Limp Bizkit

Fred Durst formed the band in 1994 with bassist Sam Rivers, telling him to quit his existing group and start something that mixed rapping with rock. Drummer John Otto, then studying jazz drumming, joined on Rivers' recommendation, and Wes Borland came in as guitarist after two other players didn't stick. The band built a following in Jacksonville's underground scene before signing to Flip Records, distributed through Interscope.

Durst's angry, conversational delivery sat over Borland's unpredictable guitar work and DJ Lethal's turntables, a combination that made the band's downtuned, groove-heavy sound distinctive within nu metal. Their debut, Three Dollar Bill, Y'all, arrived in 1997, followed by the far bigger Significant Other in 1999 and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water in 2000.

That commercial peak came alongside controversy, including the band's performances at Woodstock '99 and the 2001 Big Day Out. Singles such as 'Nookie', 'Break Stuff', 'Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)', 'My Way' and a cover of The Who's 'Behind Blue Eyes' all reached the top 20 of the US Alternative Airplay chart.

Borland left in 2001, with Mike Smith filling in on guitar for Results May Vary in 2003 before Borland returned for the EP The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) in 2005. The band paused, reunited in 2009, released Gold Cobra in 2011, then moved from Interscope to Cash Money Records; DJ Lethal left and rejoined in 2018, and Still Sucks appeared in October 2021.

Founding bassist Sam Rivers, who had also brought John Otto into the band, died on 18 October 2025. Across their career Limp Bizkit have sold around 40 million records and picked up three Grammy nominations, and their live shows have since found a new audience drawn to the songs' familiarity and Durst's unbothered stage manner.