KORN guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer chatted with a TMZ photographer about the recent news that FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins was struggling with his band’s arduous traveling schedule in the months leading up to his terrible death.
“It’s very depressing,” Munky said. “I truly fear for his family, man, and pals, as well as [FOO FIGHTERS commander] Dave [Grohl].” If Dave is viewing in any way, I’d like to send him my like. They’re really good people.”
Munky stated that musicians are “usually so delicate… To produce art, you have to be,” he explained.
Munky spoke on his own struggles with substance misuse, saying, “I’ve suffered with my own addictions and psychological well-being.” It’s a pain in the neck. When you enter the market, you will encounter a number of enablers, or those who will simply offer you with goods. ‘You want a party? Let’s hang together and celebrate.’ It’s difficult, especially if you’re a creature of habit – you might be tempted to go ahead and do it. I, too, have been sober for 12 years. Regardless, saying no is difficult. Even when someone says, ‘Let’s go.’ We’re planning a trip to the resort. We’re throwing a party.’ ‘Man, I’m going to go to bed.’
He went on to say that there is temptation “of all kinds” throughout. He said, “It depends on what your vice is.”
“Stability,” Munky said when asked how travelling artists can better deal with these issues in the future. Train. Assist. I believe there should be some kind of factor for excursions and travelling musicians so that we can develop a community and address these issues and make everyone feel better.”
Munky admitted to Metallic Hammer journal earlier this year that he “had seriously lapsed into risky drug usage and drinking” around the time of his father’s death. “I’d lost both my mother and father… and I didn’t want to confront it,” he explained. “I had a fantastic beach house, and I mostly walled myself in with all the windows blacked out and the music turned up really loud in each room.” My neighbors must have been like, ‘This motherfucker, we will not take this anymore…’ because it was a really calm neighborhood before I moved in.’
“Sooner or later, this policeman knocked on my door… because the solar was rising,” Munky continued. He asked if I had any weapons in the house, to which I replied, ‘If I do, you may be the first to know,’ and slammed the door in his face. I had a SWAT team outside my house a quarter-hour later. They bought me out and arrested me because they saw something wasn’t right with me; they could obviously see, like, ‘OK, not only is he excessive and intoxicated, but he’s also psychologically disturbed.’ I awoke chained to a hospital mattress in a psychiatric institution, on 24-hour maintain. And then was the second time I thought to myself, ‘I can’t go on like this…’
“Within the ’90s, our angle was, ‘Fuck tomorrow, we’re residing at present,” Munky continued. In general, I can’t believe we’re still alive. I would have died if my neighbors hadn’t called the cops on me that day, or if I had been living alone on acres of land instead of by the sea.”
“We have all had our struggles with booze and different medicine and people types of demons, not merely individuals in bands,” Shaffer told Bakersfield.com in 2007. However, you should be aware that living this manner will lead to drug addiction and alcoholism. It’s a tough battle for anyone, but it’s especially so when you’re in this business because it’s everywhere you turn. Every evening is a special occasion.”
Shaffer described himself as “an alcoholic” during the time. “I take care of it — I try to take care of it on a daily basis,” he explained. I’ve completed 12 steps and have been on and off the wagon for several years. It is difficult. It’s just a difficult factor to get rid of.”
Hawkins was discovered dead on March 25 while on tour with FOO FIGHTERS at the 4 Seasons Casa Medina resort in Bogota, Colombia. Hawkins’ death has yet to be officially explained, but on March 26, Colombia’s attorney general’s office released a preliminary toxicology report, stating that health workers discovered evidence of 10 different substances in Hawkins’ body, including opioids, benzodiazepines, marijuana, and antidepressants.