Rage Against the Machine’s Tim Commerford Apologizes For Inspiring Limp Bizkit
Rage Against the Machine bassist Tim Commerford was in the news last week as it was revealed he had formed a new band, Wakrat. The trio, who are currently working on their debut album, released the video for the track "Knucklehead." Commerford, who is also in the experimental band Future User, is back in the headlines this week for comments he made to Rolling Stone about Limp Bizkit. Rage Against the Machine were a pioneer of nu-metal, helping spawn an avalanche of rap-rock bands including Limp Bizkit.
Over the years, Limp Bizkit have frequently covered "Killing in the Name Of" and Fred Durst has shared his passion for that Rage Against the Machine song, but the love fest apparently doesn't go both ways.
"I do apologize for Limp Bizkit," Commerford says. "I really do. I feel really bad that we inspired such bulls--t." Limp Bizkit are still around, which has apparently flown under Commerford's radar. "They're gone, though," he says. "That's the beautiful thing. There's only one left, and that's Rage, and as far as I'm concerned, we're the only one that matters."
Commerford also reminisced to Rolling Stone about the infamous incident at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards where he crashed Limp Bizkit's acceptance speech for Best Rock Video. Commerford climbed 20 feet up a fake palm tree on stage and refused to come down after Rage lost out in the category. The bassist was arrested and spent the night in jail.
"It's aged like wine," Commerford recalls. "What was uncomfortable and a little bit bitter in 2000, now I savor it. I get more people that come up to me now. Back in 2000, it was like, 'Dude, I saw you do that. What was that all about?' Now, it's like, 'Dude, I saw you do that. That was so f--kin' awesome! I love that.' It feels more comfortable now to talk about."
Rage Against the Machine's DVD Live at Finsbury Park is set to be released Oct. 16. The concert was filmed in 2010 at London’s iconic Finsbury Park venue.
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