Durst Hearts The Smiths

06/19/09 1:32pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Fred Durst grew up listening to music most people didn't and was bullied for it. So when he saw bullies were appropriating Limp Bizkit's message and turning into "fuel to torture other people," he had to re-evaluate being in a band.

"I loved The Cure and Bauhaus and The Smiths," Durst recently told Rolling Stone magazine. "The people in my town weren't privy to that kind of music and I got abused. I discovered the microphone to get out some of that angst."

Durst took that angst and his influences (OK, maybe not stylistically speaking) in the aforementioned bands and began making music. Ironically, the kind of people who used to bother him as a kid began listening to his music, so he put Limp Bizkit on hold and became a director for a while. Only time will tell if bullies still like Limp Bizkit now that the band have reunited.

"For years I looked into the crowd and saw a bunch of bullies and assholes who tortured me and ruined my life," he said. "They were using my music as a fuel to torture other people, even dressing like me. The music was being misinterpreted and the irony effected me and we stepped away."

"I realized after years and years that I can't take all of that on my shoulders," he continued. "I can just hope for the best and hope that my music finds its way to the people that I'm trying to connect with.

"There's some people who are not understanding what Limp Bizkit is about. But, then again, who am I to tell people what they can use art for or how they can interpret it?"

Limp Bizkit are touring for the first time in four years, and you can see them here:

June 20 Zagreb, Croatia @ Salata
June 21 Nickelsdorf, Austria @ Nova Rock Festival
June 24 Szczecin, Poland @ Szczecin Rock Festival
June 26 Bratislava, Slovakia @ Top Festival
June 28 Bucharest, Romania @ Arenele Romante
June 29 Sofia, Bulgaria @ Akademik Stadium
July 2 Sopron, Hungary @ Volt Festival
July 4 Werchter, Belgium @ Rock Werchter Festival
July 5 Paris, France @ Le Zenith