James Shaffer.html |
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| James Shaffer | |
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 James Shaffer Live in Toronto during the 2007 Family Values Tour.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Christian Shaffer Lavallee |
| Also known as | Munky |
| Born | June 6, 1970 Bakersfield, California |
| Genre(s) | Nu metal Alternative metal Industrial metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1993 - present |
| Associated acts | Korn, Fear and the Nervous System, L.A.P.D. |
| Website | www.korn.com |
| Notable instrument(s) | |
| Ibanez K7 Ibanez Apex |
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James Christian 'Munky' Shaffer (born June 6, 1970 in Bakersfield, California) is the guitarist for the nu metal band Korn. He also performed live backing vocals. His nickname, 'Munky', is apparently a reference to the fact that his feet, when spread, resembles monkey's feet (this was revealed in the multi-platinum video "Who Then Now?"). His bandmate Reginald 'Fieldy' Arvizu has a similar nickname, also based on his physical appearance to the cartoon character Garfield the cat.
He does have musical activities outside of Korn, though: he is the founder of Emotional Syphon Recordings, who have signed acts like Monster In The Machine and Droid. Droid was also featured on the 2007 Family Values Tour.
It was announced that Munky would not be touring for the rest of the Bitch We Have A Problem Tour due to his father becoming ill. However, on February 20th, Munky announced in a MySpace bulletin that he is returning to the tour at the band's show in Milan.
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Life
As an adopted child, Shaffer led a troubled life, often stealing his parents' alcohol and trespassing. One night, when trying to sneak out to a party, the tip of one of his fingers was severed by the chain on his motorcycle, and, as part of his rehabilitation, Shaffer picked up a guitar. During high school Shaffer met fellow guitarist Brian "Head" Welch and the two often jammed together ever since.
Later on Welch and Shaffer saw Jonathan Davis singing for the band Sexart in a bar. Initially intending to stay only for a few minutes, the pair ended up staying for the whole set upon seeing Davis' performance, and asked him to join their band (still called L.A.P.D. at this point) almost immediately afterward.
Shaffer developed meningitis during 1997 while on tour, requiring him to be hospitalized. KoRn cancelled the remainder of that tour, due to not wanting to replace him with someone who wasn't in the band.
On January 15, 2000, Shaffer married Stephanie Roush. The couple had a daughter, Carmella Star, the next year, whom Shaffer claims is the most prized possession in his life. The two are now divorced.
February 22, 2005, Brian Welch left the band. James felt very sad, but he accepted his friend's choice. Today, he is the only formal guitarist in Korn. (Clint Lowery, Christian Olde Wolbers, and Rob Patterson were only live/session members.)
On the 16th May 2006, Munky played on Spanish nylon guitar in Fieldy's wedding. He was quoted as jokingly saying "now I have something else to fall back on!"
Munky cites Steve Vai and 80's metal guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads as his main influences while learning guitar, growing up.
On March 4, 2008, it was announced that Munky will be releasing a solo record on August 8, 2008 with his solo band Fear and The Nervous System which will feature Munky doing vocals and guitar, Brooks Wackerman of Bad Religion (who also performed on Korn's 8th album) on drums, Leopold Ross on guitar and programming, Bill Gould of Faith No More fame, and Zac Baird (Korn's keyboardist) on keyboards and programming. The record will be produced by Munky and Ross Robinson. Guitarist and friend Wes Borland originally recorded guitars for two songs on the album but they will not make the final cut. Borland also created cover art which will still be used.
Emotional Syphon Recordings
In 2006 Shaffer founded Emotional Syphon Records to give daring and diverse bands a chance to be heard. The first bands to be signed were Droid and Monster in the Machine, however Shaffer says he doesn't want to limit himself to only releasing metal acts but to create a multi-genre label.
Fear and the Nervous System
On March 4, 2008 HardDriveRadio reported that Munky is putting together a experimental/industrial rock side project known as Fear and the Nervous System on his own label Emotional Syphon Recordings. The band is Shaffer's solo project, and will be putting out an album, which was originally due out August 8th but has been pushed back as the album has yet to be completed.
Members
Other contributers
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Equipment
James predominantly uses Ibanez guitars, most often his signature model the Ibanez Apex1 7-string model and Mesa Boogie2 & Diezel guitar amplifier. Like Brian did before leaving the band in 2005, he uses many pedals and effects to shape the distinct Korn sound. Munky describes his live pedal board as a "spaceship" because of the large, diverse quantity of effects he uses.3
Guitars
| "Yeah, I don't burn guitars, that's James Hendrix's thing, man. But I'd wanted to do something that he did. I've broken guitars, everyone breaks guitars, but you have to be crazy to try and burn one, after someone did it at the Monterey Pop Festival. I was actually nervous about doing it, because during the last song, I found out that my guitar tech had a bottle of lighter fluid on his desk. So I said, I have a lighter in my pocket, let's do this. That's how it happened, and I was nervous, because I realized when I was going to do it, I started to get nervous and overanalyze it, and I thought, Just do it; have fun, man." —James Shaffer, January 20084 |
- Ibanez APEX1-BBK Munky Signature - Muky's current signature model from 2007 and onward.
- Ibanez Custom K7 - Munky and Head signature guitars.
- Ibanez Custom K14 Custom built 14 stringed guitar, used in the song Alone I Break.
- Ibanez Custom RG8 - 8 string guitar, used on recent tours.
- Ibanez UV7BK - Steve Vai signature moedel.
- Ibanez Universe UV7PW - Covered in duct tape with a single humbucker and no tone control.
- Ibanez Universe UV7BK - Used during 1997 Lollapalooza tour.
- Ibanez Universe PRE-97 UV7BK - With replaced pickguard, now retired.
- Ibanez Custom 7-string acoustic - Used for the MTV Unplugged and the recording of the untitled album.
- Gibson SG 6-stringed model, tuned down to drop-A.
- Gibson EDS-1275 - Used during studio recordings.
- Fender Telecaster - 6-string model used on the song Kiss.
- Saber S5407 - Seen in Blind video also occasionlly used live during early tours.
- Silvertone - Used to record the Blind intro.
- Dean Markley strings - .010 .013 .017 .030 .042 .052 .060 gauge.
Effects
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Amplifiers
- Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifiers
- Diezel VH4
- Line 6 Flextone Amplifier
- Rivera Knucklehaed
- Gibson Amplifier
- Marshall JCM 900
- Marshall 4x12 cabinets
Discography
L.A.P.D.
- Love and Peace, Dude (1989)
- Who's Laughing Now (1991)
- L.A.P.D Compilation album (1997)
KoRn
- Korn (1994)
- Life Is Peachy (1996)
- Follow the Leader (1998)
- Issues (1999)
- Untouchables (2002)
- Take a Look in the Mirror (2003)
- See You on the Other Side (2005)
- Untitled album (2007)
- TBA (2009)
Fear and the Nervous System
- TBA (2008)
External links
- Korn.com
- James 'Munky' Shaffer at the Internet Movie Database
- Bakotopia interview with James 'Munky' Shaffer
- James 'Munky' Shaffer guitar rig