Brian “Head” Welch hadn’t planned to write a second book after Save Me from Myself came out in 2008 (HarperOne). Folks already knew about his drug addiction, finding Jesus, and quitting his band, Korn.

Then he decided to rejoin Korn in 2013 and reconciled with the “family” he’d found in the heavy metal music scene. “I wasn’t planning to write another book, but my new manager said that when you make big, controversial decisions in your life, it’s hard to explain everything,” says Welch. “But books are a good way to explain things.”

With My Eyes Wide Open: Miracles & Mistakes on My Way Back to Korn (Thomas Nelson, May) reveals details of his decision and the process of returning to Korn, the new tribulations he faced, including financial disasters, and the struggles raising his daughter Jennea, now 17.

“One of my biggest failures as a dad was trying to fit in with suburbia, which was hard with how I look,” said the tattooed and dreadlocked Welch. “It was amazing to be her dad, but still difficult and hard with all the stuff we went through. It was hard to see her hit rock bottom at age 14. Her story is our story together, then it turns around to her story. I’m so proud that she let me tell it,” he says.

Welch and Korn just finished their second record after his return, which should release in late summer. It’s still unnamed, and they’re still deciding which songs to include, song names, and other details. He’s planning to travel with the band and to promote With My Eyes Wide Open.

“It was controversial when I went back to Korn, but it was 100% God sending me back,” says Welch. “This is my family and all of the friends I grew up with. There are dysfunctional things in the family, but it’s better. I’ve always wanted to see my band in such a good place. We’re fed up with drama—it’s a breath of fresh air.”

Welch describes the band’s early days filled with drugs, parties, girls, and alcohol. He sees young bands these days focused so much more on the music than the parties. And he sees the same for Korn. “It’s totally just more chill; it’s about the music, which it should have been about in the first place.”

Today, Welch signs copies of his new book, 1–2 p.m. at the HarperCollins Christian Publishing booth (2149).

This article appeared in the May 12, 2016 edition of PW BEA Show Daily.