Korn Guitarist ‘Munky’ on 12 Years of Sobriety

AUDIO – MUNKY SEE MUNKY DON’T DO (DRUGS) –

May 20, 2022 – Korn’s James “Munky” Shaffer answered TMZ’s questions at Los Angeles International Airport this week, commenting on his journey with sobriety and the death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.

The Korn guitarist has been sober for over a decade. Walking into LAX on Wednesday (May 18), he was asked about Monday’s Rolling Stone story that suggested Hawkins wanted to lessen his touring with Foo Fighters in his final days. The story was subsequently denounced by two of the musicians and Hawkins associates interviewed for it, Pearl Jam’s Matt Cameron and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith. Hawkins’ death in March shocked the music world, as evidenced by the outpouring of support that followed. But there has been no official word that substance abuse contributed, despite a preliminary toxicology report that detected drugs in his system.

“It’s so sad,” Shaffer tells TMZ of Hawkins’ death. “I feel so bad for his family and his friends and Dave [Grohl]. I want to send my love to Dave … They’re such great guys. And musicians are so sensitive, really. You have all this persona onstage, but…”