KORN's RAY LUZIER: 'I Was The Drum Slut Of L.A.'

Greg Maki of Live-Metal.net recently conducted an interview with KORN drummer Ray Luzier. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Live-Metal.net: Have you guys ever discussed situations of reuniting with old members? Let's say, one day David [Silveria, drums] did want to come back, or Head [Brian Welch, guitar].

Ray Luzier: It's weird 'cause my career, I got replaced by Alex Van Halen in a little band called VAN HALEN. Even with my eight years with David Lee Roth, I got let go, quote, four times because they were trying to write. And then the brothers would get in a fight with Dave, and they'd call me back — "We're on tour." Alright. And I would get severance checks in the mail, and I'm like, "Oh no, I'm fired." He's like, "No, you're not fired. Eddie and Al are back into the fold." I'm like, "Shit." And even with Robert and Dean DeLeo — I was in a band called ARMY OF ANYONE and I'm a huge STP fan. I had the fortunate experience of filling in for (STONE TEMPLE PILOTS drummer) Eric (Kretz) on a couple shows. Even with that entity, I knew that ARMY OF ANYONE was a side project to them and STP would eventually get back together. And they did. So with this band, the only thing that I've got going good for me is that I heard that David sold all his drums; he doesn't play drums anymore. That's great for me. [laughs] But on the Head side of it, they are in communication with him. Time will tell if it's the right time. I think it's all timing. Right now, there's still a lot of stuff going on with it. Ultimately, that would be awesome for me some day to have the four up there and me.

Live-Metal.net: Is that why they've never added a permanent other guitarist?

Ray Luzier: I don't know, man, to be honest. That chair, from Clint Lowery to Rob Patterson to Shane (Gibson) now — he's phenomenal. They've had so many. That chair's been such an iffy thing.

Live-Metal.net: Shane's never pictured, and you were never in the press photos up until this album.

Ray Luzier: I was sworn in, yeah.

Live-Metal.net: Did they do anything when you became an official member?

Ray Luzier: Yeah, they took our blood, like KISS. [laughter] No, they just didn't want me going anywhere. They were like, "We really dig you in here. We understand that you're used to doing like nine bands at once." 'Cause I am. I told you, I was the drum slut of L.A. I literally would go play on someone's record, go teach a drum lesson and I'd go play a show at night. I was doing anything from disco wigs, playing weddings, to stadiums with Ozzy. So I did everything. They've never done that. Those guys, they know KORN and that's it. There was nothing crazy. They just said, "We don't want you going anywhere. We want to make a member and cut you in." That's all it took to make me OK.

Live-Metal.net: You've got some huge personalities in KORN — Jonathan [Davis], Fieldy and Munky. With their documented troubles and overwhelming success, what's the current state of the relationships between everybody in the band?

Ray Luzier: It's awesome. I don't know if I could've been in this band 10 years when everyone was messed up. There was a lot of partying going on. I can honestly say I've gone my whole career without doing one drug, and I'm quite proud of it. I just watch what it does to other people. When C.C. DeVille got canned from POISON, I was actually the drummer, they put me on salary and I was in his side band. The debauchery and the drugs — the stuff I saw, and I saw what it did to people's lives and careers. They're still really good people. The chemicals, the artificial crap they put into their bodies alters their entire lifestyle, it fucks up families, it messes up everything. It's kind of a bummer when you see it. People are like, "Come on, you did something." I'm like, "No." My wine, but I've got control over it. I don't need to have a drug. I'm living proof that you can be successful and not have to have that crap. To answer your question, now it's great. Jonathan puts his kids to bed on Skype, and they call their wives. It's such a cool vibe. I hear stories about how they used to be and whoa. I don't know if I could've hung.