Early Years
Limp Bizkit was formed in 1994 in Jacksonville, after Fred Durst met Sam Rivers. Rivers introduced Durst to his cousin, John Otto, a drummer in Keystone. The three got together for a jam session, and soon after started an early version of the band. The trio soon recruited guitarist Rob Waters and Limp Bizkit was established.The band’s first four-track demo, entitled Mental Aquaducts, (which were remakes of previously written songs from Fred’s previous bands Split 26 and 10Ft Shindig) was recorded with him but soon after he left the band. Otto suggested the group to consider Wes Borland, whom he had gone to school with, for the now vacant position. Durst noticed him playing in clubs and wanted to recruit him. Durst went to Philadelphia, and he instructed the other members to talk to Wes and see if he’d join the band. Wes accepted, and the very night Fred came back to Jacksonville, a show was scheduled. Fred and Wes met for the first time, practiced for a half hour, and then went and played the show.
The band continued to play various shows, their most popular venue being at the Milkbar in Jacksonville. In 1995, Fred Durst was scared to talk to and meet members of the band KoRn when they played a show in the Jacksonville area. Durst, a tattoo artist, gave Korn lead guitarist Brian “Head” Welch several tattoos and the two became friends. Durst also gave Korn the band’s first demo tape with Rob Waters, and they shrugged it off as nothing special. Later, with Borland, a second demo was recorded and this time Korn were impressed. The demo included the tracks “Counterfeit”, “Stuck”, “Stalemate”, and “Pollution”, all of which would end up on the band’s debut album Three Dollar Bill, Yall$. The demo tape was passed onto Ross Robinson, who produced for Korn, and was also very impressed. Ross contacted Limp Bizkit, and stated his intent to produce for the band. Also, at a Garbage concert, Durst had met Jordan Schur and played his demo tape for him in Schur’s car. He was impressed, and wanted to sign Limp Bizkit to his label, Flip Records. Around this time, the band was booked to tour with the bands Deftones and House of Pain, whose member DJ Lethal later joined Limp Bizkit.Limp Bizkit later signed with Mojo Records, but was later bought out by Schur and subsequently signed with Flip Records.
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