**Brian “Head” Welch Announces Return to Korn with Shocking Revelation During Interview**

**Brian “Head” Welch Announces Return to Korn with Shocking Revelation During Interview**

 

*May 18, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA* — In a stunning turn of events that has rocked the metal music world, Brian “Head” Welch has officially announced his return to Korn, the legendary nu-metal band he co-founded in 1993. The guitarist, who originally left the band in 2005 citing personal and spiritual reasons, shocked fans during a candid interview earlier this week—not just with the news of his return, but with an unexpected revelation that has sparked widespread conversation.

 

During an exclusive sit-down interview with *Loudwire*, Welch confirmed that he will be rejoining Korn for their upcoming studio album and world tour slated for 2026. His announcement alone was enough to send fans into a frenzy, but it was the revelation that followed that truly caught the industry off guard.

 

“I never really left,” Welch said quietly, looking directly into the camera. “For years, I was working behind the scenes—writing, advising, even laying down riffs anonymously. It wasn’t official, and the public didn’t know, but I was always close.”

 

This confession has stunned longtime fans of the band, many of whom believed Welch had distanced himself entirely from Korn following his conversion to Christianity and subsequent departure. In 2005, Welch left the band at the height of their fame, citing a need to escape the destructive lifestyle that accompanied the rock star persona.

 

“I was broken back then,” Welch admitted. “Drugs, fame, all of it—I had to step away to save my life and find something real. But what people didn’t understand is that even after I walked away, Korn was still part of me.”

 

Welch’s journey post-Korn was well-documented. He released several solo albums, formed his own band Love and Death, and became a vocal advocate for sobriety and spiritual healing. Despite reconnecting with Korn onstage in 2012 and officially rejoining the band in 2013, there was an unspoken assumption that he remained somewhat distant from the core creative process—until now.

 

In the interview, Welch revealed that he had secretly contributed to multiple Korn albums after 2013 under pseudonyms or anonymously, opting to focus on the music rather than credit or fame.

 

“There were times I’d show up at the studio, hang out for a few days, throw down some riffs or offer suggestions,” he said. “Sometimes they’d make it onto the record, sometimes they wouldn’t. But I never asked for credit. It wasn’t about me.”

 

This admission has left fans revisiting Korn’s discography, speculating which parts may have had Welch’s hidden touch.

 

Welch’s official return comes at a pivotal time for Korn. The band, still led by frontman Jonathan Davis, has been teasing a “new era” of music for months. With this announcement, it’s clear that Welch’s presence will play a significant role in shaping that vision.

 

“Having Head back full-time is like restoring the soul of the band,” Davis said in a statement. “We’ve been through hell and back together. This new chapter isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about evolution, healing, and reclaiming what made us who we are.”

 

The reunion has already sparked a flurry of speculation around the upcoming album, which insiders describe as a return to Korn’s “raw roots with a modern edge.” The band is reportedly experimenting with heavier, more experimental sounds while maintaining the signature emotional grit that defined their early success.

 

Welch hinted that the new album will explore themes of redemption, identity, and confronting the past.

 

“This record is the most honest thing we’ve done,” he said. “We’re not trying to recapture the past—we’re owning it, learning from it, and transforming it into something powerful.”

 

Social media erupted following the interview, with hashtags like #HeadIsBack and #KornReborn trending within hours. Fans expressed a mix of excitement and curiosity, particularly in light of Welch’s behind-the-scenes involvement in previous albums.

 

“Korn has always been about raw emotion and truth,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “The fact that Head was quietly there this whole time makes me respect them even more.”

 

Others voiced admiration for Welch’s humility and spiritual growth, crediting him with inspiring a deeper message of resilience and faith within the metal community.

 

Industry insiders have praised the move as not only a musical boost for the band but a narrative arc rarely seen in the world of rock—a story of healing, forgiveness, and creative rebirth.

 

“There’s something uniquely powerful about a band coming full circle,” said music journalist Lisa Monroe. “Welch’s return doesn’t feel like a gimmick. It feels necessary.”

 

As Korn prepares to hit the studio and launch their 2026 tour, fans are eagerly awaiting what may be one of the most anticipated comebacks in metal history. The band has promised an official single drop by fall, with a global tour announcement expected shortly after.

 

Welch closed the interview with a heartfelt message to fans who’ve supported him through every chapter of his career.

 

“Thank you for believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself,” he said. “This is more than a return. It’s a resurrection.”