Limp Bizkit
By Tim Grierson, About.com Guide
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Limp Bizkit Overview:
Limp Bizkit were one of the most divisive bands of the late 1990s and early 21st century. A hugely popular group that demonstrated the commercial viability of rap-rock, Limp Bizkit were criticized for their occasionally sexist material and belligerent, cocky attitude, but none of those complaints bothered fans of Significant Other andChocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. Limp Bizkit failed to maintain their commercial momentum once rap-rock fell out of favor, but a reunion of the band’s original lineup in 2009 suggested an attempt to recapture the glories of old.
Limp Bizkit's Origins:
Limp Bizkit formed in 1995 in Jacksonville, Florida. The permanent lineup was established soon after, with Fred Durst taking lead vocals, Wes Borland on guitar, Sam Rivers on bass, John Otto manning the drums, and DJ Lethal handling the turntables and keyboards. From the beginning, Limp Bizkit were interested in melding the aggression of metal with the cutting-edge sounds of hip-hop. Through a friendship with the pioneering nu-metal band Korn, Limp Bizkit was able to parlay some demos into a record contact with Interscope.
A So-So Rap-Rock Debut:
Limp Bizkit made their debut on 1997’s Three Dollar Bill, Y’all. Listening to the album, it was easy to pick out Limp Bizkit’s influences, as they evoked the white funk of Red Hot Chili Peppers and the angst of Korn. (Interestingly, Three Dollar Bill’s biggest hit was a bratty cover of George Michael’s “Faith.”) Singer Fred Durst came across as an angry, loudmouth punk, but Wes Borland’s guitar and DJ Lethal’s scratching added drama and intensity to the somewhat generic rap-rock tunes. Three Dollar Bill’s commercial performance wasn’t promising, but Limp Bizkit were merely setting the stage for their next album.
Superstars:
Limp Bizkit’s sophomore album, 1999’s Significant Other, was a revelation. The previous objections still applied – Durst was a snide bully, the band glorified a crude attitude toward women – but Significant Other’s songs were too forceful to deny. On “Nookie,” “Re-Arranged” and “Break Stuff,” Limp Bizkit hit like pile drivers, turning suburban-teen discontent into anthems of aggression. Within five months, the album had gone quintuple-platinum, and Limb Bizkit were superstars.
Limp Bizkit Return With a 'Chocolate Starfish':
Looking to capitalize on their success, Limp Bizkit returned a year later with Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. The sort of album a band puts out after conquering the world, Chocolate Starfish was ambitious in scope while featuring a litany of fame-is-hard tirades from Durst. The title may have been dopey, but Chocolate Starfishcontinued the band’s winning streak, quickly going quadruple-platinum and launching five singles onto the rock charts.
Commercial Decline:
Limp Bizkit’s decline began shortly after Chocolate Starfish. Borland left the band, and although Mike Smith replaced him in the lineup, the group’s signature guitar sound had been compromised. In 2001, Limp Bizkit released a remix record called New Old Songs and then returned two years later with a proper studio album, Results May Vary. Whether due to Borland’s absence or a general lack of creative spark, Results May Vary sounded anemic – the bad-boy attitude and juicy juvenile streak had given way to a dull professionalism. Rap-rock’s commercial vitality was long gone, and Limp Bizkit now seemed badly dated.
The End:
In 2005, Limp Bizkit (now with Borland back in the fold) released The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1). The seven-song album failed to register with audiences and quickly sank down the charts. Borland quit the band again, and Durst put the band out to pasture while he focused on film directing.
Reunion:
Limp Bizkit returned in February 2009, announcing that Borland had rejoined the lineup and that the group would be putting together a new album. A world tour was set for the spring. It would talk a while before the band released their next album, though: Gold Cobra was finally unveiled on June 28, 2011.
Limp Bizkit Lineup:
Wes Borland - guitar
Fred Durst - vocals
John Otto - drums
Sam Rivers - bass
DJ Lethal - turntables, keyboards
The sound of enraged male hormones trying to make sense of the wider world, Significant Other is fascinating in how it transforms rap-rock into an expression of both bravado and insecurity. Underneath the dynamic stomp of "Nookie" and "Break Stuff," Fred Durst struggles to figure out how a loser like him can ever find true love or satisfaction. The snotty attitude that pervades Significant Other can be a turnoff, but Wes Borland's frenzied guitar playing and the band's tight propulsion make for riveting accompaniment to Durst's personal issues.
Significant Other (1999)
Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000)
New Old Songs (remix album) (2001)
Results May Vary (2003)
The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) (2005)
Greatest Hitz (2005)
Gold Cobra (2011)
Fred Durst - vocals
John Otto - drums
Sam Rivers - bass
DJ Lethal - turntables, keyboards
Essential Limp Bizkit Album:
Significant OtherThe sound of enraged male hormones trying to make sense of the wider world, Significant Other is fascinating in how it transforms rap-rock into an expression of both bravado and insecurity. Underneath the dynamic stomp of "Nookie" and "Break Stuff," Fred Durst struggles to figure out how a loser like him can ever find true love or satisfaction. The snotty attitude that pervades Significant Other can be a turnoff, but Wes Borland's frenzied guitar playing and the band's tight propulsion make for riveting accompaniment to Durst's personal issues.
Limp Bizkit Discography:
Three Dollar Bill, Y'all (1997)Significant Other (1999)
Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000)
New Old Songs (remix album) (2001)
Results May Vary (2003)
The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) (2005)
Greatest Hitz (2005)
Gold Cobra (2011)
