Two years earlier, the five Bakersfield misfits — Jonathan Davis (vocals), James “Munky” Shaffer (guitar), Brian “Head” Welch (guitar), Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu (bass), and David Silveria (drums) — had released Life Is Peachy , a raw, claustrophobic follow-up to their game-changing 1994 debut. But they were still outsiders. Metal was still dominated by Pantera’s groove-metal swagger, the fading grunge of Stone Temple Pilots, and the rap-rock novelty of Limp Bizkit (whose frontman, Fred Durst, was about to become their unlikely hype man).
The release of Follow the Leader was accompanied by the launch of the "Family Values Tour," a traveling festival curated by Korn. This tour cemented the genre's dominance, featuring peers like Limp Bizkit, Ice Cube, and Rammstein (who made their US debut there). korn follow the leader
: Hits like " Got the Life " and " Freak on a Leash " were so popular they became the first music videos "retired" from MTV's Total Request Live to allow other artists a chance at the top spot. Two years earlier, the five Bakersfield misfits —
Upon release, critical reception was mixed to positive. Some critics lauded the band's innovation and the sheer weight of the sound, while others dismissed the lyrics as whining or the production as overly commercial compared to their debut. The release of Follow the Leader was accompanied
No analysis of this album is complete without a deep dive into "Freak on a Leash." The song encapsulates the entirety of the Follow the Leader ethos. The guitar riff is iconic in its simplicity—a bounce rhythm that invites moshing but is catchy enough to hum.