We’re not sure if someone stole Fred Durst’s trademark red Yankee cap?
Or if someone didn’t share their cookie with the Limp Bizkit singer?
However, Durst was definitely exuding grumpy, old man vibes during their headlining set on the second day of the Louder Than Life Music Festival in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, September 22, 2023.
The Jacksonville, Florida nu-metal vets turned heads right out of the gate.
The band swapped instruments when they came on stage, with Durst on guitar, guitarist Wes Borland on the mic, turntablist DJ Lethal sitting behind the drums, drummer John Otto on bass guitar and bassist Sam Rivers stepping behind the turntables.
The band proceeded to play the opening of Korn’s 1994 hit ‘Blind’, with Borland mockingly singing the opening few lines, before they shut it down and returned to their customary spots on stage.
After starting their 1999 track ‘Show Me What You Got’, and after Durst pushed away a video camera at the base of the stage, the frontman made a demand to the festival organizers.
“Yo, Royal, you got to turn off that one and that one,” said Durst, who was sporting a blue wig, shorts, slippers, white-rimmed sunglasses and a red tie.
“We’ll continue when you turn the front of the house camera off. We didn’t come here to be on TV, baby.”
During the pause, and while the band continued to play in the background, Durst asked the crowd: “How many people are ready to see Corey Taylor? I can’t wait”, despite Taylor wrapping up his solo set an hour earlier on the same Space Zebra stage.
After the video screens went dark, the band continued to perform, finishing ‘Show Me What You Got’ and blazing through a cover of Minstry’s ‘Thieves’, along with their 2000 hits ‘Hotdog’, ‘Rollin’’ and ‘My Generation’.
Contrary to every other performer during the four-day festival, Durst continued his vocal tear on the microphone, pointing out the “totally awful layout” at the Highland Festival Grounds, adding that he was told by a crew member named Joey that this was “the worst show he’s ever worked.”
Durst also called out the organizer for the event, production and promotion company Danny Wimmer Presents.
“Danny Wimmer said alcohol is free for the rest of the night,” Durst said.
“Hit him up on Instagram. Waters are $6.”
Never one to shy away from controversy or from expressing his views, the Limp Bizkit frontman has made headlines throughout his career for his public feuds.
We’re unsure if the antics at Louder Than Life were legitimate or if it was all part of the act? A statement that their recent ‘Yacht Nu-Metal’ or ‘Dad Vibe’ schtick is still rooted in nonconformity and badassery?
However, the negative banter left us feeling perplexed and distracted from the music, which overall sounded pretty fucking solid, especially crowd favourites ‘Nookie’ and ‘My Way’.
In a show of comradery, Limp Bizkit invited the members of WARGASM on stage to perform with them on a pair of songs. Sam Matlock joined them for ‘Take A Look Around’, while Milkie Way shared the mic with Durst on ‘Full Nelson’.
While taking requests late in their set, Durst gave a shout out to the band that was following them on the bill.
“It smells like Kentucky bourbon… we’re taking requests now, anything you want, any fucking song you’ve ever heard in your life,” Durst said.
“Any fucking band, any fucking song, we’ll play. We can’t play a Godsmack song, Jesus, they’re coming on in a second. Who’s ready for some Godsmack?”
Before wrapping up their set, Durst said he was told he couldn’t dye his hair blue, wear a buttoned-up shirt, Italian slippers or a tie.
“They told us we couldn’t play this song,” Durst added, before the band shredded their final number, 1999’s ‘Break Stuff’.
Here is the full Limp Bizkit setlist from Louder Than Life:
1. Blind (Korn cover)
2. Show Me What You Got
3. Thieves (Ministry cover)
4. Hot Dog
5. Rollin’
6. My Generation
7. Livin’ It Up
8. My Way
9. Take a Look Around (with Sam Matlock)
10. Nookie
11. Full Nelson (with Milkie Way)
12. Break Stuff
Here are some photos from their performance by Steve Thrasher:
Formed in Jacksonville in the mid-90s, the Grammy-nominated band has sold 40-million records worldwide throughout their career.
Learn more about the band on their official website https://limpbizkit.com/.