Korn's Jonathan Davis Joins Yoshiki in LA for Orchestral 'Freak On A Leash'

Korn frontman Jonathan Davis made a surprise guest appearance on Thursday, July 16, 2026, joining Yoshiki and a full orchestra for the opening night of "Yoshiki Classical" at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The pair performed Korn's 1999 classic "Freak On A Leash," and footage of the collaboration quickly spread online, drawing attention from both rock and classical audiences.

Restrained vocals, piano and orchestra

According to NME, Davis delivered a more restrained, melancholic take on "Freak On A Leash" within the orchestral arrangement, with the energy building gradually over the performance rather than exploding as it does on the original studio recording. Yoshiki moved between piano and drums throughout, directing the orchestral arrangement.

The Los Angeles leg of Yoshiki Classical comprises two shows, with the second taking place the following night, July 17 (Friday), at the same venue. The series reimagines Yoshiki's solo and collaborative work through classical orchestration.

What Yoshiki and Korn have been up to

Yoshiki has kept up a steady stream of crossover projects in recent years — in 2024 he was commissioned to write the official theme song for Hello Kitty's 50th anniversary, a move that generated wide discussion.

As for Korn, the band released its first new song in four years, "Reward The Scars," this past April, written for the video game Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred. Guitarist Munky later revealed the band has already written 40 songs for a new album currently in the works. Korn's last studio album, Requiem, came out in February 2022. The band has also announced UK and European tour dates, marking its first return to those markets in over a decade.