DATE: APRIL 14, 1998
FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ AMANDA CAGAN
"KORN'S AFTER-SCHOOL SPECIAL" COMES TO A CLOSE (ALMOST),
AS THE BAND TAPES THE PENULTIMATE EPISODE OF THE FIRST SEASON
ON THURSDAY, APRIL 16;
NEWS OF THE "SEASON'S CLIFFHANGER" EPISODE
SET TO TAKE PLACE CLOSER TO THE NEW ALBUM'S RELEASE
After six successful weeks of their precedent-setting "KORN's After-School Special," the group are getting ready to wrap-up the show's first season on Thursday, April 16 at 4:30 PM Pacific Time. This hour-long episode–where they'll take time to reflect on all the hysteria that's transpired over the course of seven fun-filled weeks on the "set" of the first season of the first program to air on the KORN TV Internet network (www.korntv.com)–will be followed by several weeks of repeats.
Surrounded in the recording studio by a middle-Eastern vibe with multi-colored carpets lining the floor and ceilings, dim lights, candles and incense–plus the band's infamous collection of porno on the walls, and of course, the immense supply of "ice coldies" (that's beer in KORN slang)–the weekly program gave thousands of fans around the globe a personal tour of the world of KORN: JONATHAN DAVIS (vocals), FIELDY (bass), JAMES "MUNKY" SHAFFER (guitars), BRIAN "HEAD" WELCH (guitars) and DAVID (drums).
Some of the special celebrity hosts and guests included members of 311, Limp Bizkit, Deftones, Sugar Ray, the Pharcyde and Orgy (who are signed to KORN's label, Elementree Records); porn stars Ron Jeremy, Shane, and Randy Rage; DJ Malcolm Stryker of 91X radio in San Diego, CA; Colin Malone of "Colin's Sleazy Friends" fame; and Adam Corolla from KROQ and MTV's "Loveline." Fred "Re-Run" Berry of "What's Happening" fame also paid a visit to the set, where he showed the guys how to do his trademark "lock" dance from the `70s.
Two particular highlights of the series were the separate appearances by two of the leaders in the dominatrix world: Dita and Dominic. On one episode, Dita modeled her infamous corsets in a pre-taped intimate one-on-one interview with DAVIS, while on a later episode Dominic tied up, whipped and even "electrically stimulated"–all live, by the way–Randy Rage, as DAVIS (a big fan of the fetish underground) and MUNKY watched in amazement and amusement.
Other highlights included lots of one-on-one phone calls from fans, who called in to talk to their favorite KORN member about almost anything: tips for dreadlocked hair (courtesy of DAVIS and MUNKY); the guitars MUNKY and HEAD use to make that special KORN sound; getting tapes to the band for Elementree Records; and hobbies and overall philosophies of life in KORN.
Another major part of the series: various rounds of "tech-talk" with the band in the control room of the Los Angeles studio where KORN are recording their third album with producer Steve Thompson and engineer Toby Wright. There was also a segment with DAVIS recording vocals for "All In The Family," a new song KORN recently recorded with Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst after his appearance on "KORN's After-School Special." The song–whose lyrics were written by DAVIS and Fred on-the-spot and were then recorded later that evening–is a playful back-and-forth series of insults and harsh words each band has for the other…all in good fun, of course.
Stay tuned for news of the show's official "season cliff hanger," set to take place closer to the album's release date this summer.
What's next for KORN's After-School special? More behind the scenes debauchery and mischievous antics than your average KORN fan can handle. Look for the new season of KORN's "After-School Special" to launch in connection with their upcoming world tour. Given the high ratings of the first season, it's hoped that this will be the longest-running internet program in history.
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