Limp Bizkit has settled solidly in the Top 10 with their 2000 release, Chocolate St*rfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. For four years they have dominated the rock world. In 1997 they released their debut, Three Dollar Bill, Y’all$, which gave them a taste of Platinum status, but it was 1999's Significant Other that made them the dominant force they are today. Significant Other debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and sold 634,874 copies during its first week of release. It has gone on to sell more than 6 million copies. Intense and energetic, Limp Bizkit redefined a musical genre and set a new standard for aggressive music.
     Lead vocalist Fred Durst, an accomplished tattoo artist living in Jacksonville, Fla., brought the band together in 1994. Durst hooked up with his friend and bass player, Sam Rivers. Sam then recommended his cousin, drummer John Otto. Before long, guitarist Wes Borland joined the trio and Limp Bizkit was created. Soon afterward, they opened a show for Korn in Jacksonville. After Durst tattooed band members of Korn, a friendship between the two bands began. Korn helped get Limp Bizkit's demo into the right hands. Limp Bizkit's buzz only grew from there and they soon found themselves opening for acts such as House Of Pain and the Deftones. From the touring, offers from labels began to pour in. They eventually decided to go with the indie label Flip Records. This resulted in them teaming up with DJ Lethal, from House Of Pain, and Ross Robinson to produce their debut album. They earned national recognition with a remake of George Michael's "Faith"--not their best effort, but it gave them enough exposure to be invited to perform at Ozzfest in 1998. As they say, the rest would be history, as the only direction they would go was skyward.
     The force behind Limp Bizkit's enormous success is outspoken frontman Fred Durst. Whether on the road, in the studio or working on any multitude of other projects, Durst is never busy enough. In addition to leading one of heavy rock's favorite bands--which keeps him occupied full time with writing, recording and traveling, he is also engaged, since 1999, as a senior vice president at Limp Bizkit's home label, Interscope.
     He has his own imprint through Interscope, Flawless Records, for whom he is signing and developing bands such as Puddle of Mudd and solo artist Kenna, both of whom have CDs due this summer. Additionally, he is making his film debut with Runts, the story of a high school outcast (no release date set; the project is still in development). Add to this his video director credentials for Staind and Cold, and you've got the makings of a workaholic. And, of course, there is a new Limp Bizkit album to undertake. The group will begin writing in June, after completing a tour of Europe. Durst predicts that the new effort will be their heaviest yet.
     For Durst, work seems to be some sort of therapy and he throws himself in with all the force he has. Calling him a workaholic is certainly no exaggeration; he thrives on work. "It probably looks a lot worse than it really is," he says. "I like work, I like working really hard and I hate being lazy. I just can't imagine sitting at home doing nothing; that's not for me. I need to work. I need something to do! I'd hate sitting around, killing time."
     Many people might not understand his drive, and he is well aware that some even might think he is insane for not taking the chance to sit and kick back now that Limp Bizkit has got it made. "Yeah, I guess a lot of people think I'm absolutely crazy," he says, "but I can't change it, that's just the way I am. I do things my way and it seems to work out for me.
     "It's not as if the band has to suffer from all my activities. In case it would influence LB in a negative way, it would all look completely different, but it all works out, so I want to try as much as I can. I want to try new things and check what I can do, what I'm capable of. I want to keep all options open. Right now, people listen to what I've got to say. Who knows how long they're going to listen, so I've gotta do it now."
     But even with all his side projects, the band is his main priority. Durst believes it is important to grab every chance as soon as it presents itself. "No matter what's going to happen, the band will always be the first priority," he says. "In case my activities would be a negative influence, I would stop and concentrate more on the band, but it's not something that influences the band in a negative way. It complements it and helps. I make experiences, and the experiences I make help the band. It all corresponds nicely. I couldn't just relax—after three days I would completely freak out. I always need to do something, keep the ball rolling."
     This seems to be the main theme of his life, and while Durst seems to like it, a lot of his fans worry that he is biting off more than he can chew and simply burning the candle on both ends. It's not just that he doesn't want to miss a chance; he also seems to do several things at once. For him, there is only right here and right now.
     "I think it's important to use all your chances, and right now I'm the 'in' guy; people are interested in what I do, what I want to do, my ideas. So if I approach somebody, they are bound to listen and think about what I propose; they don't just think I'm another weirdo who wants something. They know I'm somebody. I'm not a stranger who's trying to make a mark. I made my mark.
     "In five or 10 years it could look completely different, you know. Some people might not even remember who I am. I don't want to risk it. I don't want to be the has-been, the guy who had a career and needs money now. I'd rather have it my own way. Now, they do listen. They know I don't really need them and that makes them listen to what I've got to say."