Best National Metal/Hard-Rock Act

Limp Bizkit

From the streets of Jacksonville, Florida, to the world's biggest arenas, Limp Bizkit have worked overtime to achieve success, and they've done it on their own terms.

Smart move number one: the group -- whose line-up includes vocalist Fred Durst, guitarist Wes Borland, bassist Sam Rivers, and drummer John Otto -- befriend Korn, making sure Jonathan Davis and friends don't leave without a copy of their demo tape. The tape went to producer Ross Robinson, who produced LB's debut CD (along with House of Pain's DJ Lethal, who subsequently signed on with the Bizkit experience).

Smart move number two: signing with independent Flip Records, which made the marketing of Three Dollar Bill, Y'all$, Limp Bizkit's debut CD, top priority. It eventually attracted the attention of major-label Interscope, which pushed them to the edge of major-act status.

Smart move number three: playing anywhere people wanted to hear them, including Worcester's Espresso Bar. The buzz became so loud the group were invited to join OzzFest. They coheadlined Locobazooka '97. They took on the world with Korn's Family Values Tour. And they celebrated the New Year's live on MTV.

Plan on hearing lots of Limp Bizkit this summer. "Nookie," from their upcoming Significant Other CD (due out June 22), is already getting MTV airplay. The disc will include "N 2gether Now" (mixed by Gangstarr's DJ Premier), a remixed version of their infamous version of George Michael's "Faith" (recorded with Everlast). Significant Other will also feature guest appearances by Eminem, Primus' Les Claypool, Method Man, Scott Weiland, Korn's Jonathan Davis, and Serj Tankian of System of a Down. The group will soon head out on a guerrilla tour with Kid Rock and Staind (with a break for Woodstock '99) before coheadlining this year's Family Values Tour. On their own terms indeed!

-- Brian Goslow