Music
Rage Against The Machine bassist apologizes for influencing Limp Bizkit
by Richard Howard
September 29, 2015
"I feel really bad that we inspired such bullshit."
Fred Durst and Limp Bizkit love Rage Against The Machine. They regularly cover “Killing in the Name,” and Durst has gone on record many times extolling the virtues of the group’s influence. For that, RATM bassist Tim Commerford has only one thing to say to the public at large: he’s very, very sorry.
While Rage is of course well known for speaking their mind both collectively and individually, Commerford has always been the one most likely to dispense with any niceties while doing so. In a soon to be published interview with Rolling Stone, he pulled no punches when discussing his feelings about Durst’s band. “I do apologize for Limp Bizkit, I really do. I feel really bad that we inspired such bullshit. They’re gone, though.” (At this point, the interviewer presumably didn’t have the heart to tell Commerford Limp Bizkit has resumed touring, regularly butchering the RATM classic.) “That’s the beautiful thing. There’s only one left, and that’s Rage, and as far as I’m concerned, we’re the only one that matters.”
Commerford, who has previously called Limp Bizkit “one of the dumbest bands in the history of music” also looked back fondly on his 2000 MTV Music Awards stunt. After Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff” was declared the winner of the Best Rock Video category (beating out RATM’s “Sleep Now In The Fire” among others), Commerford strode onstage and climbed a 20-foot backdrop piece.
Saying the incident has “aged like wine,” he added: “What was uncomfortable and a little bit bitter in 2000, now I savor it.” My favorite part of the whole thing is Durst’s absolute cluelessness to the fact that the whole thing was an expression of how much Commerford hates his band. Check out the look of wisdom on his face as he says “This guy is rock and roll… he should be getting the award.” Yeah, that’s exactly what he’s trying to say.
Well, it’s sure clear now. Poor Fred. He claims to do it all for the nookie, but you know he’s going to be crying into his pillow tonight over his unrequited RATM love.
