Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Most fans assumed that bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu’s departure from Korn in 2021 would just be temporary, as per theprp. He stated:
The past 6 years I’ve been dealing with some personal issues that at times have caused me to fall back on some of my bad habits and has caused some tension with the people around me. It’s been suggested to me to take some time off to heal. Jonathan, Munky, Ray and Head, I love you and I don’t want to bring any tension or bad vibes to the circle.
In order to continue without Fieldy, Korn hired Roberto “Ra” Díaz to fill in for him. Although others saw Fieldy’s reference to “bad habits” as implying possible substance usage, Fieldy would later refute that theory. Since then, Fieldy has said that he hasn’t communicated with his Korn bandmates, allowing years to pass without exchanging words. The majority of fans of the groundbreaking nu metal band still don’t fully understand why Fieldy stays on the sidelines.
Now, Fieldy provided a clear explanation for his leaving in a recently released interview that was first done late last year. Fieldy conducted a joint interview with Richard Morrill, his former bandmate from the L.A.P.D., for the podcast Shady Characters. The conversation includes information about L.A.P.D., a band that comprised future Korn members James “Munky” Shaffer and David Silveria, as well as the pair’s musical journey together and eventual breakup. Morrill continued the conversation by discussing his feelings about witnessing his previously mentioned former comrades transform the heavy music industry without him.
Fieldy didn’t avoid answering the question about what caused him to leave the band, possibly because of the degree of comfort and the fact that the two were already familiar with the hosts of the event. His dislike of the COVID-19 pandemic was a major contributing factor to his original resignation, as he explicitly disclosed in this conversation. Fieldy gave this response when asked directly what caused him to take a break from the band.
COVID happened. That’s it. I’m like, ‘I’m not going out there.’ That’s what happened, ’cause it was new. Now. I’m like… The whole time — I mean, I didn’t get vaccinated or anything — but when you reflect on it, that’s what happened. They’re like, ‘We’re going to Florida and all this.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m not going to get vaccinated.’ I’m not going. I go, ‘People, this is weird right now.’
But I mean that’s kind of what happened. But it gave me time to sit, and once you sit, you can reflect and you’re like, you’re kind of just waiting you know to what’s next, ’cause I don’t know what the rest of this day is going to bring. I’m just on fire for whatever, whatever is ready.
Fieldy continued by discussing his current outlook after thinking back on leaving the band he had been in for decades.
That’s what it is. You see bands, and bands kind of just go through these motions. This isn’t anything new. I mean, from L.A.P.D. to all these bands. I mean, Chili Peppers have Flea and Anthony [Kiedis], you know? It just happens like that sometimes. A lot of bands — not sometimes, almost every time. It’s rare that all the same [members stay in a band.]”
Man, I look back at my life and like, you know, almost 30 years with Korn, that was a blast, man. I mean, it was… I can’t explain it. It’s like you’re going on you’re going to the ultimate [thrill]… It’s not easy. But it is a blast. I don’t look back going, ‘That sucked.’
I mean, I could look at it and complain, but how are you going to complain? That was everything everybody dreams of. And I got to go almost like a vet. I put in 30 years and now here I am. You know? it’s like I’m cool with that.
Fieldy said this when asked if he would now consider himself “retired” from Korn.
I’m retired from Korn today, but we’ll see what the day brings tomorrow.
When it was mentioned that fans had hoped Fieldy would fill in for Limp Bizkit bassist Sam Rivers following his death in October of last year, Fieldy claimed he was unaware of the fan-led movement. He did, however, share the following information about his friend who passed away.
I’m friends with all the guys in Limp Bizkit. So you know, it hurt my heart, man. I heard about that because I’m friends with Sam and all those guys. We kicked it all the time. I used to go out — my son showed me — he’s like, ‘Dad, check this out’ — And it’s like [a video in which] I’m playing a Limp Bizkit bassline on tour with them and then he comes up, Sam comes up, and he like looks at me and I’m like, ‘Oh.’ And I give [the bass] to him. It’s like a gag we did every single night. ‘Cause you’re in a different city. It wasn’t like today, you do it one night and It’s all over the internet.
So we were doing that and I’m like listening to it and I told my son, ‘That’s a dope bass player.’ Look how much better he’s playing that than me. The way that he moves his fingers and the way that he finesses the strings. He’s sick. So I even knew that, because the first time I went down to Jacksonville, I picked up John Otto [Limp Bizkit drummer] and Sam, and I went back to their house and John Otto had a drum kit in there and Samhad his bass stuff.
I don’t know these kids. And they’re like, ‘Hey, you want to jam with John Otto?’ And I’m like, ‘I’ma show these kids what’s up right now.’ You know, because we were playing somewhere in town, and this is in the beginning of Korn — it was like a little club or something like that. So, I get on, do my my clickity clackity, you know. And I go, ‘You play man.’ You know, I already killed it in my head. He plays. he gets done. I’m like, ‘I suck man. You are dope. You’re so much better than me.’ I told him straight out. I remember that. I was embarrassed. I’m like, ‘You rip.’ That’s one of my two favorite rhythm sections.
Fieldy also mentioned this August shot, which implied that he, Sepultura drummer Greyson Nekrutman, and bassist Christian Olde Wolbers of Cypress Hill/ex-Fear Factory, were working on a new band.
I’m doing another project. We got two rough songs done with Greyson [Nekrutman] from Sepultura on drums. He’s a sick drummer… He’s like a jazz drummer. He can play the old school jazz way, but fast. Like that guy, that guy’s an insane drummer. He’s one of the sickest drummers I’ve ever worked with. And you know what? Every drummer I worked with is dope. David Silveria, Ray [Luzier, Korn drummer] Mikey [Bordin] from Faith No More and Ozzy, who else did we work with? Brooks Wackerman.
Additionally, Fieldy said that he and guitarist Sean Olsen had sent Morrill a new song to work on, calling it a “rough project.” In the chat below, you may discover much more about L.A.P.D., the bands that came before Korn, and the recent activities of Morrill and Fieldy.
