KoRn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch has announced that his “performance and recovery suite” Zivel has opened its first two brick and mortar locations. The facilities are located in Bakersfield, CA and near Nashville, TN.
Inspired by the fatigue touring musicians endure on the road, Welch joined up with Dr. Matt O’Neil (PT, DPT) to form Zivel in 2018. “In 2005, I found healing after years of struggling with addiction, depression, and suicidal ideation,” said Welch said in a statement regarding the facilities’ openings. “I consider myself extremely blessed to have been made whole — body, mind and spirit — and I’ve devoted my life to help others find the healing they deserve. The most exciting thing for me about Zivel is that our services can help revitalize every part of a person’s life — body, mind and spirit — which again, is what I feel is my life’s purpose.”
Zivel focuses on the patient’s “physical, mental and emotional well-being.” Dr. O’Neil helped formulate the company while acting as tour physical therapist for the band in 2017 and noticed the abuse touring has on the body first-hand. That led Dr. O’Neil to seek solutions to the mental and physical exhaustion one takes while traveling for such long periods.
Starting out with salt water floating (sensory deprivation), Zivel offers cryotherapy, infrared sauna, oxygen therapy, and compression therapy. All of these services have been “scientifically and therapeutically proven to help reduce stress, anxiety, pain, and muscle tension, while improving mental clarity, sleep, and physical performance.”
Welch plans to open five more locations in the next year with the goal of having a Zivel in all 50 states and possibly around the world in the future. Locations currently under construction or in the pre-construction phases include Melbourne, FL, Macon, GA, Houston, TX, Kearney, NE and Arizona. “Our goal is to open locations in every state, and eventually around the world to help people young and old,” said Welch and Dr. O’Neil. “Because Zivel is more than just another spa offering, it is a way of life, where we truly believe that everyone should be treated and feel like a rock star.”
KoRn is currently finishing up a winter tour with Breaking Benjamin. The band will be heading to Europe from May through July for a run of festival and stadium shows. KoRn is then slated to hit the road with Faith No More for a co-headlining North American summer tour. Those dates kick off August 7 in Denver, CO and run through September 17 in Maryland Heights, MO. Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway, Spotlights, Helmet and ’68 will be joining them as support on various dates.
