Christianity of Brian 'Head' Welch is catalyst in his leaving Korn.

THE GUITARIST and founding member of million selling hard rock band Korn, Brian "Head" "Welch, has left the group and rededicated his life to Christianity, according to the group's management. A statement from the band read, "Korn has parted ways with guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch, who has chosen Jesus Christ as his Savior, and will be dedicating his musical pursuits to that end. Korn respects Brian's wishes and hopes he finds the happiness he's searching for."

The announcement puts to rest weeks of rumours that Welch was unhappy with Korn's direction. On February 8, he had apparently written a "letter of resignation" to the band's management. In the note, Welch detailed a long list of reasons for leaving the band, including increased moral objections to Korn's music and videos. In particular, he was upset by how he was portrayed in the clip for their cover of Cameo's "Word Up", off their recently released 'Greatest Hits, Vol 1' album. In the video, Welch's face was superimposed on a dog patrolling a strip club.

"I can go up there and play those songs and those solos but ... I distanced myself from Korn for probably a year and a half, two years. I just wanted to fade away, it was crazy. I was so gone," Welch told Bakersfield, California, radio station KRAB on Sunday. "But I found my way out and I want to help anyone that wants to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I had to go through the lows to appreciate the highs and it's not perfect but it's damn near." Welch plans on further explaining his decision to leave Korn this coming Sunday, when he'll address the congregation at the Valley Bible Fellowship in Bakersfield, California. And on February 28 he plans to leave for Israel.