Jonathan Davis And Yoshiki Give Freak On A Leash A Stunning Orchestral Makeover

Nu metal met the symphony hall in spectacular fashion when Korn frontman Jonathan Davis made a surprise appearance during Yoshiki’s concert at Los Angeles’ iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The X Japan founder welcomed Jonathan Davis to the stage during the first of his two orchestral performances, treating fans to an unforgettable reimagining of Korn’s 1998 anthem Freak On A Leash.

Far removed from the crushing guitars and raw aggression of the original, the live arrangement leaned into sweeping orchestral textures without sacrificing the emotion that made the song one of Korn’s defining tracks.

Yoshiki began the performance on piano, accompanying Davis through the song’s quieter moments before moving behind the drum kit for a powerful finale backed by a full orchestra (per Louder Sound).

Fan filmed footage (below) of the collaboration has already begun making the rounds online, with many praising the performance for offering a fresh perspective on one of nu metal’s most iconic songs.

Follow the Leader

Originally released as the second single from Follow The Leader, Freak On A Leash helped cement Korn’s place at the forefront of the late ’90s heavy music explosion. Nearly three decades later, it continues to evolve in ways few fans probably expected.

Speaking previously about the song’s creation, Davis told Metal Hammer:

“Oh, we loved that song from day one. I remember coming up with all these lines. It came a lot easier than other songs.”

Reflecting on the track’s unforgettable scat and beatboxing section, he added:

“We were jamming and I started mixing beatboxing and this scat thing I do.”

“I loved vocal percussion – dudes like Doug E. Fresh and his beatboxing from back in the day. I listened to a lot of old school hip hop and New York freestyle – that’s what I listened to with all the 80s new wave stuff.”

The orchestral collaboration arrives ahead of Korn’s extensive UK and European tour later this year, proving that even after decades of success, the band continues finding new ways to reinvent some of its biggest songs.

If this performance is anything to go by, Freak On A Leash still has plenty of new life left in it.