This is an intriguing story. Hope we hear more:

NEW YORK - Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch has parted ways with the hard rock act, citing a recent religious awakening. Welch broke the news Sunday on Bakersfield, Calif., station KRAB-FM.

“I had it in my heart to come here and explain to you,” Welch said. “I’m good friends with Korn. I love those guys, and they love me, and they’re very happy for me.”

Addressing the aggressive tone of the music he made with Korn, Welch said, “Anger is a good thing, and if kids want to listen to Korn, good, but there’s happiness after the anger. I’m going to show it through my actions how much I love my fans.”

MTV follows up with a report on how Welch cited moral objections to Korn’s music:

The announcement puts to rest weeks of rumors that Welch was unhappy with Korn’s direction. On February 8, he had apparently written a “letter of resignation” to the band’s management. In the note, Welch detailed a long list of reasons for leaving the band, including increased moral objections to Korn’s music and videos. In particular, he was upset by how he was portrayed in the clip for their cover of Cameo’s “Word Up,” off their recently released Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 album. In the video, Welch’s face was superimposed on a dog patrolling a strip club.

“I can go up there and play those songs and those solos but … I distanced myself from Korn for probably a year and a half, two years. I just wanted to fade away, it was crazy. I was so gone,” Welch told Bakersfield, California, radio station KRAB on Sunday. “But I found my way out and I want to help anyone that wants to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I had to go through the lows to appreciate the highs and it’s not perfect but it’s damn near.”

The MTV article notes further that Welch “plans on further explaining his decision to leave Korn this coming Sunday, when he’ll address the congregation at the Valley Bible Fellowship in Bakersfield, California. And on February 28 he plans to leave for Israel.”

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