Career
Shaffer first took up guitar as part of rehabilitation when he severed the tip of one of his fingers on the chain of his three-wheeler. He has since performed with several bands.
During high school Shaffer met fellow guitarist Brian "Head" Welch. Later on Welch and Shaffer saw Jonathan Davis singing for the band Sexart in a bar. Initially intending to stay only for a few minutes, the pair ended up staying for the whole set upon seeing Davis' performance, and asked him to join their band (still called L.A.P.D. at this point) almost immediately afterward.
Shaffer developed meningitis during 1997 while on tour, requiring him to be hospitalized. Korn cancelled the remainder of that tour, not wanting to replace him.
February 22, 2005, Brian Welch left the band. James accepted his friend's choice. As of 2009, he is the only guitarist in Korn. (Clint Lowery, Christian Olde Wolbers, and Rob Patterson were only live/session members). When former drummer, David Silveria left the band, Munky in an interview, said he had a strong friendship with Silveria, and was very sad to hear that he had to leave.
On May 16, 2006, Munky played on Spanish nylon guitar in Fieldy's wedding. He was quoted as jokingly saying "now I have something else to fall back on!".
On an interview about Brian Welch's departure, Munky said he felt pressure, because they were always working together, writing songs, and creating albums. But when Head left, he had to write all the guitar parts into one part, so Korn could play live, and he continued to play like that until Korn got a backing guitarist.
On March 4, 2008, it was announced that Munky will be releasing a solo record on August 8, 2008 with his solo band Fear and The Nervous System which will feature Munky doing vocals and guitar, Brooks Wackerman of Bad Religion (who also performed on Korn's 8th album) on drums, Leopold Ross on guitar and programming, Bill Gould of Faith No More fame, and Zac Baird (Korn's keyboardist) on keyboards and programming. The record will be produced by Munky and Ross Robinson. Guitarist and friend Wes Borland originally recorded guitars for two songs on the album but they will not make the final cut. Borland also created cover art which will still be used. The band's debut album was originally due out August 8 but has been pushed back as the album has yet to be completed.
Recently on Modlife in October 2009 (Korn.com), Munky had explained that he would not be doing vocals on the new Fear and the Nervous System album because he's not "very good at singing". It was later announced that Steve Krolikowski of Repeater would be handling vocal duties.