Jonathan Davis Biography

Jonathan Davis was born on January 18, 1971, in Bakersfield, California, to Rick Davis and Holly Chavez. His father was a keyboardist for Buck Owens and Frank Zappa and his mother was an actress and a professional dancer.

When Davis was only 3 years old, his parents separated and he went with his father. As a child, he suffered from acute asthma.

Davis had a terrible childhood as he was abused sexually and emotionally as a child. He particularly had a horrible relationship with his stepmother who used to physically torture him, a reason why his father later divorced her.

He attended Highland High School and graduated from there in 1989. He also went to the San Francisco School of Mortuary Science. Because he was a bit different than others, Davis was always a victim of bullying at school.

In 1987, Davis started to DJ while he was still in high school under his alter-ego ‘JDevil’. He often did DJing for his high school parties and his favorite genres were ‘New York Freestyle’, ‘Miami bass’, ‘Goth’, etc.

Jeff Creath, a producer, and owner of Underground Chicken Sounds recording studio, allowed Davis to live in his garage, and within some time the band ‘Korn’ developed. They began playing gigs and got noticed while performing at Huntington Beach in 1993.

His first album with his band ‘Korn’ was released in 1994, titled ‘Korn’ under Immortal/Epic Records. The theme of the album was something close to Davis’ heart—child abuse and drugs. It peaked at seventy-two on the Billboard 200.

From 1996-1999, Korn did ‘Life is Peachy (1996)’ which went double platinum in the States, ‘Follow the Leader (1998)’ which peaked at number one on Billboard 200, and ‘Issues (1999) which was promoted by the tour ‘Sick and Twisted’.

Korn’s fifth studio album ‘Untouchables’ was released in 2002, and became an instant hit with metal fans, which helped it in getting certified platinum. Apart from selling 5 million copies worldwide, its single ‘Here to Stay’ won a Grammy.

In 2003, ‘Take a Look in the Mirror’ was released. The album received mixed critical reviews but ranked at No. 284 on Rock Hard magazine’s ‘The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time’.

‘See You on the Other Side’ was released in 2005, under Virgin Records. It went platinum but the longtime guitarist of the band was not in it. Korn took the help of ‘The Matrix’ to give itself a more mainstream popularity.

Band’s 2007 released album was not given a title intentionally as Davis wanted his fans to call it whatever they wanted to call it. Certainly, the gimmick worked out for them and the album was certified gold.

The more recent albums by Korn are: ‘Korn III: Remember Who You Are (2010)’, ‘The Path of Totality (2011)’ and ‘The Paradigm Shift (2013), which received positive critical reviews, and their former guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch returned for this album.

In 2016, the band put out their twelfth studio album ‘The Serenity of Suffering.’ The album received mostly positive reviews from critics and debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200. In 2018, Davis put out his debut solo album ‘Black Labyrinth’ which received mostly positive reviews from critics.

The year 2019 saw the release of Korn’s thirteenth studio album ‘The Nothing.’ Upon release, the album received massive acclaim, earning an average score of 83 out of 100 on Metacritic. In 2022, the band released their album ‘Requiem.’ It was their fourteenth studio album and received a positive response from critics. It peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard 200 and reached number 8 on the UK Albums Chart.

Davis had a very troubled childhood as he faced the atrocity of his parents’ divorce, physical torture by his stepmother, sexual abuse by a family friend, and incessant bullying at school. All of these experiences he uses in his music.

He was married to Renee Perez from 1998-2001 and has a son with her, Nathan. He was married for the second time to a former pornographic actress Deven Davis in 2004. They have two sons together - Pirate and Zeppelin. Deven Davis died of combined drug intoxication from heroin on August 17, 2018.

In 2006, Davis developed idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), which is a rare bleeding disorder. He was bedridden for days because of this disease and now takes medication to keep it in control.

Jonathan Davis is known for his unique vocal style that combines elements of singing, screaming, and growling, creating a signature sound that has inspired many artists in the nu-metal genre.

Davis is a talented bagpipe player and has incorporated the instrument into Korn's music, adding a distinctive and unexpected element to their sound.

In addition to his work with Korn, Davis has also collaborated with artists outside of the metal genre, showcasing his versatility and willingness to experiment with different musical styles.

Davis has been open about his struggles with mental health issues, using his platform to raise awareness and support for those facing similar challenges, showing a vulnerable and compassionate side to his personality.

Despite his intense stage presence and aggressive music, Davis is known for his laid-back and friendly demeanor offstage, often engaging with fans and showing appreciation for their support.