Former KORN Drummer Explains How The Band Lost So Much Of Its 'Unique Trademark Sound'

Former KORN drummer David Silveria has posted the following message on his Facebook page:

"Hello, people.

"Before I get into this post, I want to be clear I'm just explaining some history from the early days of KORN. Not bashing KORN at all.

"I hope KORN fans will find this info interesting.

"To all the haters that will talk smack, then why bother reading this? Maybe you should get some help.

"So here we go.

"In 1991, when KORN was first writing music, it was in our rehearsal studio. When we had 6-8 songs, we went and played our first show, then back to our rehearsal room to keep writing. So over the next couple years, we wrote songs and re-wrote songs, played numerous shows. The songs that became our first record, 'Korn', were written and played live and finetuned over a course of around two and half years. Our second and third records, 'Life Is Peachy' and 'Follow The Leader', were written in our rehearsal studio and rehearsed and finetuned over and over. We didn't play shows while writing, though. The music and vocals were written all together. This is the key point.

"The first three records had all kinds of strange and off-time breaks in the songs. We would purposely speed up and slow down parts. Most of the weird breaks were made up by Fieldy [KORN bassist] and I. We would change the timing in the middle of songs that made no sense.

"One of the great things about music is there are no rules.

"Fast forward to our next record, 'Issues'. A big-name producer was brought in telling us he would 'take us to the next level.' I immediately called bullshit. I thought we had just made three legendary records?

"Here is the next key point. He wanted to record the record on the digital system Pro Tools. He also wanted to record everything to a click track, eliminating all crazy timing changes and off-time breaks and the pushing and pulling of parts. I was the only one to think this was a horrible idea. Our signature style was under attack and the guys said just listen to this 'big-time' producer.

"So we started writing music. I did my thing on the drums by playing in my style. The producer immediately wanted me to simplify my playing. I said to him, 'This is not your record. I'm going to do my thing.' The next day, I get a phone call from our manager saying one of the band members says I'm being hard to work with. Seriously!! So I was being asking to be a puppet and dumb down my playing and be a good boy. I heard this enough times I finally just simplified everything.

"Pretty lame, right?

"Then next it came to our attention that we were going to record all of the music before Jon [Davis, KORN singer] even started on the vocals. That's another major blow to our signature sound. We always wrote songs as a five-piece band and made unique accents and breaks specifically to the vocals.

"Well, there goes that unique KORN sound.

"Once our original way of writing was totally changed, the original sound was also changed. I was disappointed.

"I've been asked hundreds of times why our sound changed so much after 'Follow The Leader'. Well, now you have the answer.

"I love the music we made after 'Leader'; don't get the wrong idea. It just lost so much of our unique trademark sound. I really think the fans noticed.

"I made several attempts to get the band to get back to the basics and write and record like we did the first three records, but was met with opposition every time. I don't know why. All I wanted to do is make better records. But the other members didn't want to spend the extra time it takes to write the original way. But hey, I tried.

"When I was talking about bringing the funk back, I was talking about the original writing style.

"I would love to get back in the rehearsal studio with the guys and resurrect the original passion and unconventional writing style and make a record that stands up to the first three. Of course, before that could happen, I would love to just sit down with guys and talk about our humble beginnings and really put things in perspective.

"I really hope to see you KORN fans again soon from behind my drum kit on stage with the guys.

"If anyone wants to post this on other sites, please do so. All I ask is to be honest and post it in its entirety and not take parts out of context.

"I hope you true KORN fans thought this insight was interesting.

"Take care everyone. Talk soon:)"

Silveria was the second member of KORN's original lineup to depart, leaving in late 2006. Guitarist Brian "Head" Welch exited the group in 2005. But while Welch continued as a solo artist until rejoining KORN this year, Silveria retired to Huntington Beach, California and opened a restaurant.

Singer Jonathan Davis told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that he believed Silveria lost his passion for music. "David was there to write beats but he wasn't really there," he said. "He really didn't like playing drums. The first two albums, I think, he really enjoyed playing drums and then after that he just lost his love for playing drums. It happens. Okay, good for him, he wanted to move on and do something else."

KORN's 11th studio album, "The Paradigm Shift", will be released on October 8 and features the return of Welch to the lineup after more than eight years away.

The new disc follows up 2011's "The Path Of Totality", which found KORN collaborating with dubstep artists on every track.

Silveria in February pleaded guilty to a charge of allegedly driving under the influence. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the hit-and-run charge in connection with the March 2012 incident in which the 40-year-old musician — who played with KORN for 13 years — rear-ended another car on his way to breakfast in Huntington Beach, California.

Silveria was sentenced to three years of informal probation, a three-month first offender program, and he was ordeded to attend a M.A.D.D. victim impact panel.

Silveria last year joined forces with ANYONE members Riz Story and Miki Black in a brand new project called INFINIKA.