LIMP BIZKIT’s WES BORLAND’s Controversial Take on Heavy Metal: 'Boring As F*ck'

Summary

• Wes Borland calls heavy metal ‘so boring I wanna stab my eyes out’
• Despite past tensions, Borland says playing in Limp Bizkit still ‘feels like home’ after years of lineup changes and side projects.

Wes Borland, guitarist for Limp Bizkit, has never exactly fit the mold of a typical nü-metal poster boy.

Known for his elaborate stage costumes and artistic detours, Borland has always appeared slightly out of place next to Fred Durst’s red Yankees cap and the band’s frat-rap aggression.

In a 2015 interview with Stereogum, Borland let loose on a range of topics, from regrettable cruises to Spotify payouts.

But the moment that raised the most eyebrows? His blunt take on heavy metal: “I think metal is so f*cking boring that I wanna stab my eyes out with screwdrivers.”

Yes, really. That’s a direct quote.

‘We Tried to Do Something With Metal’

Borland didn’t just throw metal under the bus, he explained why he finds the genre so lifeless. According to him, traditional metal often feels stagnant. In the ’90s, he and his bandmates tried to shake things up by injecting elements of hip-hop, industrial, and alt-rock into the formula.

“We were taking Helmet-style riffs and mixing them with Carcass riffs,” Borland said, framing Limp Bizkit’s sound as a kind of Frankenstein’s monster of post-grunge experimentation. His point? They weren’t trying to save metal, they were just trying to do something else with it.

In hindsight, he’s amused by the idea that Limp Bizkit somehow “destroyed” the genre. “Luckily for [metal purists], it’s right back to being the same as it was then,” he quipped. Passive-aggressive, party of one.

On Being in Limp Bizkit: ‘It Feels Like Home’

Despite the sarcasm and self-deprecation, Borland spoke with surprising warmth about his role in Limp Bizkit. He compared it to being “a Democrat voting in a red state”, a metaphor that sums up his outsider status within the band’s macho orbit.

“I really like my band,” he said. “Do I listen to that genre of music? No. But… it feels like home.”

That tension between appreciation and ambivalence runs through much of the conversation. Borland’s clearly aware of the band’s reputation. He knows plenty of people think Limp Bizkit is a joke.

He doesn’t argue. He just doesn’t seem bothered by it anymore.

‘Fleet Foxes Is a Negative Influence on Music’

And just in case you thought the hot takes stopped with metal, Borland had words for indie darlings Fleet Foxes, too.

“I think that Fleet Foxes is a negative influence on music, for Christ’s sake,” he said, with the tone of someone not particularly worried about winning over Pitchfork readers.

Borland’s problem with them? It’s not personal. He simply believes some modern acts lack energy or edge.

His remarks came after discussing Woodstock ‘99, where Limp Bizkit played a now-infamous set during a festival that eventually descended into chaos. Borland insists the blame lies with poor planning, not bands yelling “f*ck” into microphones.

Music, Mascara, and Middle Fingers

When asked if Limp Bizkit was a positive or negative force in late-’90s music, Borland didn’t hesitate: Both.

“We simplified aggressive riffs and added melody. That’s what got us popular,” he said.

Whether that’s good or bad, he leaves to the listener.

He’s not exactly apologetic, but he is reflective. And if someone wants to say “f*ck this guy,” Borland gets it. “I’m super lucky,” he admitted. “I get to make a living off music.”

Love him or hate him, Borland knows exactly where he stands, and he seems perfectly fine with the noise.

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