Beloved '90s Rocker Speaks Out on Band Departure

A beloved '90s rocker is finally opening up about why he stepped away from one of heavy music's biggest bands and whether fans can expect him back.

Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, longtime bassist of Korn, has spoken candidly in a new interview, shedding light on his absence, his mindset today, and the door he has left open for the future.

Fieldy, who stepped away from Korn in 2021, revealed that both personal struggles and the global pandemic shaped his decision. While fans long speculated about the real reason behind his departure, the bassist made it clear that COVID-19 played a major role.

"COVID happened. That's it. I'm like, ‘I'm not going out there.' That's what happened, 'cause it was new," Fieldy said. "Now… when you reflect on it, that's what happened. They're like, ‘We're going to Florida and all this.' And I'm like, ‘I'm not going to get vaccinated.' I'm not going. I go, ‘People, this is weird right now.'"

He added that stepping back gave him time to think deeply about his life and career. "But it gave me time to sit, and once you sit, you can reflect and you're like, you're kind of just waiting… I don't know what the rest of this day is going to bring. I'm just on fire for whatever, whatever is ready."

Before his hiatus, Fieldy had already shared that he was dealing with personal issues that created tension within the band. According to The PRP, in 2021, he told bandmates Jonathan Davis, Munky, Head and Ray Luzier: "I love you and I don't want to bring any tension or bad vibes to the circle."

At the time, he said, "It's been suggested to me to take some time off to heal." That decision led to Korn continuing without him, with Roberto "Ra" Díaz stepping in for live performances.

Now, years later, Fieldy is looking back at his decades-long run with pride instead of regret. "Man, I look back at my life and like, you know, almost 30 years with Korn, that was a blast, man," he said. "I don't look back going, ‘That sucked.'"

He continued, "I mean, I could look at it and complain, but how are you going to complain? That was everything everybody dreams of."

Despite being away from the band, Fieldy admitted he has had little to no contact with his bandmates in recent years, even revealing in an earlier interview that he hadn't spoken to them since 2019.

Still, he has no bitterness about the group continuing without him. "They're truckin'. They're a machine. They're going. It's insane. It's dope that they can keep on going like that," he said.

The biggest question for fans remains: Is Fieldy coming back?

His answer is far from final, but it's not a no.

"I'm retired from Korn today, but we'll see what the day brings tomorrow," he said.

For now, Fieldy seems focused on living in the moment rather than making big promises. He described his outlook as open-ended, choosing to see what opportunities come next.

While his Korn future remains uncertain, Fieldy is not stepping away from music. He confirmed he is working on a new project with other well-known musicians.

"I'm doing another project. We got two rough songs done with Greyson [Nekrutman] from Sepultura on drums," he shared. "He's a sick drummer… He's like a jazz drummer. He can play the old school jazz way, but fast."

Fieldy also praised the many drummers he has worked with over the years, naming David Silveria, Ray Luzier, Mikey Bordin and Brooks Wackerman among others.

The project is still in early stages, but it shows that Fieldy remains creatively active even while away from Korn.

Related: '70s Rocker Speaks Out on Legendary Run 67 Years After Beginning Career

Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 1:45 AM.