Operator? Yes, Limp Bizkit please. Sam Rivers from Limp Bizkit released his phone number to the world and what a reception. Luckily I managed to get a word in...
Usually in the hard partying, hard working world of Rock we don't tend to get this close to actually talking to our favourite bands. For example, bands don't usually cause enough trouble to be wanted, pop stars invest massive amounts of money into security systems to stave off the incoming fanatics and artists never really give out their own personal phone number. However, Limp Bizkit have never really been entirely conformist, have they?
Limp Bizkit are a worldwide multi-million dollar disaster story turned underdog in the rock industry. Following controversies surrounding rapes, attacks and thousands of dollars worth of damage at Woodstock ’99, LB started to enter their infamous spiral downwards in the eyes of their fans. They also stirred up more problems by letting Napster sponsor their ‘Back To Basics’ tour and finally disbanded after the death of a girl at Australia’s ‘Big Day Out’ gig during their set in 2001, leading to court appearances from the band regarding their conduct and lack of control over their provoking performance. Wes Borland, their original guitarist, also left the band in 2001 and was replaced by a few guitarists until they settled on Mike Smith. After playing a few tours Mike disappeared from the band and no one knew whether he left or was booted.
Now the band is confirmed for Download Festival 2009, with a full line-up and the fan sites are going nuts! A couple of days ago Sam Rivers, the bassist from LB, posted a news bulletin on the popular LB Fansite thearmpit.net, inviting the masses to call him on his home and cell phone stating "This is not a joke, call me now. Don't be afraid to call and ask me any questions. I love you all!!! LB FOR EVER!!!". Naturally people did, posts on youtube within 24 hours started flooding in with the general title 'Phone call with LB! Check it out!', even LB fans who live near me started knocking on my door, screaming 'We've just got off the phone with Sam Rivers!'.
After all the controversy about Wes Borland's return, Mike Smith's abrupt absence and the band's upcoming european tour, I needed some answers. So, to get the ball rolling. Wes Borland IS back in the band after an 8 year absence. Every writer out there can stop re-using old quotes from 1-2 years ago. Andy Copping, the booking agent for this years upcoming Download Festival 2009, was interviewed by Metal Hammer and confirmed Wes is back, this interview is available as a podcast online. Wes himself has also confirmed through a fan made video interview after one of his shows saying "We're definitely back together. For all the non-believers, a new tour, a new album, it's definitely gonna happen."
So, what actually happened with Mike? "Honestly with Mike, it just didn't work out" says Sam. "We loved him to death, he's a very great guitar player and we got along with him very well. The only thing is that when we were done touring we went back to writing to make a new record and he just wasn't there, he didn't wanna do it. I mean creative-wise he just wasn't there, like what we needed a guitar player to be. We didn't want the same thing. Mike just wanted to tour and didn't wanna write and we were all like we'll need a new record, we gotta do this. It just came to the time for Mike to part ways with us."
Now that Wes is back in the band, what can we expect from the new Album and Tour? "Imagine this, imagine putting 5 guys in a room with no windows and locking the door, that's what's gonna happen with Limp Bizkit" says Sam jokingly. Who would be producing the new tour and album? "For the tour, honestly, we're gonna be doing everything ourselves" says Sam "Producing the new album? Honestly, we have nobody, we're gonna produce it ourselves, if it was anybody it'd be Terry Date." Date produced LB's 2 biggest selling albums, 'Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog flavoured Water' 2000 and 'Significant Other' 1999 which together reached over 30 million record sales worldwide. What are you going to call the album, is it going to be the 'Unquestionable Truth Part 2'? "No" states Sam, "It's gonna be a whole new thing."
You can check out LB's latest online at www.limpbizkit.com and 3 new videos made by the band on Youtube named 'Yesterday...', 'Today...' and 'Tomor-Ray?' Also check out the latest tour dates on the Download Festival UK Website as well as Rock AM Ring in Germany.
I leave with you some wise words from Sam, "One thing with Limp Bizkit is, you never know."
© Carl Gwynne 2009
Photo Credit: Limp Bizkit Main Website www.limpbizkit.com (no name stated)
Wes Borland Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaRrVT4gBnY
Andy Copping @ Metal Hammer: http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/download-exclusive-interview/
Time - 04:34
All links sourced by www.thearmpit.net
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