When Korn’s bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu couldn’t make their recent South American tour, the band hired the likes of a 12 year-old bassist who just so happened to descend from rock royalty.
Tye Trujillo, son of Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo was welcomed by Korn and toured with them on seven shows across South America this past April. Trujillo, however, was no stranger to big stages. Outside of touring with Korn, he plays bass for The Helmets, who have played festivals like BottleRock and Lollapalooza.
Korn’s official videographer Sébastien Paquet documented the younger Trujillo’s experience with Korn in a 15 minute film, Korn and the Prodigy Son, which premiered at Rolling Stone.
Tye is truly a musical prodigy. His skills on the bass, especially for his age, are extraordinary. It’s in his DNA. He was always slapping his bass, practicing, jamming and improvising. I have never witnessed a musician being glued to his instrument like that before.
Trujillo’s father accompanied him along the South American tour and provided narration for Paquet’s film.
I just said, ‘All you have to do is get up on the stage and kick ass. Just play great and be a performer and do what you do and take your time – groove into it – and enjoy the experience.’ He went beyond anything I could have imagined. It was really impressive as a dad. Then we came back on a Sunday night, Monday morning he went back to school, homework and reality.
The elder Trujillo’s wish is that his son’s special experience can help inspire other young musicians to keep rock and roll alive.
I hope other kids will embrace classic bands, metal, hard rock, whatever, and embrace it and make real music. That’s what I know he loves and what he’s gonna do with his fellow musicians. The future of rock & roll is coming from the youth.