Wes Borland
| Wes Borland | |
|---|---|
 Borland performing with Limp Bizkit at Sonisphere 2011. |
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 7, 1975 Richmond, Virginia |
| Genres | Rock |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, drums, violin, cello, percussion, programming |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Associated acts | Limp Bizkit, Black Light Burns, Big Dumb Face, Marilyn Manson, X Japan |
| Notable instruments | |
| Yamaha CV820 WB Ibanez RG7 CST Jackson WR1 Warrior |
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Wes Borland (born Wesley Louden Borland on February 7, 1975) is an American rock musician and artist. Originally from Virginia, Borland attended high school in Tennessee, and college in Florida, where he developed his skills as a sculptor and painter. Borland is best known as the guitarist of the multi-platinum rock band Limp Bizkit with whom he has released five studio albums. In 1998, Borland formed a side project, Big Dumb Face, with whom he released one album.
In 2001, Borland left Limp Bizkit. After rejoining the band in 2004, Borland formed another band, Black Light Burns, with whom he released two studio albums. Borland left Limp Bizkit following the release of their album The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) (2005). The original lineup of Limp Bizkit reunited in 2009, and recorded another album, Gold Cobra (2011). Borland is known for his sonic experimentation and elaborate visual appearance, which has included face and body paint, masks and uniforms. He has drawn album covers and created artwork for many of his music projects.
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[edit] Biography
Wes Borland grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, where he had an affinity for bands such as Metallica, Anthrax, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Testament, Circle Jerks and Minor Threat. Borland initially took an interest in becoming a drummer, but because his parents didn't take to the idea of bringing percussive instruments into their household, Borland began taking guitar lessons from a member of his parents' Presbyterian church.[1] Borland's musical interests were at odds with the local music trends which leaned largely toward country music. He recalled, "I would bring in something, and my teacher would go, 'I've never heard of the Damned. Don't you want to play some Merle Haggard?'"[1]
Borland's brother, Scott, took an interest in bass guitar, and the two brothers began playing together.[1] Borland's interest in hip hop music piqued with the release of Anthrax and Public Enemy's collaboration, a cover of the latter's song "Bring the Noise".[1] Borland moved to Jacksonville, Florida with his parents, where he began attending art school due to his disinterest in the local music scene. There, he began practicing sculpture making and special effects.[1] Borland continued to take guitar lessons, working with a teacher that specialized in jazz. According to Borland, "My first teacher ingrained playing by ear so much that when my jazz teacher gave me a sheet of music and a tape to go with it, I would learn the tape instantly and go in and play it, but I couldn't make myself learn the music."[1] As his guitar skills improved, Borland began to craft guitar parts.[1] Wes Borland felt confined by being forced to attend church despite his disinterest in organized religion, and moved out when he was reaching the age of 18.[1]
[edit] Limp Bizkit (1994–1999)
Wes Borland joined Limp Bizkit, a band formed by Fred Durst, Sam Rivers and Rivers' cousin John Otto.[2] Limp Bizkit developed a cult following in the underground music scene, particularly at the Milk Bar, an underground punk club in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. The band attracted crowds by word of mouth and covering George Michael's "Faith" and Paula Abdul's "Straight Up"; the band also gave energetic live performances in which Borland appeared in bizarre costumes.[2] Borland's theatrical rock style was the primary attraction for many concert attendees.[2] After DJ Lethal joined the band as a turntablist, Borland left Limp Bizkit after a disagreement with Durst.[2] However, Borland rejoined after the band signed with Mojo, a subsidiary of MCA Records.[2] After a dispute with Mojo, Limp Bizkit signed with Flip, a subsidiary of Interscope Records, and recorded their debut, Three Dollar Bill, Yall$, which featured an abrasive, angry sound that Limp Bizkit used to attract listeners to their music.[2]
Although the album was met with minimal response, touring consistently increased Limp Bizkit's success, and the third single from Three Dollar Bill, Yall$, "Faith", became a radio hit, leading to a slot on Ozzfest, a tour organized by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne.[3] In 1998, Borland formed a side project, Big Dumb Face, influenced by Ween and Mr. Bungle.[4]
[edit] Mainstream success (1999–2001)
Significant Other saw Limp Bizkit reaching a new level of commercial success. The album climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 643,874 copies in its first week of release.[5] In 2000, Durst announced that the band's third studio album would be titled Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. The press thought that Durst was joking about this title.[6] The album title is intended to sound like a fictional band; the phrase "Chocolate Starfish" referred to Durst himself, as he had frequently been called an asshole.[6] Borland contributed the other half of the album's title when the band was standing around at a truck stop, looking at bottles of flavored water, and Borland joked that the truck stop didn't have hot dog or meat-flavored water.[6]
[edit] Departure from Limp Bizkit, side projects and reunion (2001–2011)
In March 2001, Big Dumb Face released its début album, Duke Lion Fights the Terror!! Borland stated that the band's music is "really silly and idiotic and bizarre. [...] It's nothing but stupid [...] just all these retarded songs."[4] In the fall of 2001, Borland left Limp Bizkit.[7] In August 2004, Borland rejoined Limp Bizkit and recorded another album, The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1).[8][9][10] In 2005, Borland formed another side project Black Light Burns. After Borland left Limp Bizkit again, Black Light Burns released its début album, Cruel Melody. Allmusic writer Greg Prato wrote, "For many, Borland was the only Limp Bizkit member who was taken seriously. As evidenced by Cruel Melody, he is now officially allowed to follow whichever musical path he so desires."[11] In 2008, Borland, along with Richard Fortus and Sugizo, supported Japanese metal band X Japan at their sold out reunion concerts at the Tokyo Dome.[12] In 2009, the original lineup of Limp Bizkit reunited and began touring. The band recorded a new album, which Borland named Gold Cobra.[13] Released on June 28, 2011, it received mixed reviews,[14] with multiple reviewers appraising Borland's guitar playing.[15][16] It peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200.[17]
Borland has also gone onto a remixing career with his distribution of alternative versions of songs by metal bands. Most recently, The Word Alive has had their song "The Hounds of Anubis" remixed by Borland.[18]
[edit] Style
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Borland's guitar playing is experimental and nontraditional, and he is noted for his creative use of six and seven-string guitars.[19] Three Dollar Bill, Yall$ features him playing without a guitar pick, performing with two hands, one playing melodic notes, and the other playing chord progressions.[2] The song "Stuck" uses a sustain pedal in the first bar, and muted riffs in the second bar.[20] His guitar playing has made use of octave shapes, and choppy, eighth-note rhythms, sometimes accompanied by muting his strings with his left hand, creating a percussive sound.[20] Borland has also made use of unevenly accented syncopated sixteenth notes to create a disorienting effect, and hypnotic, droning licks.[20]
Borland writes songs by forming them in rough outlines and filling in the details later. According to Borland, "I'm good at creating ideas while using a guitar in a new way, but it takes me a long time. I can't just come up with stuff fast and rip it up. I think about constructing songs, and even riffs, in the same way as a painting, putting on a little bit at a time. They're sketchy at first, and then I know what I want, and I fit notes into places."[1]
Borland is also known for performing in costumes and body paint during concerts, appearing in bunny and kung fu suits,[2] and painted as a skeleton and what he describes as a "burnt match". Describing the character, he stated, "I go onstage wearing almost nothing. I have underwear and my boots on, and I paint my whole head black—from the neck up—and I have the black contacts. All you can see is these glowing teeth."[2][19] Borland's black contacts were customized for him by a company noted for making contacts for the science fiction TV series Babylon 5.[19]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Devenish, Colin (2000). Limp Bizkit. St. Martin's. pp. 10–20. ISBN 031226349X.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Devenish, Colin (2000). Limp Bizkit. St. Martin's. pp. 21–51. ISBN 031226349X.
- ^ Devenish, Colin (2000). Limp Bizkit. St. Martin's. pp. 51–78. ISBN 031226349X.
- ^ a b Devenish, Colin (2000). Limp Bizkit. St. Martin's. pp. 159–166. ISBN 031226349X.
- ^ Devenish, Colin (2000). Limp Bizkit. St. Martin's. pp. 127–153. ISBN 031226349X.
- ^ a b c di Perna, Alan (2002). "Wild Wild Wes". Guitar World Presents Nu-Metal. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 104. ISBN 0634032879.
- ^ Bush, John (2006). "Limp Bizkit – Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p213327/biography. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
- ^ D'Angelo, Joe (August 16, 2004). "Wes Borland Back With Limp Bizkit". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1490229/wes-borland-back-with-limp-bizkit.jhtml. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
- ^ Harris, Chris (November 18, 2005). "Music Ruined Wes Borland's Life, So He's Formed A New Band". MTV News. http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1514094/20051118/limp_bizkit.jhtml. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ Harris, Chris (March 17, 2006). "Bye Bye Bizkit? Wes Borland Says Limp Are Pretty Much Done". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1526158/borland-casts-doubt-on-limp-bizkits-future.jhtml. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Cruel Melody - Black Light Burns". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/cruel-melody-r1041044/review. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
- ^ "Fortus to Play with X Japan". blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=93306. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
- ^ Simon (November 30, 2009). "World exclusive! Limp Bizkit name new album". Kerrang.com. Bauer Performance. http://www2.kerrang.com/2009/11/world_exclusive_limp_bizkit_na.html. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
- ^ "Gold Cobra at Metacritic". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/music/gold-cobra. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- ^ Bezer, Terry (July 6, 2011). "Gold Cobra review". Metal Hammer. http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/limp-bizkit-gold-cobra-track-by-track/. Retrieved Oct 13, 2011.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Gold Cobra - Limp Bizkit". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/gold-cobra-r2210421/review. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
- ^ "Limp Bizkit - Charts & Awars". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/artist/limp-bizkit-p213327/charts-awards. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ The Word Alive 'Deceiver' Deluxe to Include Wes Borland Remix, Kay West & Ozzy Osbourne Covers SMN
- ^ a b c Kitts, Jeff; Tolinski, Brad (2002). "Lords Of Hard Rock: Wes Borland". The 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 3–4. ISBN 0634046195.
- ^ a b c Hurwitz, Tobias; Riley, Glenn (June 1, 2002). "Rhythm guitar riffs in the style of Wes Borland". 7-String Guitar. Alfred Music Publishing. pp. 30–2. ISBN 0739028073.
