Wes Borland Reveals Reason He and His Brother Left Limp Bizkit Right Before Their Record Deal

Founding Limp Bizkit guitarist and pioneer Wes Borland recently appeared on the Disrespectfully Podcast, where he opened up about his tumultuous journey with the multi-platinum nu-metal band, his creative pursuits, personal life, and more. During the conversation, Borland shed light on some pivotal moments in Limp Bizkit’s early days in the mid-1990s, including his initial departure from the band just as they were on the verge of being signed.

Borland, known for his innovative guitar work and theatrical stage presence, has been a defining force in Limp Bizkit’s sound and visual identity. His contributions helped shape the nu-metal genre, blending heavy riffs with hip-hop and electronic elements, which became a hallmark of the band’s style. Limp Bizkit’s success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with albums like Three Dollar Bill, Y’all$ and Significant Other, cemented their place in rock history, and Borland’s unique approach to guitar playing and performance art played a massive role in how the band garnered the attention, notoriety, and infamy they're still known for to this day, second only to, of course, Fred Durst on the latter point.

However, Borland’s relationship with the band has been rocky at times, which isn't exactly breaking news. He famously left Limp Bizkit in 2001 due to tensions with other members, burnout, and the trauma of a fan’s death at an Australian show. While he rejoined the band several years later, this wasn’t his first exit. As he revealed on the podcast, he initially quit just as the band was getting signed and preparing to record their debut album, Three Dollar Bill, Y’all$. His brother, Scott Borland, who was also in the band on keyboards, left with him.

Borland recounted the chaotic events that followed his departure, which ultimately led to his return. After the band signed a record deal, they bought a van and trailer to drive to Los Angeles to start recording. However, the van flipped in Texas, leaving the members injured and the replacement guitarists stealing the gear and fleeing. This series of events prompted the band to reach out to Borland, who initially refused but eventually rejoined to help write and record their debut album.

Reflecting on the band’s early struggles and eventual success, Borland said:
“It wasn’t very long, It happened pretty quickly. We did a couple of regional tours. We actually… Fred [Durst] and I have had a interesting history of trying to get along with each other, up until, like, the last seven years, and now we’re awesome. But It took us really growing up, because of egos and just like different ideas of what the band should be.”

He also shared how their cover of George Michael’s “Faith” became a turning point for the band. Despite the initial failure of their first two singles, “Counterfeit” and “Sour,” the release of “Faith” in October 1998 catapulted Limp Bizkit into the mainstream. Borland explained:
“So we had like two singles that came out that didn’t do well, that didn’t really hit. And then ‘Faith’ came out, and we made a terrible video for ‘Faith.’ And then Fred was like, ‘We’re trashing this. We’re gonna do like a Mötley Crüe-style tour video that shows us, like our footage on tour.’ And he brought a film crew out, and the video was just us on tour. I think, the combination of doing the cover of ‘Faith’ and people seeing actually what the shows were like, that’s when it really hit.”

The Full podcast and interview with Borland can be viewed on the Disrespectfully Youtube Channel.

Looking ahead to 2025, Limp Bizkit has announced a series of tour dates both internationally with the "Loserville" tour and alongside Metallica during their "M72 World Tour."

The current full tour lineup can be seen below:

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LOSERVILLE 2025 Tour with Limp Bizkit & Special Guests

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