conversion to Christianity. He began speaking openly about addiction and recovery, published books on the subject and pursued a musical career outside Korn for almost a decade. He returned to the band in 2013 and has remained since, taking up the role again alongside Shaffer. His path is unusual in that world for combining two elements that rarely coexist: a departure driven by religious conviction and a return without that conviction being abandoned.