Brian "Head" Welch helped co-found the nu metal band Korn in 1993 alongside Jonathan-Davis, James "Munky" Shafer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and David Silveria. While with Korn, Welch suffered from substance abuse issues. On February 22, 2005, Welch formally left Korn saying that God saved him from his addictions. He subsequently began a solo career as a Christian musician-evangelist. On May 5, 2012, Welch performed with Korn for the first time since he left the band and subsequently returned as a permanent member. While still a Christian, he says that early in his faith, he had gone "too far with it" and allowed religion to become another addiction.