Korn

Most radio stations steered clear of Korn, so they built their substantial fan base by touring in the mid-'90s with acts like Danzig and Biohazard that were also on the fringes, too untamed for most listeners. They later toured with more established artists like Ozzy Osbourne and Megadeth, and by 1998 were one of the most popular bands in America, leaders of the nu metal movement.

They formed in Bakersfield, California, a spot known for traditional country music from the likes of Merle Haggard. There is a "Bakersfield sound," but it's not Korn.

They had their nicknames since they were young: Reginald Arvizu had big chubby cheeks when he was a kid so they called him Garfield... later on it became Fieldy. James Shaffer is able to spread his toes out to where they look like monkey hands, which is where the name Munky came from. Brian Welch has a big head ("Go get me any hat and it won't fit"), so he earned the name Head. Jonathan Davis and David Silveria don't use nicknames, though Jon calls himself "HIV," a reference to how many lunkheads derisively through gay slurs his way when he was younger (he's not gay, but many people thought he was). Davis even has a tattoo on his left arm that says "HIV."