KoRn's born again Christian- Brian “Head” Welch

by- Bruce L. Thiessen, Ph.D, aka Dr BLT


On Saturday, June 30, 2007, my wife sent me to the corner of Coffee Road and Olive Street in our hometown of Bakersfield, to pick up a pre-ordered party pack of Subway sandwiches for my now 2-year-old daughter, Kassidy's 2nd birthday party.
When I walked into Subway, there, at the head of the line was none other than Brian "Head" Welch with his soon-to-be 9-year-old daughter, Jennea. You guessed it, they were picking up a pre-ordered party pack of sandwiches and cookies for her birthday party.

On that special day, at this divine appointment at Subway, I met Head's father and his delightful young daughter; I secured the first of what would be two autographs, and I had the honor of carrying the ex-Korn king's cookies to the car. And as we headed to his car, I also asked him about the prospect of an interview, and without hesitation he hooked me up.

On August 1st, 2007 at 4 pm, Head was headed (okay, enough already with the plethora of puns) to Russo's Books at the Marketplace on Ming Avenue on the west side of Bakersfield for a highly anticipated stop in the midst of a tour for his new book, Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story. Not surprisingly, the book was already climbing the top 20 on the highly coveted New York Times Best-Seller List. This was the place and the date I was to hook up with the newly transformed metal pioneer.

The line extended well out of the bookstore, and down the walkway. KRAB radio had pitched a tent complete with all the gear. All of the major local TV stations were there, and a few other Hollywood-type-photographers and cameramen.

He clearly went out of his way to make every fan feel appreciated and welcomed. Sandwiched snuggly between his daughter (who charmed and entertained the fans like she had been a long-time celebrity) and his affable manager (one of two, as I would find out) he frequently kidded around with fans with clever quips and witticisms.
No matter what the person looked like or where they seemed to come from, Head looked each person in the eye, and treated each person with the utmost respect, kindness and appreciation. It was as if each person were his only fan.

When the long line had been taken care of, Greg his manager, graciously invited me to join Head and his daughter in a room at the back of the store where Head would sign several boxes of additional books---

Head speaks from the heart: [Click here to continue]