A few months ago, I gave Limp Bizkit the benefit of the doubt.
The band, famous for such headline-grabbing stunts as unannounced surprise gigs and supporting the now-defunct Napster Internet music-swapping service, came to Taylorsville to conduct a guitar-player search.
On Jan. 17, from 6 a.m.-11 p.m., guitarists from the region — and as far away as Silver City, N.M. — flocked to the music store to play for Limp Bizkit's representative, Danny Wimmer. The band members — lead singer Fred Durst, bassist Sam Rivers, drummer John Otto and disc-master DJ Lethal — were also there, but asleep in their bus.
The axemen played about 30 seconds each for Wimmer and were awarded with a pack of free guitar strings. Some of the more enterprising musicians handed the rep demo tapes of their own bands and solo works.
On the surface, it appeared Limp Bizkit was actually trying to find an unknown guitar wiz to fill the spot vacated by musical genius Wes Borland last October.
"This way we leave no stone left unturned," Durst told the Deseret News after he woke up that day. "We had this idea to bring the band to the talent. It was a way to meet a lot of new people."
I thought it was a great idea, and I found myself rooting for the hopefuls as they lined up, filled out paperwork and tuned their guitars. To play guitar for a multi-platinum recording artist and tour the world is every local guitarist's dream. And many thought the audition might be that ever-elusive "big break."
But reading the music newswires the other day brought me back to reality and confirmed that Limp Bizkit was, indeed, a band that relied on publicity stunts to keep its name in the news.
A story that appeared Monday on MTV.com News said Limp Bizkit, from Jacksonville, Fla., is preparing to enter the studio with an as-yet unnamed producer.
Apparently the fresh talent wasn't good enough for the band.
Although Salt Laker Tyler Reeve was chosen to jam with Limp Bizkit the night of the auditions, the band never called him back. Nor was there any announcement or press release about other finalists from the 22 Guitar Center auditions around the country.
In the MTV.com News story, the band said it's time to hire a producer and make an album, the follow-up to 2000's "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water."
And who will be taking over the guitar during those sessions?
It depends. On some songs, MTV.com reported, Rivers will lay aside his bass and let his fingers do the talking on the six-string, while Durst will give his mouth a rest and do some guitar leads on other tunes.
"Sam is a hell of a guitar player," band manager Peter Katsis told MTV.com News. "And you should hear Fred. He's sounding really great, and he's improving every day."
I thought the auditions were a great way to give something back to the fans. Shame on me.
After reading the MTV.com News story, I believe Limp Bizkit used the local musicians and the press simply to keep itself in the public eye while taking a break from recording and touring.
E-MAIL: scott@desnews.com