JDevil

Jonathan Davis
Davis performing with Korn in 2014
Background information
Birth name	Jonathan Howsmon Davis
Also known as	JD, JDevil, J Devil
Born	(1971-01-18) January 18, 1971 (age 46) Bakersfield, California
Genres	Nu metal alternative metal heavy metal industrial metal alternative rock electronica
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, singer, producer, actor
Instruments	Vocals, bagpipes, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Immortal, Epic, Virgin, Roadrunner, Prospect Park, eOne, Dim Mak
Associated acts	Korn, Jonathan Davis and the SFA, Limp Bizkit, Killbot
Website	www.korn.com www.jdevil.com

Jonathan Howsmon Davis (born January 18, 1971), also known as JD and JDevil (or J Devil), is an American musician best known as the leading vocalist and frontman of the nu metal band Korn.

Jonathan Howsmon Davis was born on Monday, January 18, 1971 in Bakersfield, California, the son of Holly Marie (nee Smith) Chavez (born May 6, 1949) and Ricky Duane “Rick” Davis (born December 14, 1948). His parents were married on February 27, 1970 in Kern, California. Davis' ethnicity includes Scottish, English, Welsh, and German. He has a sister, Alyssa, a half-brother, Mark Chavez (known as the former lead singer for Adema), and a half-sister, Amanda Chavez, by his mother. His father was a keyboardist for Buck Owens and Frank Zappa, while his mother was a professional actress and dancer. His parents divorced when he was three years old and he was raised by his father and stepmother Lillie in Bakersfield. Davis suffered severe bouts of asthma as a child, and had survived a near-fatal asthma attack when he was five years old. He also spoke of having a horrible relationship with his stepmother. He said she used to harass him and torture him, giving him tea mixed with Thai hot oil and jalapeño juice to drink when he was sick. Davis's father later divorced her. He says the song "Kill You" was written about her. Davis has said that his earliest musical inspiration as a child was the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Jesus Christ Superstar, and his favorite musical group was Duran Duran. He graduated from Highland High School in 1989. He also attended the San Francisco School of Mortuary Science for a period of time. He was persistently harassed in Highland High School primarily by jocks for being different by wearing eyeliner, long clothes, and listening to new wave music. He was teased, harmed, and beaten. Davis also was constantly called homophobic names. The Korn song "Faget" was inspired by Davis' experience of being bullied. Davis' HIV tattoo also was inspired by his experience of being bullied. Davis says even teachers were mean to him and sent him to the counselor for wearing eyeliner.