Growing up in Bakersfield, California, Jonathan Davis had a rough time. He never quite fit in at school and got bullied relentlessly for his style and taste in music.
Inspired by Duran Duran, he wore eyeliner and baggy clothes—something that made him an easy target. Kids threw homophobic slurs at him and even nicknamed him ‘HIV’ because they assumed he was gay. It was brutal, but instead of letting it break him, Davis eventually found a way to take control of the narrative.
Turning Pain Into A Mark Of Power
Rather than running from his past, Davis embraced it—literally. He got ‘HIV’ tattooed in bold letters on his upper left arm. For him, it wasn’t just a reminder of what he went through but a way to reclaim power over it. He’s also said the tattoo serves as a personal warning, keeping him mindful of the risks of unprotected encounters.
His high school experiences didn’t just leave emotional scars; they fueled Korn’s early music. The song ‘Faget’ from their 1994 debut album is a direct response to the bullying he endured. Davis also learned to use humor as a coping mechanism, often joking about how people always assumed he was gay.
More Than Just Ink On His Body
Davis’ tattoos all tell a story. Besides the ‘HIV’ ink, he has a striking image of a bishop tearing off his skin to reveal Christ underneath—a symbol of his views on religious corruption, especially in televangelism. And then there’s the Korn logo on his lower back, a permanent tribute to the band that changed his life.
Speaking of Korn, Davis joined the lineup way back during its formation. He was playing in a band called Sexart at a club when Brian ‘Head’ Welch and James ‘Munky’ Shaffer asked him to audition in his 20s. Their first rehearsal convinced the singer to move forward with them, and the rest is history.
Music As A Way To Cope With Trauma
Some of Korn’s most intense songs come from Davis’ personal trauma. ‘Kill You’ was inspired by his abusive stepmother, while ‘Daddy’—one of the band’s most gut-wrenching tracks—deals with childhood abuse that his parents refused to believe. Recording the song was so emotional that after performing it live once (which ended in Davis breaking down in tears), they vowed never to play it again.
His relationship with his father, Rick Davis, was complicated, too. At first, his dad discouraged him from pursuing music, telling him to have a backup plan. But over time, they made peace. Despite all the struggles, Korn kept pushing forward. The band has evolved over the years, dropping their fourteenth studio album, ‘Requiem,’ in February 2022.
