Why Limp Bizkit’s FRED DURST Always Wore That RED BASEBALL CAP

Summary

• Fred Durst reveals the story behind his iconic red Yankees cap, it started as a lucky hat, but spiraled into an unwanted symbol.
• He struggled with guilt after seeing aggressive fans mimicking his look and behavior during Limp Bizkit shows.
• These days, Durst has ditched the cap and reinvented his image, appearing onstage like a chameleon with ever-changing looks.

Back in the early 2000s, nu metal was dominating the rock scene, with bands like Slipknot, Korn, Kid Rock, and Linkin Park in constant rotation on MTV.

Its biggest competition? Hip hop, which also had a chokehold on MTV, thanks to names like Eminem and 50 Cent.

Right in the middle of that musical Venn diagram was Limp Bizkit, one foot in metal, the other in rap, led by frontman Fred Durst.

It didn’t take long for thousands of teenagers to want to look just like him.

And a key part of that look? A bright red New York Yankees baseball cap that he seemed permanently attached to.

In a 2014 interview with Metal Hammer (unfortunately the interview is no longer available), Durst opened up about the iconic hat.

“You never think you’re putting on some clown costume that people are always going to expect to see you in, but that’s what happened,” he explained. “I had this red cap at the time, it was my lucky hat, and I just wore it. Then I started seeing tons of people wearing that same hat, and you have no control over who decides to wear it.”

As Durst’s fame grew, so did criticism. Media often portrayed him as a cocky, macho jerk, a reputation that spilled over into how fans saw him. The real problem began when people started imitating that twisted version of his image.

“I’d see these bullies getting it all wrong. I’d look out from the stage and see them, red hats on, shoving people around who just wanted to have a good time… and they looked like me!” he said. “It really messed me up. I took that personally. I spent years trying to shake off the guilt I felt. I know I’m not responsible for how other people behave, but it felt that way, and it cut deep.”

These days, Fred Durst is still touring with Limp Bizkit, minus the red cap and rap-rock uniform.

In fact, he’s been switching up his look so often, he’s basically become a visual wildcard.

Just when you think you know what he’ll look like on stage, he shows up looking like someone completely different.

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