's visit Korn to Brazil in 2017 was marked by an unusual moment. The show in the country was part of the tour promoting The Serenity of Suffering, an album released in October 2016, which brought the band back to a heavier sound, with a strong reception from the audience.
Korn embarked on a series of performances that extended until the end of 2017. With the album's excellent reception, the group intensified their schedule with shows in North America and Europe. In 2017, the tour expanded to South America, which was added to the route in April with performances in Brazil and other countries in the region.
Korn returns to Brazil for the seventh time with a single show in São Paulo on May 16th. The band will perform at Allianz Parque, with opening acts Spiritbox, Seven Hours After Violet , and Black Pantera. Tickets are still available for purchase through the Eventim platform.
Bassist Fieldy steps away for personal reasons
This period was marked by a significant change in the live lineup. Original bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu did not participate in the South American tour, citing personal reasons. From then on, he did not perform with the band again.
absence Fieldy's from Korn tours is linked to changes in his life priorities. In public statements at the time, Fieldy stated that he decided to step away to deal with personal issues and habits that were affecting his routine and relationships. The decision was his own, as a way to seek balance outside the band's intense touring schedule.
“Over the past 6 years, I’ve dealt with some issues that have caused me to relapse into some of my bad habits a few times and created some tension with the people around me. It was suggested that I take some time to heal,” she wrote.
Over time, interviews revealed a greater distance between them. Fieldy even stated that he hadn't been in contact with the band members for years. The bassist also expressed interest in a more relaxed lifestyle, away from constant touring. "I'm feeling great, having a lot of fun. I think I've never been so happy," he said.
The choice of the new bassist
To avoid canceling the shows, the band made a rather unusual choice to temporarily fill the bassist position. The chosen one was Tye Trujillo, son of Robert Trujillo, who was only 12 years old at the time.
The young man was already playing in school bands and ended up being selected for all the South American shows. As he was a minor at the time, his father accompanied him throughout the tour.
The choice of Tye came about spontaneously, as guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer to NME:
“There was a moment when some guys from Metallica, Jonathan [Davis, Korn vocalist] and Fieldy, met by chance in some airline lounge, and Robert said something like, 'Hey, have you guys seen my son playing bass?!' They watched some videos and Jonathan and Fieldy were like, 'Wow, he's too good!' When we found out that Fieldy couldn't go to South America with us, he himself suggested Tye. He's not just a replacement – that's Robert Trujillo's DNA, one of the greatest bass players on the planet! You can see it – it's crazy how you can see traces of his father in him.”
Tye Trujillo landed in Brazil for shows with Korn
The debut took place in Bogotá, Colombia, on April 17th, and generated a great deal of buzz, leading some fans of the band to question the young musician. In Brazil, the band performed in São Paulo (April 19th – Espaço das Américas), Curitiba (April 21st – Live Curitiba), and Porto Alegre (April 23rd – Pepsi on Stage).
In São Paulo, Tye took to the stage with energy and confidence. According to the UOL, the "kid didn't disappoint and even had his solo moment on the track 'Shoots and Ladders'. From backstage, Robert Trujillo watched and photographed his headbanger son's performance. On stage, the boy's excitement was visible; he didn't stop shaking his hair and got the Korn fans moshing."
In an interview with NME “Munky” commented on touring with the prodigy: “It’s been great, we’re having a blast! He’s loving it. His dad is here with us, hanging out, filming videos and participating in the process. Tye knows about 17 or 18 Korn songs, and he knows them really well – it’s crazy. All the pauses and breaks… it’s crazy to see someone so young with so much talent. He’s going to be a professional musician, and knowing that so early is inspiring. When we go to shows, people want to take pictures with him, they want his autograph – he’s kind of overwhelmed, but he’s handling it all just like his dad does, which is in a calm and modest way.”
Other reviews described the show as predictable in terms of setlist, but very well executed from beginning to end. "The band was in perfect sync, including the great little Tye, who did a great job and managed to fill Fieldy's shoes admirably, without showing any insecurity at any point during the performance," said TMDQA! at the time.
His participation was temporary, but it became one of the most memorable episodes of the tour. Currently, Tye Trujillo has his own band, OTTTO, and also plays with Suicidal Tendencies.
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