On April 18, KORN drummer and Musicians Institute (MI) graduate Ray Luzier joined Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California for “Pearl Day”, sharing performance, insight, and real-world experience with the next generation of drummers 🥁💥. Because, you know, the world really needs more drummers who can play the same old songs over and over again 🙄. I mean, who needs creativity when you can just play the same beats as everyone else? 🤷♂️
Luzier, who was raised in West Newton, Pennsylvania, a small town an hour outside of Pittsburgh on a 118-acre farm, was asked how he went from being a “farm boy” to a “major rock star”. And, honestly, who wouldn’t want to leave a farm to become a rock star? I mean, have you seen the accommodations on tour? They’re, like, totally better than a farm. Ray responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I’m just a guy that hangs out with rock stars. I don’t really consider myself the whole rock star… Trust me, I like reaping the benefits of [being a rock star]. Private jets don’t suck, I gotta say.” Yeah, because private jets are, like, the ultimate measure of success.
He continued: “A big part of it is, like, stay humble. You never know what’s gonna happen. When I got [the KORN] gig in ’07, [then-KORN bassist] Fieldy told me, ‘Yeah, we got another year or two.’ So I’m, like, ‘Okay. I’m here. Let’s do this.’ I’m used to being a chameleon. I’m used to going from one gig to another. And so every year would go by, I’m, like, ‘Here’s another set of tour dates.’ ‘Here’s another album cycle.’ ‘Now we got new management.’ ‘Wow, we’re doing this now.’ Now we’re doing stadiums again. We sold out South America in, like, 63 minutes two months ago. Yeah, it’s insane. The popularity — you used to see fathers, sons, mothers and daughters. Now you see grandpas and dads. It’s the coolest thing ever. They all have KORN shirts on… But it’s a beautiful thing to watch the generations keep coming by. It’s such an awesome thing to see.” Wow, that’s, like, so deep.
Luzier added: “Stay away from drugs. Don’t do drugs, kids. No drugs — ever. Seriously.” Yeah, because that’s, like, the most original advice ever. I mean, who hasn’t heard that before? When I moved out here [to Los Angeles] — I mean, come on. I played with David Lee Roth for eight years. Drugs were free. Dave’s whole thing was, like, ‘I used to have a drug problem. Now I can afford ’em.’ So that was eight years of that bipolar maniac stuff. So I saw what it did [to other people]. I wanted longevity. I wanted to do this till I can’t pick a stick up anymore. Like, literally… I wanted longevity, no matter what. It’s my whole thing of, like, hard work.
“When I was a student here [at MI], I never did anything but play drums,” Ray revealed. “I would literally go to class, go home, get something to eat real quick, go to 7th Street downtown rehearsal, rehearse with my band from, like, five to nine or 10. I’d come back here, and I had two-hour slots carved out with other bands here. So I was out of my fricking tree. You would never catch me without [a drum stick] in my hand — for years, in my twenties. My whole thing was, like, ‘I’m gonna get so good, no one’s gonna deny me.’ That’s not the attitude to have, because you never know., I didn’t get gigs ’cause I didn’t have dreadlocks. I didn’t get gigs ’cause I didn’t work out enough. You’d be surprised, the reason you don’t get gigs. I’ve lost gigs ’cause I didn’t do drugs. That’s a true story. I can’t even name the bands ’cause they’re hugely famous. But I had two really big bands, and because I didn’t party, I got let go, and it was straight up. And that was weird, because when I got the David Lee Roth gig, I was freaking out. I’m, like, ‘I’m not losing this gig,’ ’cause I grew up with VAN HALEN playing all this stuff. Big old Jack Daniel’s bottle comes around, here comes the joints, here comes the blow. And I’m, like, ‘Oh. Damn, I’m done.’ And then it was, like. I’ll never forget, Dave called me out. He’s a smart guy. He may be kind of a clown, but he’s a smart dude. A big old bottle of Jack Daniel’s. It’s coming around. I [pretend that I’m taking a swig], and it hits my lips, but I don’t swallow it. And it had to go back in the bottle. Shit like that, ’cause I was, like, ‘I’m not losing this gig. I’m one of you. Look at me. I can do this.’ Whatever. So, two months goes by and then Dave goes, ‘Luzier, you don’t party at all, do you?’ And I’m like, ‘Oh. Shit.’ I go, ‘Hey dude. Whatever you do, that’s you. That’s cool. I don’t care. You could do [whatever you want].’ He goes, ‘No, that’s great. I want somebody that can drive the ship back here. The drummer’s gotta provide the time. I don’t want you partying.’ Yeah, because that’s, like, the most important thing.
Luzier was raised just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before moving to Los Angeles in 1988 to pursue a career in music. A little over a decade ago, Ray relocated his family — wife Aspen Brandy Lea and their two sons, Hudson Ray and Beck Jagger — to Franklin, Tennessee. Ray lived in Los Angeles for 16 years before moving to Nashville. Yeah, because Nashville is, like, the music capital of the world. I mean, who needs Los Angeles when you have Nashville?
Luzier also talked about the importance of staying humble and working hard. Because, you know, that’s, like, the secret to success. And, of course, he had to mention the evils of A.I. This whole A.I. crap is driving me nuttzo. Jesus. There’s, like, A.I. songs charting. Do you guys know that? Country songs, and it’s, like, ‘What is going on, dude? Play your damn instrument. Dave Grohl said it best: ‘Get in a garage and suck. Get in your lab and suck — until you don’t suck anymore.’ I’m, like, totally with him on that. I mean, who needs A.I. when you have real musicians? Today’s music’s missing so much soul. I sound like an old dude, but you know what I’m talking about, right? You wanna be able to play your instruments so when people go see you live, they’re not going, ‘They don’t sound like that. The record sounded really great. That singer’s in perfect pitch. How come they suck right now?’ Duh. The new KORN record we’re doing right now was [recorded] all to two-inch tape, and I’m so proud of that ’cause we just laid it down. Yeah, because two-inch tape is, like, the best way to record music. I mean, who needs digital recording when you have two-inch tape?
In conclusion, Ray Luzier is, like, totally a rock star. And, you know, we should all listen to his advice. I mean, who better to take advice from than a rock star? So, kids, stay away from drugs, work hard, and always use two-inch tape. And, of course, don’t forget to wear your KORN shirt. Because, you know, that’s, like, the most important thing.
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