#amy lee

Korn and Amy Lee teaming up for MTV Unplugged in 2006 is the stuff millennial metalheads dreams are made of

KornandEvanescence may have both arisen from nu metal, but they came from very different places. Where Korn served as one of the founding pillars for the genre,  Evanescence were reluctantly roped in when a rapper was bolted onto the band for their breakout single Bring Me To Life.

That didn’t stop them paying their dues however, acknowledging Korn’s status as one of modern metal’s most influential bands when they covered Thoughtless in 2004 on the live album Anywhere But Home. In return, Korn called on Evanescence singer Amy Lee for a special guest slot during the band’s December 2006 MTV Unplugged recording, bringing her out for an emotional, nuanced rendition of Freak On A Leash.

Far from being the stripped back, bare bones affair you might expect, Korn pulled out all the stops with cellos and strings lending a sense of enormity to the performance. Jonathan Davis even gave over his usual scat-breakdown towards the end of the song so Lee could showcase her incredible vocals.

December 2006 was a strange time to be in Korn. The band’s classic line-up had begun splintering when guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch left the previous year, but just days before Korn’s MTV performance an announcement went out that drummer David Silveria would be taking a “temporary hiatus” from the band (his full departure was announced a week later).

As such, Korn appeared in New York as a three-piece of singer Jonathan Davis, bassist Fieldy and guitarist Munky. That didn’t stop them pulling out the bells and whistles however, drafting in Amy Lee (whose band’s second album The Open Door had reached the top of the Billboard 200 just a few months earlier), Robert Smith of The Cure and a host of additional musicians on percussion, strings, cello, harmonica, trombone and keys.

Speaking to MTV after the show, Lee remarked that “Korn is a band that my whole band really, really admires. Jonathan was saying it was such an honour to have Robert Smith on the show because they’re who he was really inspired by in high school and I said 'that’s what you guys are for me’”.

The collaborative version of Freak On A Leash was ultimately released as a single in February 2007, reaching No. 89 on the Billboard Hot 100. Korn and Evanescence are due to team up again later this year for a US tour.

KORN has announced a summer tour with fellow rock culture icons EVANESCENCE, produced by Live Nation. Accompanied by special guests varying across select dates, the 18-city tour kicks off on August 16 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, making stops across the U.S. in Boston, Chicago, Houston and more before wrapping up in Ridgefield, Washington on September 16.

“We’re looking forward to going on tour this summer and bringing our friends EVANESCENCE, out,” said Jonathan DavisofKORN. “Whenever Amy[Lee,EVANESCENCE singer] comes to one of our shows, I always love seeing her on the side of the stage watching the whole set and rocking out. We’re gonna have a great time on this tour, and we can’t wait to see you there.”

Lee added: “I fell hard into KORN’s music in high school. It was an inspiration during the formation of my own band. The chances we’ve had to play together over the years are special, a part of our history. They remain one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen. It’s an honor and a thrill to go out with our friends again, our first full tour together since ‘07. We’re all really looking forward to this.”

Tickets and VIP packages go on sale starting Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m. local time on LiveNation.com.

Tour dates:

Aug. 16 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena
Aug. 18 - Maryland Heights, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Aug. 20 - Tinley Park, IL - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Aug. 21 - Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
Aug. 23 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center
Aug. 24 - Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Music Center
Aug. 26 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
Aug. 27 - Camden, NJ - Waterfront Music Pavilion
Aug. 28 - Wantagh, NY - Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Aug. 31 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion
Sep. 01 - Pelham, AL - Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Sep. 04 - Houston, TX - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sep. 06 - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion
Sep. 09 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
Sep. 10 - Nampa, ID - Ford Idaho Center
Sep. 13 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena
Sep. 15 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
Sep. 16 - Ridgefield, WA - RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

KORN changed the world with the release of its self-titled debut album. It was a record that would pioneer a genre, while the band’s enduring success points to a larger cultural moment. The Fader notes: “There was an unexpected opening in the pop landscape and KORN articulated a generational coming-of-angst for a claustrophobic, self-surveilled consciousness. KORN became the soundtrack for a generation’s arrival as a snarling, thrashing, systemically-restrained freak show.”

Since forming, KORN has sold 40 million albums worldwide, collected two Grammys, toured the world countless times, and set many records in the process that will likely never be surpassed. KORN has continued to push the limits of the rock, alternative and metal genres, while remaining a pillar of influence for legions of fans and generations of artists around the globe.

The level of KORN’s reach transcends accolades and platinum certifications. They are “a genuine movement in a way bands cannot be now,” attests The Ringer. They represent a new archetype and radical innovation, their ability to transcend genre makes barriers seem irrelevant.

The band’s latest release, “Requiem”, was born out of very different circumstances than the majority of the band’s catalog; with their busy touring schedule halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the band found themselves energized by a new creative process free of time constraints. This allowed them to do things with “Requiem” that the past two decades haven’t always afforded them, such as taking additional time to experiment together or diligently recording to analog tape — processes which unearthed newfound sonic dimension and texture in their music. The record has been praised by fans and critics alike and also saw its lead single, “Start The Healing”, reach No. 1 on the Modern Rock Radio chart.

Two-timeGrammy Award-winningEVANESCENCE has made an impact on people around the world. The group’s 2003 landmark debut album “Fallen” laid the foundation, spending 43 weeks on the Billboard Top 10 and selling more than 17 million copies worldwide. Debut single and global hit “Bring Me To Life” reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and marked their first U.K. No. 1 hit single. The equally popular “My Immortal” peaked at No. 7 in the U.S. and U.K.

Following multiple worldwide tours, “The Open Door” came next, which went on to sell more than five million copies followed by the self-titled EVANESCENCE which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboardcharts.EVANESCENCE lead singer-songwriter and pianist Amy Lee, bassist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, lead guitarist Troy McLawhorn and guitarist and backing vocalist Jen Majura went down both very new and familiar paths for their symphonic/electronic fourth release, “Synthesis”, in 2017 via BMG. The album scored four Billboard No. 1s debuting atop the Independent, Alternative, Rock, and Classical Album Charts.

EVANESCENCE launched their worldwide “Synthesis Live” tour in October 2017 combining their intense live performances and timeless songwriting with a powerful live orchestra. In March of 2021, EVANESCENCE released their newest studio album, “The Bitter Truth”, featuring the songs “Wasted On You”and“Use My Voice”, both of which were nominated for MTV Video Awards, as well as “Better Without You”, a Top-10 charting song at U.S. rock radio, having spent an incredible 27 weeks on the chart.

So pretty

Had to use one of my favorite songs for them.