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Family Values Tour 1998
Family Values Tour 1998
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Family Values Tour 1998
Tour by Korn, Ice Cube, Limp Bizkit, Orgy, Rammstein, Incubus
Associated albumVarious
Start dateSeptember 22, 1998 (1998-09-22)
End dateOctober 31, 1998 (1998-10-31)
Legs1

The 1998 Family Values Tour was the first edition of the critically acclaimed[1] fall music tour that initially combined nu metal, alternative metal, and rap acts. The tour was created and headlined by Korn.

Promotion

[edit]

The tour was preceded by whirlwind political campaign-style tour named "Korn Kampaign" (from August 17, 1998 in Los Angeles through September 1 in Phoenix) to promote the release of their album Follow the Leader. It took the group all over North America to spread the news of their "Family Values" platform to hordes of fans at special "fan conferences" that were organized at every stop along the tour route. Korn chartered a jet, which took them to record stores in such cities as Riverside, Mountain View, Sacramento, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Toronto, Atlanta, and Dallas. The band talked to fans at every stop, answered questions during the special "fan conferences" and signed autographs. Jim Rose hosted the entire "Kampaign" tour. Celebrities at various stops included Ice Cube and Todd McFarlane.

Lineup

[edit]

Artists who participated in 1998 Family Values Tour were:

Tour dates

[edit]
Date City Country Ref
September 22, 1998 Rochester United States Blue Cross Arena [2]
September 23, 1998 Worcester Worcester's Centrum Centre
September 25, 1998 East Rutherford Continental Airlines Arena
September 26, 1998 Philadelphia First Union Spectrum
September 27, 1998 Cleveland CSU Convocation Center
September 29, 1998 Pittsburgh Civic Arena
September 30, 1998 Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills
October 2, 1998 Milwaukee Wisconsin Center Arena
October 3, 1998 Rosemont Rosemont Horizon
October 4, 1998 Minneapolis Target Center
October 6, 1998 Denver McNichols Sports Arena
October 9, 1998 Inglewood Great Western Forum
October 10, 1998 Daly City Cow Palace
October 11, 1998 Paradise Thomas & Mack Center
October 12, 1998 Phoenix America West Arena
October 13, 1998 Nampa Idaho Center
October 14, 1998 West Valley City E Center
October 16, 1998 Fort Worth Fort Worth Convention Center
October 17, 1998 Lafayette Cajundome
October 18, 1998 New Orleans Lakefront Arena
October 20, 1998 Oklahoma City Fairgrounds Arena
October 22, 1998 Kansas City Kemper Arena
October 23, 1998 St. Louis Kiel Center
October 24, 1998 Omaha Omaha Civic Auditorium
October 26, 1998 Kalamazoo Wings Stadium
October 27, 1998 Indianapolis Market Square Arena
October 29, 1998 New Haven New Haven Coliseum
October 30, 1998 Uniondale Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
October 31, 1998 Fairfax Patriot Center

Ice Cube replacement

[edit]

On October 27, 1998, due to the beginning of shooting the movie Next Friday, Ice Cube was replaced by alternative metal band Incubus for the remaining five dates. The band is featured on the Family Values Tour '98 CD release with their song "New Skin" and can be also seen during performance of "All in the Family" on the DVD. Ice Cube did not appear at the October 26, 1998, Wings Stadium (Kalamazoo, MI.) Incubus was present instead.

Feud with Rob Zombie

[edit]

Initially, Rob Zombie was to be one of the artists participating on the tour, but was dropped due to high production costs, each Rob Zombie concert costing $125,000 in band fees and show production alone. Therefore, Rob Zombie was replaced by German industrial metal act, Rammstein. However, the given explanation was somewhat confusing. The Firm, Korn's management, said Zombie continually expressed dissatisfaction over not wanting to work with a hip-hop act on the bill, and was supposedly lectured by Rob Zombie management that "rock kids don't like hip-hop." Rob Zombie's manager, Andy Gould said those comments were false. He explained that Zombie has never even spoken to Korn, so he could not have made those comments.[3] Although the statement released by Korn's management resulted in anger, Rob Zombie shared no bad blood with the bands participating in Family Values Tour. Next year, in 1999, both Rob Zombie and Korn got on good terms again, and launched the highly successful "Rock is Dead" tour together.

Trivia

[edit]

In one of the more infamous moments, Rammstein's band members dressed up for Halloween. Most of them were practically naked with the exception of Richard Kruspe, who wore a wedding dress. Police dragged the members off the stage for indecent exposure and the concert ended after a mere 10 minutes.[4]

Success

[edit]

The 1998 edition of Family Values Tour was highly successful, the live compilation debuted at #7 at Billboard 200 chart selling 121,000 copies in its first week, and achieving gold record status by RIAA, while DVD - platinum.

Korn helped to promote then-unknown acts. The results were very promising. Rammstein's album "Sehnsucht" achieved platinum certification in the United States, also Orgy's debut "Candyass", which was released through Korn's own record label, Elementree Records, achieved similar success. Limp Bizkit enjoyed even greater success which helped them establish themselves as one of the leading acts of the nu metal wave at that time, and enjoyed enormous commercial success.

The 28 dates of Family Values Tour grossed $6.5 million[5] and over 243,000 fans purchased the fan-friendly ticket prices that ranged from $26.00 to $29.50.[1]

Critical acclaim for the tour started to pour in as soon as it all started. As Jim Farber noted in a review of the September 25, 1998 event at the Continental Arena in New Jersey in the New York Daily News:

"[...] The 4 and half hour show, a hip-hop DJ held equal ground with a drummer in the set by Limp Bizkit, a keyboardist added dance club beats to the classic metal of Rammstein, and two guitarists translated the needling sound of electronic hip-hop into the manic creations of Korn [...] This tour created a bold new profile for hard guitar bands taking cues from the music that replaced them as the soundtrack to masculine aggression."[1]

The Los Angeles Times noted that the tour "certainly proved to be one of the rock spectacles of the year,"[6] while Steve Morse of the Boston Globe said that "Korn delivered the goods...by accelerating out of the box with a savage confluence of heavy metal, rap, and primal screaming from singer Jonathan Davis."[1]

John Scher of Metropolitan Entertainment agreed: "The Family Values Tour was not only a great business success, but more importantly, a rousing success with the fans. I think, to a great degree, we accomplished what we set out to: creating a fun, wild evening with a unique atmosphere and incredible music."[1]

Jonathan Davis, lead singer of Korn said: "We're creating some rock history with this tour. From that first show, I had goosebumps upon goosebumps. This is something special happening here. I hope that it becomes annual and it's gonna last."[1]

Home media

[edit]

The initial edition of Family Values Tour was highly successful and it was documented on separate DVD and CD releases, both put on sale on March 30, 1999 via Immortal/Epic Records. The CD release achieved gold record status in the United States while DVD release went platinum.

Controversy

[edit]

The Family Values Tour 1998 crossed the US, and the promotion of Follow the Leader continued in Japan and Australia.[7] However, Korn cited being accustomed to the American way of life, food, and culture, and The Family Values Tour 1998 had not come to Europe; the band never came there to promote Follow the Leader.[7] Their European fanbase, disappointed not to have seen them since 1997, would see their return in 2000 for a successful Issues Tour.[7]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Family Values Tour 1998 was the inaugural edition of a created and headlined by the American band Korn, featuring a diverse lineup of rock, metal, and hip-hop performers including , , , , and , with DJ sets by C-Minus and Punk-Roc. Running from September 22 to October 31, 1998, across 25 North American arena venues, the tour blended aggressive with rap and industrial elements, serving as a rock-rap alternative to festivals like . Launched in partnership with promoter Metropolitan Entertainment, the tour marked Korn's rapid ascent from club performances to arena headlining status just two years after playing the Roxy, capitalizing on the band's breakthrough album Follow the Leader. Performances were characterized by high-energy sets, pyrotechnics, and intense mosh pits, with notable collaborations such as Ice Cube joining Korn for "Children of the Korn" and Incubus substituting for Ice Cube on the final five dates starting October 25. The tour achieved commercial success, grossing approximately $6.2 million and drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees, while significantly boosting the profiles of emerging acts like , whose exposure on the bill helped propel them to mainstream stardom in the late 1990s scene. It also spawned the live album Family Values Tour '98, recorded during the run and released in 1999, which captured the event's raw energy and genre fusion.

Background

Overview

The Family Values Tour 1998 marked the inaugural edition of an annual concert series organized and headlined by the nu metal band Korn. Launched as a platform to showcase the burgeoning nu metal scene, the tour blended elements of nu metal, alternative metal, and rap rock, reflecting the era's fusion of heavy rock with hip-hop influences. Primarily serving as a promotional vehicle for Korn's third studio album, Follow the Leader, released earlier that year on August 18, 1998, the tour aimed to build momentum for the record's singles and expand the band's reach within the landscape. It followed a shorter precursor event known as the Korn Kampaign, a campaign-style mini-tour that helped generate initial buzz for the album. The tour ran exclusively across the from September 22, 1998, starting at the in , to October 31, 1998, concluding at the Patriot Center in , encompassing 28 arena dates in total. This fall-season itinerary positioned the event as a key seasonal music tour, capitalizing on the post-summer demand for performances.

Promotion

The promotion for the Family Values Tour 1998 was spearheaded by Korn through the "Korn Kampaign," a high-energy, political campaign-style mini-tour designed to generate buzz for both the band's third album Follow the Leader—released on August 18, 1998—and the upcoming tour. Launching on August 17, 1998, in and concluding on September 1 in Phoenix, the Kampaign traversed , hitting 15 major cities such as , , , , , New York, and . The initiative involved significant resources to create an immersive experience, with the band traveling by private jet and incorporating stunts such as riding in an through , . Central to the Kampaign were interactive "fan conferences" at record stores and malls, where Korn members hosted Q&A sessions, answered fan questions, and signed autographs to foster direct engagement. These events, emceed by performer Jim Rose, emphasized accessibility and hype-building, with occasional celebrity drop-ins like adding star power and tying into the tour's and ethos. The campaign's grassroots approach extended to radio station visits and promotional tie-ins, positioning Follow the Leader as a while priming audiences for the lineup.

Lineup

Original Artists

The original lineup for the Family Values Tour 1998 featured as the headliner, with supporting acts including , , , , and DJs C-Minus and Punk-Roc, creating a diverse mix of , hip-hop, and industrial sounds. , who conceived and organized the tour, aimed to showcase emerging alongside rap influences to appeal to a broad audience of late-1990s . brought high-energy rap-rock aggression, while contributed a synth-driven, industrial-tinged style that bridged electronic and metal elements. C-Minus and Punk-Roc provided DJ sets and interludes between performances. Ice Cube provided the hip-hop cornerstone, infusing the bill with West Coast gangsta rap's raw lyricism and stage presence, which contrasted yet complemented the heavier metal acts. Rammstein added a provocative industrial metal edge with their theatrical performances and German-language tracks, enhancing the tour's boundary-pushing genre fusion. The lineup was announced in the summer of following the replacement of Rob Zombie—initially considered for the slot—with Rammstein due to disputes over production expenses. Incubus served as a later addition to the supporting roster, rounding out the eclectic selection without altering the core genre balance.

Changes and Replacements

The Family Values Tour 1998 underwent significant lineup adjustments prior to and during its run, primarily driven by logistical and financial considerations. Originally, was slated to join the bill as a key act, but he was replaced by due to the high production costs associated with his elaborate stage show. This change occurred before the tour's September 22, 1998, kickoff, allowing 's style to fill the slot without altering the initial announced schedule. Later in the tour, departed on October 25, 1998, to fulfill filming commitments for his upcoming film , which required his immediate attention. was brought in as his replacement, performing for the final five dates from October 26 to October 31, 1998, in venues including Wings Stadium in ; Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana; New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum in ; Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in ; and Patriot Center in . This substitution maintained the tour's momentum but necessitated quick promotional updates to inform ticket holders of the shift. These replacements had notable logistical effects on the tour's overall dynamic, which was designed to blend rap and metal elements for a "" theme emphasizing diverse aggression. Rob Zombie's exit for cost reasons—reportedly exceeding $125,000 per show in fees and production—shifted the emphasis toward international metal acts like , enhancing the event's theatrical spectacle while reducing expenses. Ice Cube's replacement by , an band, further tilted the balance away from hip-hop toward nu-metal influences, potentially softening the rap-metal fusion that defined the early shows but preserving high-energy performances for the concluding dates. No major schedule disruptions resulted, though the changes highlighted the challenges of coordinating a multi-act tour with varying demands.

Tour Schedule

Dates and Venues

The Family Values Tour 1998 featured 28 arena performances exclusively in the United States, running from September 22 to October 31, 1998, with an itinerary that began on the East Coast, traversed the Midwest and West Coast, and returned eastward in its final leg. The schedule included major venues such as the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in (concert capacity of 16,000), which hosted the penultimate show. Two dates were ultimately cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances: the October 8 show in Phoenix was postponed due to illness among performers and rescheduled for October 12, while the October 13 show in Nampa was cancelled as a result to adjust the schedule, but the tour maintained its momentum across 23 states. The complete itinerary is as follows:
DateCityStateVenue
September 22, 1998RochesterNYBlue Cross Arena (capacity ~11,000 for concerts)
September 23, 1998WorcesterMAWorcester's Centrum Centre
September 25, 1998East RutherfordNJContinental Airlines Arena
September 26, 1998PhiladelphiaPAFirst Union Spectrum
September 27, 1998ClevelandOHCSU Convocation Center
September 29, 1998PittsburghPACivic Arena
September 30, 1998Auburn HillsMIThe Palace of Auburn Hills
October 2, 1998MilwaukeeWIWisconsin Center Arena
October 3, 1998RosemontILRosemont Horizon
October 4, 1998MinneapolisMNTarget Center
October 6, 1998DenverCOMcNichols Sports Arena
October 8, 1998PhoenixAZAmerica West Arena (cancelled)
October 9, 1998InglewoodCAGreat Western Forum
October 10, 1998Daly CityCACow Palace
October 11, 1998Las VegasNVThomas & Mack Center
October 12, 1998PhoenixAZAmerica West Arena (rescheduled from October 8)
October 13, 1998NampaIDIdaho Center (cancelled)
October 14, 1998West Valley CityUTE Center
October 16, 1998Fort WorthTXFort Worth Convention Center
October 17, 1998LafayetteLACajundome
October 18, 1998New OrleansLAKiefer UNO Lakefront Arena
October 20, 1998Oklahoma CityOKFairgrounds Arena
October 22, 1998Kansas CityMOKemper Arena
October 23, 1998St. LouisMOKiel Center
October 24, 1998OmahaNEOmaha Civic Auditorium
October 26, 1998KalamazooMIWings Stadium
October 27, 1998IndianapolisINMarket Square Arena
October 29, 1998New HavenCTNew Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum
October 30, 1998UniondaleNYNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
October 31, 1998FairfaxVAPatriot Center (capacity 10,000)
This U.S.-focused routing, while logistically efficient, left European audiences without opportunities to attend, leading to expressions of disappointment among international fans.

Notable Performances

The Family Values Tour 1998 featured several standout performances that captured the raw energy of nu-metal and rap-rock, with headliners Korn delivering intense sets that ignited massive crowd responses. Korn's shows often included high-energy renditions of tracks like "Freak on a Leash" and "Shoots and Ladders," blending bagpipe intros with Jonathan Davis's visceral screams and growls on themes of personal struggle, prompting widespread moshing and sing-alongs across venues. Limp Bizkit complemented this with their frenetic rap-rock sets, highlighted by Fred Durst's crowd-surfing during covers like George Michael's "Faith" and originals such as "Counterfeit," where break-dancers and water cannons amplified the chaotic, participatory vibe that had fans thrashing in unified frenzy. Orgy gained significant exposure on their debut major tour slot, showcasing their synth-driven with tracks like "Blue Monday" and "Stitches," which introduced their polished, attitude-laden sound to a receptive audience eager for fresh acts amid the lineup's diversity. Incubus seamlessly integrated into the final dates after replacing , bringing funk-infused alt-rock sets from their era that meshed well with the tour's groove-heavy demographic, earning warm crowd engagement without disrupting the overall momentum. Stage production emphasized fluid shared billing transitions, often bridged by DJ Punk-Roc's interludes, while 's visually striking industrial sets with synchronized and fire effects added a theatrical intensity to the evening's progression.

Incidents and Controversies

Feud with

was initially selected as part of the 1998 lineup, but was ultimately dropped and replaced by due to the high production costs associated with his shows. According to music critic , Zombie "stalked off in a fit of avarice," suggesting financial disagreements played a key role in his departure. Tensions arose at the management level between Zombie's team and the tour organizers, with Korn's management alleging that Zombie's representatives expressed reluctance to share the bill with hip-hop artist , claiming "rock kids don't like hip-hop." Zombie's manager, Andy Gould, denied these accusations, stating that Zombie had never even spoken to Korn and could not have made such comments. Despite the dispute, there was no lasting animosity between and Korn, as the two acts collaborated on the co-headlining Rock is Dead Tour in 1999, which ran from to and featured Videodrone as support. This joint effort demonstrated a quick resolution to the earlier conflict and highlighted their shared appeal in the nu-metal scene.

Rammstein Halloween Incident

The Halloween incident occurred during the band's performance at the Patriot Center in , on October 31, 1998, marking the final show of the Family Values Tour. , known for their provocative stage antics that often incorporated elements of theatrics, S&M imagery, and occasional to challenge societal norms, chose to embrace the Halloween theme with minimal attire. Most band members performed nearly naked, while guitarist wore a as his . The set began with "Rammstein," followed by "Tier" and "Bestrafe mich," but disruption arose during the fourth song, "Weißes Fleisch." Armed police officers intervened, citing due to the band's , and forcibly removed the members from the stage one by one. This action prematurely ended the concert after only three full songs and part of the fourth, shortening the performance by approximately 10 minutes compared to their standard tour sets of around 45-50 minutes. The band members were subsequently arrested for the attire but released without further charges, allowing the tour to conclude amid the controversy. This event underscored Rammstein's boundary-pushing style but had no lasting legal repercussions, closing the North American leg on a chaotic note.

Reception and Legacy

Commercial Success

The 1998 Family Values Tour achieved notable commercial success, grossing over $6.5 million from the sale of 243,000 tickets over 28 dates, with ticket prices kept affordable at $26 to $29.50 to attract a broad audience. This financial performance underscored the tour's appeal in the late rock scene, where and acts were gaining traction amid a competitive market. The tour significantly boosted the visibility of emerging acts, providing crucial U.S. exposure for bands like Orgy, whose industrial-tinged cover of "Blue Monday" gained prominence; Limp Bizkit, who leveraged the platform to transition from clubs to arenas with their energetic performances; and Rammstein, whose provocative shows helped propel their album Sehnsucht toward greater mainstream success. Korn frontman Jonathan Davis later reflected that the tour "blew everything up... a stepping stone to all of our bands and that scene taking over for a couple of years," highlighting its role in elevating the nu metal genre's economic footprint. Complementing the live events, the tour's companion live album debuted at No. 7 on the , selling 121,000 copies in its first week and eventually earning gold certification from the RIAA for 500,000 units shipped. The accompanying DVD also attained platinum status from the RIAA, with over 1,100,000 units sold, further amplifying the tour's revenue streams and contributing to the genre's commercial dominance in the era.

Critical Reception

The 1998 Family Values Tour received widespread acclaim for pioneering the fusion of nu metal, rap rock, and alternative metal acts, marking a pivotal moment in the late-1990s music scene by blending aggressive riffs with hip-hop rhythms and theatrical elements to appeal to a broad, youthful audience. Critics highlighted Korn's headlining sets as particularly electrifying, with their raw energy, surreal nursery-rhyme interludes, and collaborations like the duet with Ice Cube on "Children of the Korn" drawing intense crowd engagement and mosh pits. Ice Cube's performances were praised for injecting old-school gangsta rap vitality, revitalizing tracks like "F*** tha Police" and bridging generational gaps among attendees. However, reactions were mixed regarding supporting acts and production choices, with Rammstein's industrial spectacle eliciting both awe for its pyrotechnic intensity—featuring fireballs and explosive props—and criticism for feeling dated or overly pandering in its . garnered enthusiasm for their high-octane, crowd-stirring hybrid of thrash and hip-hop, though some reviewers found Orgy's synth-driven sets tentative and lacking edge. Artist tensions, such as underlying clashes amid the tour's collaborative spirit, contributed to perceptions of uneven cohesion, yet the overall package was lauded for its youthful vigor in a "parents-free zone" that avoided overt aggression. In retrospect, the tour's legacy endures as a catalyst for nu metal's dominance, exposing emerging bands to massive venues and diverse crowds, including a notable increase in female attendees compared to prior rock tours, while elevating the genre's cultural footprint through its inclusive, groove-oriented evolution of heavy music. Modern analyses view it as a for festival-style packages that democratized aggressive rock, with the accompanying live album still celebrated for capturing the era's raw energy and cross-genre appeal.

Home Media

Audio Release

The Family Values Tour '98 is a live compilation album capturing performances from the 1998 iteration of the tour, released on March 30, 1999, by Immortal and . It features contributions from all participating acts, documenting the high-energy and rap-rock atmosphere of the shows. The album served as an audio counterpart to the tour's visual documentation, helping to extend the event's reach to fans unable to attend live. Recorded during various stops on the tour, the album compiles live tracks from key venues, including the Patriot Center in , on October 31, 1998, and the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, , on October 18, 1998. These performances were mixed at Westlake Audio in and mastered at Oasis Mastering, preserving the raw intensity of the stage energy while ensuring audio clarity for commercial release. The production emphasized the tour's diverse lineup, blending industrial, hip-hop, and elements without extensive alterations. Spanning 21 tracks over approximately 66 minutes, the album opens and closes with intros and interludes by DJ C-Minus, providing seamless transitions between sets. Highlights include Incubus's "New Skin," Orgy's cover of New Order's "Blue Monday," Limp Bizkit's renditions of George Michael's "Faith" and House of Pain's "Jump Around," Ice Cube's "Check Yo Self (Remix)," Rammstein's "Du Hast," and Korn's performances of "Freak on a Leash," "Got the Life," and a medley titled "Shot Liver Medley" incorporating elements from "Shoots and Ladders," "Justin," "Predictable," "Ball Tongue," "Divine," and "Kill You." This selection showcases the tour's collaborative spirit and genre fusion, with each band's contributions reflecting their setlists from the road. The album achieved commercial success, debuting at number 7 on the chart with 121,000 copies sold in its first week. This milestone underscored the tour's broader impact on popularizing emerging acts in the late rock scene.

Video Release

The Family Values Tour '98 DVD was released on March 30, 1999, through Immortal Records and . With a total runtime of 86 minutes, the release captures live performances using multi-camera setups from two key tour dates: October 18, 1998, at the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, and October 31, 1998, at the Patriot Center in . In addition to the concert footage, the DVD incorporates behind-the-scenes content, including interviews with the participating artists such as Korn, , , , and , providing insights into the tour's dynamics and preparations. This supplementary material enhances the visual documentation, offering viewers a more comprehensive look at the event beyond the stage performances. The video shares some overlapping performance segments with the simultaneously released audio compilation.

References

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