Around the turn of the century, Limp Bizkit and Staind were two of the biggest rock bands on the planet. Lords of a new genre called nu metal, both bands blended particularly aggressive aesthetics with an ear toward melody that could still work on the radio. In Limp Bizkit’s case, hip-hop was also an influence. Nowadays, their music is mostly reviled, with Staind’s leader Aaron Lewis now trying his luck as a country singer and Limp Bizkit mostly spoken of these days as a punchline.
These bands were also closely connected at the time, as Staind was signed to Limp Bizkit’s label and first made a name for themselves through the Family Values Tour that both bands were on together. On Staind’s first big song, a live version of “Outside,” Limp Bizkit leader Fred Durst pops up with background vocals. Nearly two decades later, it’s safe to assume these guys are all still buds, right?
Not the case, it turns out. As Blabbermouth points out (via Stereogum), the beef began when Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland appeared on the Talk Toomey podcast and told a story about running into Lewis at a Jacksonville airport before Lewis had began his country career. The encounter did not go well.
“Aaron Lewis came up to me in an airport randomly. I was visiting my parents in Jacksonville and flying back to LA. And… I just happened to run into him and hadn’t seen him in awhile. He goes, “Where are you headed?” And I went, “I’m going home.” And he goes, “Home?” And I went, “Yeah, I just visited my parents. I’m going back home to LA.” And, for the record, I’ve lived in LA longer than I’ve lived in any other city in my life. And he goes… Aaron looks at me and he kind of turns his chin up and he goes, “Nah, man. Remember where you came from. Florida is your home, not LA. That’s home.” And I just went, “F*ck you, man.” And I never talked to him again after that.
That guy is such a d*ckhead. So full of himself, such a d*ckhead. I wish nothing but the worst for him. Amen. I could not believe the audacity and just, like, pretentiousness — especially for somebody that acts like they’re like a country boy now and they’re from Illinois. Anyway, disgusting person. No, thanks. Peace… I don’t wanna be a sh*t talker, but I have no problem talking sh*t about that guy. He’s terrible.”
Well, Borland’s take on Lewis got back to Lewis, and he responded ahead of a performance of “Outside” over the weekend in Las Vegas. Lewis’ take on the incident is basically the same as Borland’s, except that he just makes it clear that he thinks Los Angeles is really terrible. Speaking as a person born, raised, and residing in the Los Angeles area, I gotta go with #teamborland here. Check out video of Lewis below at about the 2:15 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx4zMcERaMQ
“Wes Borland, who I love dearly, who obviously has some f*cking things to say about me. F*ck that motherf*cker! I know that I started this with “I love him dearly,” because he’s part of the whole reason that I’m standing here right now in front of you. And I find it really f*cked up that…
This is what happened, OK? This is how it happened. This is exactly how it happened. And I don’t know how the f*ck he came up with what he came up with. But I’m gonna tell you what happened.
I saw this motherf*cking bougie motherfucker riding on a f*cking golf cart in the airport to his gate. I ended up at a gate really close to him. I went up to him. I said, “Wes, what’s up, brother? I miss you. I haven’t seen you in forever. How have you been? Good?” This, that and the other thing. I’m, like, “Where are you headed?” He’s like, “I’m headed home — to Los Angeles.” And I’m like, “Hey, motherf*cker, that ain’t home. Remember, you’re from Jacksonville, fucking Florida.” That’s how it went down.
Have you seen the interview? Have you heard the podcast? That’s how it went down. Brother, don’t forget where the f*ck you’re from. You’re from Jacksonville, Florida. You’re not from Los Angeles, fucking California. You’re from Jacksonville. You’re a real person. You’re not the plastic, f*cked-up people that live in f*cking Los Angeles.
And for that — for that — for reminding my brother, one of the people that are responsible for me standing in front of you this evening, reminding my f*cking brother where the f*ck he’s from… And now I’m the biggest piece of sh*t to ever f*cking walk the face of the earth. So, you know what? Wes Borland, you bougie motherf*cker, I give all the credit to this next song to Fred. F*ck you.”
Borland has since responded to Lewis on Instagram, hoping this means he never has to speak with Lewis again. I guess this means there will be now Family Values Anniversary Tour in the future?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhpyTHCgaid/
