KORN’s Brian “Head” Welch Reacts to Sleep Token’s Massive Download Set: “They Went Bigger Than a Slipknot Stage”

While Korn shared headlining duties with Sleep Token and Green Day at this year’s Download Festival, guitarist Brian “Head” Welch couldn’t help but comment on the explosive production brought by the rising masked alt-metal act. During a guest appearance on the latest episode of ‘Rock Show With Daniel P. Carter’ on BBC Radio 1, Welch and fellow guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer reflected on Sleep Token’s fast rise and jaw-dropping live show.

Carter recalled watching Sleep Token from the side of the stage during their 2023 Aftershock Festival set in Sacramento, CA with Shaffer. According to Carter, Shaffer turned to him during the performance and said, “These guys are gonna be headlining this thing in two years time.” Shaffer confirmed the comment, responding, “I did say that. I called it.”

Welch went on to praise the band’s Download showing:

“I love it because all these people — I don’t know how many — but I heard chatter about people like, ‘Sleep Token headlining?’ Some people were saying they’re so young to be able to headline so quick. And they came with that stage? Shut everybody up. They went bigger than a Slipknot stage, man.”

Shaffer added:

“Also, the new record [Even In Arcadia] is incredible. So it’s not only like the stage, yeah you can do that all day long, but they got the songs to back it up.”

Sleep Token’s headlining slot at this year’s Download Festival was met with heavy skepticism when first announced, as some fans questioned whether the enigmatic British band had earned such a prestigious billing. The criticism prompted Download Festival booker Andy Copping to publicly defend the band’s placement.

Full audio of the episode is available via BBC Radio 1’s website.

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