Korn frontman on collecting serial killer memorabilia: ‘I’ve always been driven towards dark things.’
Are you a true crime fan? Korn frontman Jonathan Davis is, and he’s spent quite a few years collecting items that were once owned by notorious serial killers. In a recent interview, the singer was asked about his unorthodox hobby, and whether or not he “regrets” collecting some of the items in his collection.
Davis has a long history of collecting what true crime fans call “murderabilia.” However, the Korn singer once unloaded his entire collection. Blabbermouth reported in 2005 that Davis worried that his collection brought “negativity” into his home. This change of taste apparently came after the singer started a family, and he didn’t want to expose his kids to his macabre interests.
“I still have the (Ted Bundy) car, but I’m just bringing negativity and negative sh*t in my house with it, and I don’t want that around my kids,” he said in 2005.
The most recent interview with the Korn frontman brought him back to the topic of serial killers and whether or not he regrets ever collecting the items he once owned. In short, Jonathan Davis does not regret being a collector of serial killer and true crime related items.
“No. I’m just into dark stuff. I’ve always been driven towards dark things, and I don’t regret anything I’ve ever collected, or regret anything I’ve done. That’s what inspires me.”
Davis also explained in the interview that he used to work as a mortician, which is probably why he’s always found “beauty” in death and things of a dark nature.
Is it wrong to collect serial killers’ possesions?
It’s long-been a topic of debate as to whether or not it’s appropriate to purchase and collect murderabilia. Some people make lucrative businesses out of collecting and selling the items, such as the owner of SerialKillersInk.net. Like other dealers of items in this bizarre field of interest, Eric Holler has been targeted by families of serial killers’ victims, as well as journalists in the media who disagree with “capitalizing” off death.
On the other hand, the United States government has been known to auction off the belongings of notorious killers in order to make extra money, and this hasn’t been met with nearly as much controversy as those who privately deal in murderabilia. In 2011, items belonging to the Unibomber were auctioned off by the government, bringing in a pretty penny.
Perhaps some people are outraged that some imprisoned killers are also making a profit off of their artwork, letters they’ve written and other items they’ve owned or personally touched. To the families of murder victims, this could come as a slap in the face, or insult to injury. Nonetheless, it is not illegal to purchase, sell or collect serial killer memorabilia.
