Editing Limp Bizkit (section)

=== Record label deals and ''Three Dollar Bill, Y'all'' (1997–1998) ===

[[File:Fred Durst at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.JPG|thumb|upright|Following the release of ''[[Three Dollar Bill, Y'all]]'', vocalist Fred Durst was appointed senior vice president of A&R at Interscope]]
After its performance opening for Korn at the Dragonfly in Hollywood was well received, Limp Bizkit were offered a record deal with the [[Los Angeles]]-based independent label [[Flip Records (1994)|Flip Records]], who attempted to sign the band for $50,000.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last1=Daly |first1=Steven |date=1999-08-05 |title=Send Porn Stars, Funk and Money: The Limp Bizkit Story |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/send-porn-stars-funk-and-money-the-limp-bizkit-story-181005/ |access-date=2022-10-30 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030152251/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/send-porn-stars-funk-and-money-the-limp-bizkit-story-181005/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Soon after that, however, they were also offered a record deal with the major label [[Mojo Records|Mojo]], a subsidiary of [[MCA Records]]. According to Flip Records' founder [[Jordan Schur]], Limp Bizkit stated that the only way the band would not sign with Mojo was if the band's van flipped over on the way to Los Angeles.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Weingarten |first=Marc |date=1999-04-18 |title=Anything But Stale |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-18-ca-28440-story.html |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028080929/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-18-ca-28440-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

While heading to California to record its first album, the band's van flipped over five times, resulting in all of the band's members sustaining serious injuries. As a result of the near-death experience, Durst made amends with Borland, who rejoined the band.<ref name="Devenish21" /><ref name=":0" /> The accident also strained the band's relationship with Mojo, who Durst felt wanted the band to resume working prematurely, resulting in Schur buying out the band's record and management contract and signing the band to Flip, which cost him $175,000.<ref name="LarkinHR" /><ref name=":0" />

Arvizu persuaded [[Ross Robinson]] to listen to the demo. Robinson neglected to listen to it until it was appraised by his girlfriend. Impressed by the band's motivation and sound, Robinson produced Limp Bizkit's debut, which was recorded at Indigo Ranch. Durst's problems with his girlfriend inspired him to write the song "Sour".<ref name="Devenish21" /> The mood and tone set by Robinson in the studio allowed the band to improvise; a recording of the band improvising appeared as the last track on the album, "Everything".<ref name="Devenish21" /> Schur bankrolled the recording sessions for the album, and following its completion negotiated a 50/50 agreement with [[Interscope Records]] to distribute the album.<ref name=":1" />

Despite the success of live performances of the band's cover of the song "Faith", Robinson was opposed to recording it and tried to persuade the band not to play it on the album. However, the final recording, which incorporated heavier guitar playing and drumming as well as DJ scratching, impressed him.<ref name="Devenish21" /> Robinson also bonded with Borland, who he perceived as not taking the band seriously.<ref name="Devenish21" /> The [[progressive metal]] band [[Tool (band)|Tool]] provided a strong influence in shaping the album's sound, particularly in the song "Nobody Loves Me", which contains a breakdown in which Durst imitated the singing style of [[Maynard James Keenan]].<ref name="Devenish21" />

Continuing the band's policy of using names that would repulse potential listeners, Limp Bizkit named the album by using part of the phrase "queer as a three dollar bill" and adding the word "Y'all" for Florida flavor, titling it ''[[Three Dollar Bill, Y'all]]''.<ref name="Devenish21" /> The completed album featured an abrasive, angry sound which Limp Bizkit used to attract listeners to its music.<ref name="Devenish21" />

After the band completed recording, they toured with Korn and [[Helmet (band)|Helmet]] in 1997. Critics reacted unfavorably to performances of Korn and Limp Bizkit; ''Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel'' music critic Jon M. Gilbertson criticized Durst's performance, stating "The one attention-grabbing moment of Limp Bizkit's [[Rap metal|rap/thrash]] show was when the lead singer expressed a desire for [[Homosexuality|gay]] men to be 'stomped'. Which isn't remotely rebellious. It's just puerile."<ref name="Devenish21" /> That same year, they also notably served as an opening act on the [[Album of the Year Tour]] for [[Faith No More]], a band often credited as paving the way for Limp Bizkit and the [[nu metal]] genre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://decibelmagazine.com/blog/2015/8/13/they-did-it-all-for-the-nookie-decibel-explores-the-rise-and-fall-of-nu-metal|title=They Did It All for the Nookie: Decibel Explores the Rise and Fall of Nu-Metal|date=August 13, 2015|access-date=January 18, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226193814/http://decibelmagazine.com/blog/2015/8/13/they-did-it-all-for-the-nookie-decibel-explores-the-rise-and-fall-of-nu-metal/|archive-date=February 26, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> They were subject to a hostile reception from Faith No More's fans,<ref name="toomey">Borland, Wes. 2017. ''Talk Toomey'' Podcast</ref> with the group's keyboardist [[Roddy Bottum]] later recalling, "That guy Fred Durst had a really bad attitude. He was kind of a jerk. I remembered he called the audience faggots at one show when they booed him. Not a good scene."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.faithnomoreblog.com/2013/01/roddy-bottum-fan-q-and-the-answers.html|title=Roddy Bottum Fan Q and A - The Answers|access-date=January 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016231605/http://www.faithnomoreblog.com/2013/01/roddy-bottum-fan-q-and-the-answers.html|archive-date=October 16, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Interscope proposed to the band that the label pay $5,000 to guarantee that a [[Portland, Oregon]], radio station play the song "Counterfeit" fifty times, preceded and concluded with an announcement that the air time was paid for by Interscope.<ref name="Devenish51">{{cite book |last=Devenish |first=Colin |title=Limp Bizkit |year=2000 |publisher=St. Martin's Griffin |isbn=0-312-26349-X |pages=[https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/51 51–78] |chapter=Chapter 3 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/51}}</ref><ref name="MTVJuly1998">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431305/limp-bizkit-pays-counterfeit-play.jhtml |title=Limp Bizkit Pays For 'Counterfeit' Play |date=July 1, 1998 |publisher=[[MTV News]] |access-date=December 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115235506/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431305/limp-bizkit-pays-counterfeit-play.jhtml |archive-date=January 15, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The paid air time was criticized by the media, who saw it as "[[payola]]".<ref name="Devenish51" /><ref name="MTVJuly1998" /> The band's manager Jeff Kwatinetz later termed the plan as a "brilliant marketing move".<ref name="Devenish51" /> Durst stated, "It worked, but it's not that cool of a thing."<ref name="Devenish51" />

Following the release of "Counterfeit" as a single, ''Three Dollar Bill, Yall'' was released on July 1, 1997, and was met with minimal response.<ref name="LarkinHR" /> [[AllMusic]] writer [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] wrote, "They might not have many original ideas ... but they do the sound well. They have a powerful rhythm section and memorable hooks, most of which make up for the uneven songwriting."<ref name="ErlewineThreeDollarBill">{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=''Three Dollar Bill Y'All'' – Limp Bizkit |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r278011/review |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=December 14, 2011}}</ref> However, [[Robert Christgau]] panned the album.<ref name="Christgau">{{cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |title=Limp Bizkit Reviews |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Limp+Bizkit |url-status=live |access-date=December 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526153859/http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Limp+Bizkit |archive-date=May 26, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Despite the minimal response to his band's album, Durst was appointed Senior Vice President of A&R at Interscope.<ref name="Devenish127" />

Limp Bizkit joined the [[Warped Tour]], performing alongside the bands [[Pennywise (band)|Pennywise]], [[Mighty Mighty Bosstones]], Sick of It All, [[Lagwagon]], and [[Blink-182]].<ref name="Devenish51" /> Preceding the band's first tour with DJ Lethal, Otto became familiar with Lethal's contributions to collaborate with him better on stage.<ref name="Devenish51" /> In addition to touring with [[Primus (band)|Primus]] and [[Deftones]], Limp Bizkit headlined the Ladies Night in Cambodia club tour, which was intended to diversify the band's largely male fanbase by offering free tickets to female attendees. This plan successfully increased the band's female fanbase.<ref name="Devenish51" />

In 1998, Limp Bizkit toured with [[Soulfly]] and [[Cold (band)|Cold]] on Soulfly's first European tour.<ref name="Devenish51" /> Touring consistently increased Limp Bizkit's success and the second single from ''Three Dollar Bill, Y'all'', a cover of George Michael's "Faith", became a successful radio hit, leading to a slot on [[Ozzfest]], a tour organized by [[Ozzy Osbourne|Ozzy]] and [[Sharon Osbourne]].<ref name="Devenish51" /> In July, [[Snot (band)|Snot]] singer [[Lynn Strait]] was arrested after he emerged nude from Limp Bizkit's prop toilet, and was charged with indecent exposure.<ref name="Devenish51" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Snot Singer Charged With Indecent Exposure |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432993/07101998/snot.jhtml |publisher=[[MTV News]] |date=July 10, 1998 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219220343/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432993/07101998/snot.jhtml |archive-date=December 19, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Because Limp Bizkit's fans would often break through the barricades, the band was almost kicked off the tour after two days.<ref name="Devenish51" /> In August, John Otto spent the night in jail in Auburn Hills, Michigan on a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon after allegedly firing a [[BB gun]] and being arrested for carrying a switchblade.<ref name="Devenish51" />

After completing Ozzfest, Limp Bizkit took a break from performing and later performed on Korn's [[Family Values Tour]]. Durst also directed a music video for the band's single "Faith" in promotion for its appearance in the film ''[[Very Bad Things]]'', but was unsatisfied with it and directed a second video which paid tribute to tourmates like Primus, Deftones, and Korn, who appeared in the video.<ref name="Devenish51" /> Borland stated in an interview that George Michael, the song's writer, hated the cover and "hates us for doing it".<ref name="Devenish51" />