Short-Lived Blast: The Story Before Korn… and After

Before Korn, there was LAPD. Before the tours, the fame, and the legacy, there were a group of kids from Bakersfield trying to figure it out as they went.

In this episode of Shady Characters, Fieldy and Richard Morrill take us back to the beginning. They share how they met, the early bands they played in, and the chaotic journey from local shows to getting signed just months after moving to Hollywood. It is a story filled with cramped apartments, relentless gigs, and the kind of blind confidence that only comes with being young and all in.

But this is not just a story about what happened. It is also about what almost happened.

Richard opens up about the moment he chose to leave the band and join the military, walking away from a path that could have led to global success. What follows is an honest reflection on identity, timing, and redefining what success actually means. While Fieldy’s path led to decades on stage, Richard’s took a different route grounded in family, reinvention, and perspective.

Throughout the conversation, they revisit the evolution of LAPD, the transition that eventually became Korn, and the reality that bands, like people, grow and change. They talk about ego, mistakes, and what it means to look back on those early years with clarity instead of nostalgia.

What makes this episode hit is the contrast. One path leads to arenas and global recognition. The other leads to something quieter, but no less meaningful. Both are honest. Both are real.

At its core, this episode is about friendship that lasts decades, the unpredictable nature of success, and the idea that sometimes the biggest wins in life have nothing to do with fame at all.

Follow Fieldy and Richard: @fieldykorn @hairnerdhaircare