Wes Borland
Encyclopedia
Wesley Louden Borland is an American musician and artist, best known as the guitar
ist for the band Limp Bizkit
. He has been in several other bands as well including: Black Light Burns
, The Damning Well
, Goatslayer, Big Dumb Face
, and Combichrist
. He also recorded on From First to Last
's Heroine album in 2006, and served as bass guitarist for the band's subsequent tour. Borland is well known for his dark and bizarre stage appearance. In 2009, Borland rejoined Limp Bizkit.
where his father took a pastor
al job at a Presbyterian Church. In Florida, Borland met bassist Sam Rivers, but the two did not get along due to rivalries between local bands. He went to school with John Otto
at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. He spent his summers in Montreat, North Carolina
, working in the sound booth for Montreat conference center
, a Presbyterian Church
institution.
Fred Durst
left for Philadelphia for a short while, leaving the others to speak to Wes and see if he'd join the band. Borland accepted, and the three practiced, while keeping in touch with Durst over the phone. Later Durst came back to Jacksonville, and the band had a show scheduled. Durst and Borland met for the first time and played their first show together 30 minutes later. On stage, Borland was known for his eccentricity, frequently wearing elaborate face paint and black-tinted contact lens
es.
In the very early stages of Limp Bizkit, Borland's brother and future Eat the Day bandmate Scott Borland
played keyboards, but with the early inclusion of DJ Lethal
, the band eventually became a success. Scott played with Limp Bizkit as a session keyboard player on Limp Bizkit's first three releases, until Borland quit in 2001, which is when the two brothers formed Eat the Day.
as an outlet for his creativity. Big Dumb Face has since been put to the side. Borland then started the band Eat the Day with his brother, Scott Borland
. Eat The Day was described as heavy and dramatic, with Borland pushing the envelope of his heavy and soft playing within epic
, normally over five minute song lengths.
Borland and his brother Scott were initially going to both be the lead vocalists to avoid the stigmas associated with singular frontmen, but both Borlands felt their guitar playing was starting to suffer due to having to contribute vocals at the same time. They first tried fixing this with going through Interscope Records' demos to find a singer, only to find nobody they were satisfied with. During this period of Eat the Day, the band's website released several mp3s with no vocal tracks, asking for interested vocalists to record over the tracks and submit their recordings as an audition to front the band. The songs "Beeblicowcarapis", "dAdA", and "Taste My Gun" were initially released (and still are available via the internet) as their full length selves, but later, Eat the Day only put up the beginning portions of the songs to have vocalists to sing over. This gesture was similar to the Limp Bizkit national guitarist audition after Borland left the band, and proved to be ultimately futile, other than showcasing what the ultimate sound of the project could have become. The members of Eat The Day instead decided to take a small break from the project and focus on other things to see if a vocalist would naturally pop up. Borland also played bass for the band dobmyer for a short time.
During this down period, Borland began production on his solo album with friend and producer Danny Lohner
of Nine Inch Nails
' fame. He was also featured twice on the Underworld
soundtrack: once on a remix version of the A Perfect Circle
song "Weak and Powerless" and another time on the song "The Awakening" with a supergroup
of sorts called The Damning Well. The group features Wes Borland on guitars, Danny Lohner on bass, Richard Patrick
on vocals and Josh Freese
on drums. It was also revealed by Borland himself that during this time, he was rejected from performing with A Perfect Circle as the second guitarist alongside band founder/songwriter Billy Howerdel
given his poor guitar audition. In fall of 2003, it was announced that Eat The Day had found an unnamed vocalist. It turned out to be Richard Patrick of Filter
and Nine Inch Nails fame. With producer Bob Ezrin
at the helm, material for Eat The Day and The Damning Well merged, as did the bands, but Patrick had a falling out with the whole camp. This was announced via Eat The Day's website in fall of 2003/early 2004, as did the announcement that Eat The Day and The Damning Well had either split permanently or gone on hiatus. The conclusion of this post stated Borland's beginning stages of creating a new, band driven solo record with Danny Lohner, Josh Freese
, Josh Eustis, and John Bates
.
In late 2003, Borland co-produced and played guitar on several songs on Legion of Boom
, the third studio album by electronic musicians The Crystal Method
, released in January 2004. The tracks he worked on were "Broken Glass", "Weapons of Mass Distortion" (also a Japanese bonus track "Weapons of Mad Destruction" featuring Kyono from The Mad Capsule Markets
) and the lead single "Born Too Slow". "Born Too Slow" featured former Kyuss
frontman John Garcia
on vocals.
, released on May 3, 2005 and produced by Ross Robinson
and Limp Bizkit.
, indicating a second departure from Limp Bizkit. Borland and Danny Lohner also contributed guitar parts and instrumentals to Rob Zombie
's album, Educated Horses
, only to not have their contributions on the record. In late 2005, Wes played all the bass on the post-hardcore
band From First to Last
's second full length album Heroine (after bassist Jon Weisberg left the band), with whom he also toured for several tours afterward. He has since left the band as new bassist Matt Manning stepped up to play with From First to last. Borland played all the bass track on the CD, but co wrote a song with the band called "Save Us" which is a B side to the Heroine album that has been recently posted on the bands Myspace
.
Black Light Burns is an industrial metal band featuring members of Borland's previous band The Damning Well, with Borland this time on vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards and programming, Danny Lohner on guitar, bass, keyboards, programming (but is sparingly using these instruments on the record, as he is mainly BLB's producer), Josh Eustis (from Telefon Tel Aviv
) on programming, keys and Josh Freese on drums. The project evolved from Borland's initial attempts at writing a solo effort, but according to Borland, now includes that solo material, material from Eat the Day, material from The Damning Well, and material from an ambient solo record that Borland wrote during his time in Eat the Day that still remains unreleased. Guests on the album include Carina Round
, Limp Bizkit bassist Sam Rivers
, From First to Last frontman Sonny Moore
, and Johnette Napolitano
of Concrete Blonde
. Borland announced on February 3, 2007 that Black Light Burns will be signed to the new record label of Ross Robinson
called I AM: WOLFPACK. A June 5, 2007 release for the CD was planned, and in the meantime Borland would head to various regions in the Middle East for scheduled guitar clinics for his Yamaha signature guitar, and Black Light Burns would be rehearsing for a tour starting around summer as well.
Borland toured with From First To Last roughly since early 2006. He announced plans for a Fall 2006 tour that never went through due to Black Light Burns needing to find a new record label after Borland left Geffen Records. Borland has discussed plans to write and perform on the next From First To Last album, but he left the band due to Black Light Burns' busy schedule started to pick up, leaving no room for work with From First to Last.
In 2007, Borland appeared on select tracks on Worse Than a Fairy Tale
, by Colorado band Drop Dead, Gorgeous
. Both artists are on Ross Robinson's I AM:WOLFPACK label.
On March 25, 2008, Wes performed with Japan
ese metal band X Japan
at one of their reunion shows at the Tokyo Dome
, filling in for their deceased guitarist Hide
.
Black Light Burns' lineup has undergone some changes. As recently as 2008, the band consisted of Borland on vocals/guitar, Nick Annis on guitar/backup vocals, Sean Fetterman on bass/backup vocals, and Marshal Kilpatric on drums. In early 2009, Fetterman left due to reasons undisclosed by the band and was replaced by the band's guitar tech, Dennis "Junior" Sanders.
is an experimental
/industrial rock
band formed in 2008, consisting of vocalist and guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer
of Korn
, bassist Billy Gould
of Faith No More
, drummer Brooks Wackerman
of Bad Religion
, programmer
and guitarist Leopold Ross
of Error
and IO Echo, and keyboardist and programmer Zac Baird
, previously heard on Korn's untitled album and during their live shows. Wes Borland also worked closely with experimental gothic keyboardist Shawn Lowry. Wes Borland contributed on two tracks for the project and also created the artwork for the CD. However in a recent message on the bands Myspace page James Shaffer said that the two tracks Wes contributed to did not make the final cut for the album.
, South Korea
, Marilyn Manson
announced that Borland had joined the band as their live guitarist. He played only two shows with Manson, the first at the 2008 ETP Festival in Korea, and the second in Los Angeles for a Hot Topic
manager's meeting. Borland left the band after re-uniting with Limp Bizkit
in 2009 .
A statement was released by the band, which said:
He 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.
, Borland would cover much ground. Some guitar parts were inspired by thrash metal
with harmonic usage inspired by industrial music
, whereas other parts were meant to sound like strange noises and sounds, some were soft and beautiful jazzy melodies and the songs themselves were somewhat progressive, as there were traditional song-structures mixed with more experimental ideas.
On the subsequent hit record, Significant Other
, Borland's playing became slower with increased emphasis on groove and heaviness, with more traditional song structures used. On the third Limp Bizkit release, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, Borland's playing became more eclectic, combining the prior elements of heaviness and traditional structure with playing big, complex guitar chords not normally played in metal music before then.
On The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)
, recorded five years later, featured some of his most aggressive guitar work ever released, using distortion
through most of the album and putting all of his trademark effect pedals to rest, instead focusing on heavy riffing, metal
tremolo picking
and palm mute
/release techniques. However, in Black Light Burns
, Borland's guitar playing is at its most eclectic. Borland's metal, electronic, jazz, indie rock, soft, progressive influences come through, and the songs take unexpected turns all throughout.
Wes played Ibanez
7 string guitars with Limp Bizkit and later used Paul Reed Smith
guitars. He plays a custom 4 string AX series Ibanez
on songs "Nookie", "Full Nelson", "The One", and "Stalemate". He tuned his 7-strings to [Low to High] D♭ G♭ B E A♭ D♭ D♭/C# F# B E G# C# C# (occasionally with the low string dropped to B) and tuned his 4 string to [Low to High] F# F# B E, with the lowest F# string being a bass guitar string, with that lowest F# being one whole octave below the preceding F# string. The method of using 6-string tunings on 7-string guitars is now used by Deftones
guitarist Stephen Carpenter
, who learned the technique from Borland after transitioning to 7-strings.
Borland told crowds at his guitar clinics in the middle east and Total Guitar
magazine that he considers himself more a songwriter/rhythm guitarist than a lead guitarist, saying that he never got into shredder bands or jazz fusion artists. He says his two hand tapping technique was inspired somewhat by Les Claypool
of Primus
and the rhythmic nature of his bass playing, and not so much from the lead guitar craze of the 1980s. However, he has incorporated lead guitar into his music after leaving Limp Bizkit from time to time.
Most recently, on the Gold Cobra
album, Borland has noticeably taken a different approach to playing styles. He used his signature Yamaha guitar in the studio, however, as demonstrated on the Gold Cobra album, he began using different tunings other than C# Standard (the tuning used on every LP he played on until he left Limp Bizkit). On the songs "Bring It Back", "Get a Life", and "Loser", he played in Drop B tuning, which is basically C# Standard with a dropped B, which has also been used on previous albums as well. On the songs "Walking Away", "90.2.10", and "Back Porch", he used E Standard tuning. Also, he has incorporated guitar solos into some songs on the Gold Cobra album, most notably on the first single, "Shotgun".
Borland is not only known for his live stage costumes and grotesque dressing and fashion, he has also handled album art during his stint in Limp Bizkit. Likewise, he has provided the album art for both of the Black Light Burns releases. He has been working to get an art gallery open to display his paintings.
Borland established a MySpace account displaying several of his paintings. He has posted ambient musical pieces that were written after the Black Light Burns
debut album Cruel Melody
was completed.
and almost exclusively used their guitars in recordings and live performances. The guitars' piezo
system allowed him to change from electric to acoustic sounds with the flick of a switch. After leaving Limp Bizkit, Borland switched from Ibanez guitars to Yamaha
, which released a Wes Borland signature guitar called the CV820 WB. Borland has since begun an endorsement with Jackson Guitars
, using several Warrior and Randy Rhoads models. He also retired his Mesa Boogie amplifiers and currently uses Orange Amplifiers in live performances along with Roland. Borland now uses a 6-string guitar in Limp Bizkit, instead of the 7-string he used to use. He also owns a fretless guitar, the Vigier Excalibur Surfreter in black serial number 000298.
Other and retired guitars:
Retired amplifers:
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist for the band Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
. He has been in several other bands as well including: Black Light Burns
Black Light Burns
Black Light Burns are a rock band fronted by Wes Borland, of Limp Bizkit. The band's original studio lineup consisted of Borland, Danny Lohner, Josh Eustis and Josh Freese. Their debut album Cruel Melody, was released on June 5, 2007. The band released a covers and b-sides CD/DVD combo package in...
, The Damning Well
The Damning Well
The Damning Well was a rock supergroup comprising Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit on guitar, Danny Lohner formerly of Nine Inch Nails on bass, Richard Patrick of Filter on vocals, and Josh Freese of A Perfect Circle, on drums...
, Goatslayer, Big Dumb Face
Big Dumb Face
Big Dumb Face is a band formed by Wes Borland shortly before he left Limp Bizkit. The style hails to Frank Zappa and Ween as their primary influence...
, and Combichrist
CombiChrist
Combichrist is a Norwegian Aggrotech band formed in 2003 by Norwegian Andy LaPlegua based in Atlanta.-Formation:The first material LaPlegua wrote was a few powernoise/techno crossover tracks under the moniker DRIVE...
. He also recorded on From First to Last
From First to Last
From First to Last was an American rock band based out of Los Angeles, originally hailing from Valdosta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida. The band released their first EP titled Aesthetic in 2003 with vocalist Phillip Reardon, followed by Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count in 2004 and Heroine in...
's Heroine album in 2006, and served as bass guitarist for the band's subsequent tour. Borland is well known for his dark and bizarre stage appearance. In 2009, Borland rejoined Limp Bizkit.
Early life
Borland's family moved from Virginia to Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
where his father took a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
al job at a Presbyterian Church. In Florida, Borland met bassist Sam Rivers, but the two did not get along due to rivalries between local bands. He went to school with John Otto
John Otto (drummer)
John Everett Otto is the drummer and co-founder of the band Limp Bizkit.-Limp Bizkit:Otto, along with his cousin Sam Rivers, and Fred Durst, founded Limp Bizkit in 1994, while attending Douglas Anderson School of the Arts...
at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. He spent his summers in Montreat, North Carolina
Montreat, North Carolina
Montreat is a town in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 696 in 2008. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, working in the sound booth for Montreat conference center
Montreat Conference Center
Montreat Conference Center located in Montreat, North Carolina, United States, is a conference center serving the Presbyterian Church...
, a Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
institution.
Limp Bizkit
When Limp Bizkit was looking for a guitarist, John Otto threw out his name, stating he was more of an artist than a guitarist, but the band decided he'd be worthwhile for the position. In one of these bands, Borland sang and played guitar but did not use a guitar pick. He would only play guitar using the two hand tapping style of guitar playing that he would go on to use in Limp Bizkit songs such as "Stalemate", "Sour", "Re-Arranged" and "Indigo Flow".Fred Durst
Fred Durst
William Frederick "Fred" Durst is an American musician, director, producer and actor, well known as the frontman of the band Limp Bizkit.-Early life:...
left for Philadelphia for a short while, leaving the others to speak to Wes and see if he'd join the band. Borland accepted, and the three practiced, while keeping in touch with Durst over the phone. Later Durst came back to Jacksonville, and the band had a show scheduled. Durst and Borland met for the first time and played their first show together 30 minutes later. On stage, Borland was known for his eccentricity, frequently wearing elaborate face paint and black-tinted contact lens
Contact lens
A contact lens, or simply contact, is a lens placed on the eye. They are considered medical devices and can be worn to correct vision, for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. In 2004, it was estimated that 125 million people use contact lenses worldwide, including 28 to 38 million in the United...
es.
In the very early stages of Limp Bizkit, Borland's brother and future Eat the Day bandmate Scott Borland
Scott Borland
Scott Borland is a musician from the United States. He is the founder of the band Big Dumb Face and a past member of Limp Bizkit.-References:...
played keyboards, but with the early inclusion of DJ Lethal
DJ Lethal
Leor Dimant , better known as DJ Lethal, is a turntablist and producer and member of the bands Limp Bizkit, House of Pain and La Coka Nostra.-Early life:Leor Dimant was born in Riga, Latvia, when this country was still part of the Soviet Union...
, the band eventually became a success. Scott played with Limp Bizkit as a session keyboard player on Limp Bizkit's first three releases, until Borland quit in 2001, which is when the two brothers formed Eat the Day.
Departure from Limp Bizkit
On October 12, 2001, Borland left Limp Bizkit, claiming the band limited his ability to express himself artistically. Before leaving Bizkit he formed the band Big Dumb FaceBig Dumb Face
Big Dumb Face is a band formed by Wes Borland shortly before he left Limp Bizkit. The style hails to Frank Zappa and Ween as their primary influence...
as an outlet for his creativity. Big Dumb Face has since been put to the side. Borland then started the band Eat the Day with his brother, Scott Borland
Scott Borland
Scott Borland is a musician from the United States. He is the founder of the band Big Dumb Face and a past member of Limp Bizkit.-References:...
. Eat The Day was described as heavy and dramatic, with Borland pushing the envelope of his heavy and soft playing within epic
Epic
-Comics:* Epic Comics, an imprint of Marvel Comics* Epic Illustrated, a 1980s anthology series published by Marvel Comics-Gaming:* Epic , a 1992 computer game* Epic , a series of wargames...
, normally over five minute song lengths.
Borland and his brother Scott were initially going to both be the lead vocalists to avoid the stigmas associated with singular frontmen, but both Borlands felt their guitar playing was starting to suffer due to having to contribute vocals at the same time. They first tried fixing this with going through Interscope Records' demos to find a singer, only to find nobody they were satisfied with. During this period of Eat the Day, the band's website released several mp3s with no vocal tracks, asking for interested vocalists to record over the tracks and submit their recordings as an audition to front the band. The songs "Beeblicowcarapis", "dAdA", and "Taste My Gun" were initially released (and still are available via the internet) as their full length selves, but later, Eat the Day only put up the beginning portions of the songs to have vocalists to sing over. This gesture was similar to the Limp Bizkit national guitarist audition after Borland left the band, and proved to be ultimately futile, other than showcasing what the ultimate sound of the project could have become. The members of Eat The Day instead decided to take a small break from the project and focus on other things to see if a vocalist would naturally pop up. Borland also played bass for the band dobmyer for a short time.
During this down period, Borland began production on his solo album with friend and producer Danny Lohner
Danny Lohner
Daniel Patrick "Danny" Lohner , frequently known as Renholdër, is an American rock musician who plays bass guitar, electric guitar, and keyboards. He worked with Trent Reznor on numerous occasions, both with Nine Inch Nails and on the now defunct Tapeworm project...
of Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
' fame. He was also featured twice on the Underworld
Underworld (2003 film)
Underworld is a 2003 action-horror film about the secret history of Vampires and Lycans . It is the first installment in the Underworld series. The main plot revolves around Selene , a vampire who is a Death Dealer hunting Lycans...
soundtrack: once on a remix version of the A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. The original incarnation of the band also included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Tim Alexander on drums...
song "Weak and Powerless" and another time on the song "The Awakening" with a supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
of sorts called The Damning Well. The group features Wes Borland on guitars, Danny Lohner on bass, Richard Patrick
Richard Patrick
Richard Patrick is an American rock musician. He is the frontman for the band Filter, a founding member of the supergroup Army of Anyone, and has served as a touring guitarist for Nine Inch Nails....
on vocals and Josh Freese
Josh Freese
Josh Freese is an American session drummer and songwriter. He is a permanent member of A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, and Devo, having formerly played drums for Nine Inch Nails from late 2005 until late 2008, and for Guns N' Roses from mid-1998 to 2001. Freese has appeared on close to 300 records....
on drums. It was also revealed by Borland himself that during this time, he was rejected from performing with A Perfect Circle as the second guitarist alongside band founder/songwriter Billy Howerdel
Billy Howerdel
Billy Howerdel is the founding member, guitarist, songwriter, and producer for the bands A Perfect Circle and Ashes Divide. He has recorded three acclaimed studio albums with the former, and in 2008, Ashes Divide released their debut album, Keep Telling Myself It's Alright.-Early life:Howerdel was...
given his poor guitar audition. In fall of 2003, it was announced that Eat The Day had found an unnamed vocalist. It turned out to be Richard Patrick of Filter
Filter (band)
Filter is a rock group formed in 1993 in Cleveland by singer Richard Patrick and guitarist/programmer Brian Liesegang. Filter has released five studio albums, the most recent being The Trouble with Angels, which was released on August 17, 2010....
and Nine Inch Nails fame. With producer Bob Ezrin
Bob Ezrin
Robert Alan "Bob" Ezrin is a Canadian music producer and keyboardist, known for his work with artists including Alice Cooper, Kiss and Pink Floyd. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2004.-Biography:...
at the helm, material for Eat The Day and The Damning Well merged, as did the bands, but Patrick had a falling out with the whole camp. This was announced via Eat The Day's website in fall of 2003/early 2004, as did the announcement that Eat The Day and The Damning Well had either split permanently or gone on hiatus. The conclusion of this post stated Borland's beginning stages of creating a new, band driven solo record with Danny Lohner, Josh Freese
Josh Freese
Josh Freese is an American session drummer and songwriter. He is a permanent member of A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, and Devo, having formerly played drums for Nine Inch Nails from late 2005 until late 2008, and for Guns N' Roses from mid-1998 to 2001. Freese has appeared on close to 300 records....
, Josh Eustis, and John Bates
John Bates
John Bates may refer to:* John Bates , fashion designer who designed Diana Rigg's clothes in The Avengers* John Bates , former president of the UK Social Democratic Party...
.
In late 2003, Borland co-produced and played guitar on several songs on Legion of Boom
Legion of Boom
Legion of Boom is the third official studio album by the American band The Crystal Method. The album is a mixture of different genres, like the rough "True Grit", to the wiry guitar rock song "Born Too Slow". Legion of Boom contains vocals from actress Milla Jovovich and Kyuss lead singer John Garcia...
, the third studio album by electronic musicians The Crystal Method
The Crystal Method
The Crystal Method is an American electronic music duo that was created in Los Angeles, California by Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland in the early 1990s. The Crystal Method's music has appeared in numerous TV shows, films, video games, and advertisements. The most prominent is the US television...
, released in January 2004. The tracks he worked on were "Broken Glass", "Weapons of Mass Distortion" (also a Japanese bonus track "Weapons of Mad Destruction" featuring Kyono from The Mad Capsule Markets
The Mad Capsule Markets
The Mad Capsule Markets were a Japanese band that formed in 1990 and were active until 2006...
) and the lead single "Born Too Slow". "Born Too Slow" featured former Kyuss
Kyuss
Kyuss is a rock band, originally from Palm Desert, California. After forming in the late 1980s and releasing an EP under the name Sons of Kyuss in 1990, the band shortened its name to Kyuss. Over the next five years the band released four full-length albums, and one last split EP in 1997 with...
frontman John Garcia
John Garcia (singer)
John Garcia is a vocalist who has been a member of Kyuss, Slo Burn, Unida and Hermano. His vocals have become synonymous with modern stoner rock and the desert rock sound.-Kyuss:...
on vocals.
Rejoining Limp Bizkit
Around August, 2004, Wes Borland rejoined Limp Bizkit. Releasing an EP, titled The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)
The Unquestionable Truth is the fifth studio album by Limp Bizkit, released on May 2, 2005 internationally and a day later in North America. Despite being less than 30 minutes long and containing only seven tracks, it is still considered a studio album rather than an EP. The Unquestionable Truth ...
, released on May 3, 2005 and produced by Ross Robinson
Ross Robinson
Ross Robinson, son of Byron Katie, is an American multi-platinum music producer, who has discovered successful acts such as Korn, At the Drive-In, Glassjaw, Repeater, Slipknot and Limp Bizkit. Robinson has also worked with Machine Head, Vanilla Ice, The Cure, Sepultura and many others...
and Limp Bizkit.
Black Light Burns
Borland declared himself a full time member of his new project, Black Light BurnsBlack Light Burns
Black Light Burns are a rock band fronted by Wes Borland, of Limp Bizkit. The band's original studio lineup consisted of Borland, Danny Lohner, Josh Eustis and Josh Freese. Their debut album Cruel Melody, was released on June 5, 2007. The band released a covers and b-sides CD/DVD combo package in...
, indicating a second departure from Limp Bizkit. Borland and Danny Lohner also contributed guitar parts and instrumentals to Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
's album, Educated Horses
Educated Horses
-Personnel:* Tom Baker - Mastering* Chris Baseford - Engineer* Blasko - Bass, Background Vocals* Kristin Burns - Photos* Tommy Clufetos - Drums, Background Vocals* Drew Fitgerald - Art Direction* Josh Freese - Additional Drums...
, only to not have their contributions on the record. In late 2005, Wes played all the bass on the post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band From First to Last
From First to Last
From First to Last was an American rock band based out of Los Angeles, originally hailing from Valdosta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida. The band released their first EP titled Aesthetic in 2003 with vocalist Phillip Reardon, followed by Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count in 2004 and Heroine in...
's second full length album Heroine (after bassist Jon Weisberg left the band), with whom he also toured for several tours afterward. He has since left the band as new bassist Matt Manning stepped up to play with From First to last. Borland played all the bass track on the CD, but co wrote a song with the band called "Save Us" which is a B side to the Heroine album that has been recently posted on the bands Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
.
Black Light Burns is an industrial metal band featuring members of Borland's previous band The Damning Well, with Borland this time on vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards and programming, Danny Lohner on guitar, bass, keyboards, programming (but is sparingly using these instruments on the record, as he is mainly BLB's producer), Josh Eustis (from Telefon Tel Aviv
Telefon Tel Aviv
Telefon Tel Aviv is a Chicago, Illinois-based American electronic music act. Formerly comprising Charles Cooper and Joshua Eustis, Telefon Tel Aviv continues with Eustis as the sole official member since Cooper's death in 2009.-History:...
) on programming, keys and Josh Freese on drums. The project evolved from Borland's initial attempts at writing a solo effort, but according to Borland, now includes that solo material, material from Eat the Day, material from The Damning Well, and material from an ambient solo record that Borland wrote during his time in Eat the Day that still remains unreleased. Guests on the album include Carina Round
Carina Round
Carina Round is a British singer/songwriter from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands of England.Comparisons are frequently drawn to PJ Harvey, though Round would contend that she is more directly influenced by Patti Smith.- Background :...
, Limp Bizkit bassist Sam Rivers
Sam Rivers (bassist)
Sam Rivers is the bassist and one of the founding members of the band Limp Bizkit. He is the cousin of the band's drummer, John Otto.-Early life:...
, From First to Last frontman Sonny Moore
Sonny Moore
Sonny John Moore is an American electronic dance music producer who is widely known by his professional name Skrillex. Moore is also a former frontman for the American band From First to Last. In late Autumn of 2007 he embarked on his first tour as a solo artist, the Team Sleep Tour with Team...
, and Johnette Napolitano
Johnette Napolitano
Johnette Napolitano is an American singer, songwriter and bassist best known as the lead vocalist/songwriter and bassist for the alternative rock group Concrete Blonde.- Solo career :...
of Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde is an alternative rock band based in the United States. They were initially active from 1982 to 1995, and again from 2001 to 2004, and once again in 2010.-Biography:...
. Borland announced on February 3, 2007 that Black Light Burns will be signed to the new record label of Ross Robinson
Ross Robinson
Ross Robinson, son of Byron Katie, is an American multi-platinum music producer, who has discovered successful acts such as Korn, At the Drive-In, Glassjaw, Repeater, Slipknot and Limp Bizkit. Robinson has also worked with Machine Head, Vanilla Ice, The Cure, Sepultura and many others...
called I AM: WOLFPACK. A June 5, 2007 release for the CD was planned, and in the meantime Borland would head to various regions in the Middle East for scheduled guitar clinics for his Yamaha signature guitar, and Black Light Burns would be rehearsing for a tour starting around summer as well.
Borland toured with From First To Last roughly since early 2006. He announced plans for a Fall 2006 tour that never went through due to Black Light Burns needing to find a new record label after Borland left Geffen Records. Borland has discussed plans to write and perform on the next From First To Last album, but he left the band due to Black Light Burns' busy schedule started to pick up, leaving no room for work with From First to Last.
In 2007, Borland appeared on select tracks on Worse Than a Fairy Tale
Worse Than a Fairy Tale
Worse Than a Fairy Tale is the second album from Colorado band Drop Dead, Gorgeous. Worse Than a Fairy Tale is a concept album as well as an interactive experience for fans, telling the story of a serial killer who plies his trade in a small fictional town called Saylor Lake...
, by Colorado band Drop Dead, Gorgeous
Drop Dead, Gorgeous
Drop Dead, Gorgeous is a band from Denver, Colorado. They are currently signed to Suretone Records. The band consists of frontman Danny Stillman , Kyle Browning , Jake Hansen and Danny Cooper...
. Both artists are on Ross Robinson's I AM:WOLFPACK label.
On March 25, 2008, Wes performed with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese metal band X Japan
X Japan
is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...
at one of their reunion shows at the Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
, filling in for their deceased guitarist Hide
Hide (musician)
, better known by his stage name hide , was a popular Japanese musician. He was primarily known for his work as lead guitarist of the heavy metal band X Japan from 1987 to 1997...
.
Black Light Burns' lineup has undergone some changes. As recently as 2008, the band consisted of Borland on vocals/guitar, Nick Annis on guitar/backup vocals, Sean Fetterman on bass/backup vocals, and Marshal Kilpatric on drums. In early 2009, Fetterman left due to reasons undisclosed by the band and was replaced by the band's guitar tech, Dennis "Junior" Sanders.
Fear and the Nervous System
Fear and the Nervous SystemFear and the Nervous System
Fear and the Nervous System is an experimental/industrial rock band formed by Korn guitarist James Shaffer.-History:In early 2008, Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer announced plans to release a new project entitled Fear and the Nervous System. The record was said to be released in late 2008,...
is an experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
/industrial rock
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
band formed in 2008, consisting of vocalist and guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer
James Shaffer
James Christian 'Munky' Shaffer is the guitarist for the nu metal band Korn . According to Korn's video "Who Then Now?", The nickname 'Munky' is a reference to his feet which resemble monkey's hands when spread...
of Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, bassist Billy Gould
Billy Gould
Billy Gould is an American musician and producer. He is noted for playing bass in the band Faith No More.- Faith No More :...
of Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
, drummer Brooks Wackerman
Brooks Wackerman
Brooks Wackerman is the current drummer for the American punk band Bad Religion and the younger brother of Chad Wackerman, formerly a member of Frank Zappa's band.-Career:...
of Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
, programmer
Synthesizer programmer
In video game music, a synthesizer programmer - or a manipulator - helps a composer by choosing the right instruments to play the music inside the video game....
and guitarist Leopold Ross
Leopold Ross
Leopold Ross is an English musician, record producer, recording engineer, music programmer and part-time model.Leopold is a guitarist in LA based band Io Echo, and an occasional contributor to the band 12 Rounds.-Career:...
of Error
Error (band)
Error is an electro-hardcore band founded in 2003 by 12 Rounds member and Nine Inch Nails collaborator Atticus Ross, and Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz...
and IO Echo, and keyboardist and programmer Zac Baird
Zac Baird
Zachary Baird, born February 16, 1971 in Orange County, California, is a keyboardist and pianist, currently collaborating with the band Korn. He is also noted for using the Moog synthesizer. as well as the Ondes Martenot.-Early life:...
, previously heard on Korn's untitled album and during their live shows. Wes Borland also worked closely with experimental gothic keyboardist Shawn Lowry. Wes Borland contributed on two tracks for the project and also created the artwork for the CD. However in a recent message on the bands Myspace page James Shaffer said that the two tracks Wes contributed to did not make the final cut for the album.
Marilyn Manson
At a press conference in SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (band)
Marilyn Manson is an American metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by Brian Warner and Scott Putesky, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their uniquely theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early '90s. This attention...
announced that Borland had joined the band as their live guitarist. He played only two shows with Manson, the first at the 2008 ETP Festival in Korea, and the second in Los Angeles for a Hot Topic
Hot Topic
Hot Topic is an American retail chain specializing in music and pop culture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music on CD. The majority of the stores are located in regional shopping malls. The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000...
manager's meeting. Borland left the band after re-uniting with Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
in 2009 .
Limp Bizkit reunited
Borland rejoined Limp Bizkit on February 12, 2009. The decision came six days after he attacked the band's comeback plans and Durst's songwriting skills, claiming he had more freedom with his current band Black Light Burns.A statement was released by the band, which said:
He has also gone onto a remixing career with his distribution of alternative versions of songs by metal bands. Most recently, The Word Alive
The Word Alive
The Word Alive is an American metalcore band from Phoenix, Arizona, formed in 2008, the band is currently signed to Fearless Records. Their 2009 label debut, Empire reached position 15 on the Top Heatseekers, meeting a great amount of positive acclaim upon its release in 2009...
has had their song "The Hounds of Anubis
The Hounds of Anubis
"The Hounds of Anubis" is a song by The Word Alive. It was released as the second single from their debut full-length album, Deceiver. The song is the opening track on the record and was written by the guitarists, Tony Pizzuti and Zack Hansen. Hansen scripted it as having an "Egyptian feel" wherein...
" remixed by Borland.
Playing style
As Limp Bizkit's guitarist, on their first album, Three Dollar Bill, Yall$Three Dollar Bill, Yall$
Three Dollar Bill, Yall$ is the debut album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit, released July 1, 1997 through Flip/Interscope. It was produced by Ross Robinson and was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA in July 2001 in the US...
, Borland would cover much ground. Some guitar parts were inspired by thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
with harmonic usage inspired by industrial music
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
, whereas other parts were meant to sound like strange noises and sounds, some were soft and beautiful jazzy melodies and the songs themselves were somewhat progressive, as there were traditional song-structures mixed with more experimental ideas.
On the subsequent hit record, Significant Other
Significant Other
Significant Other is the second album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit, released on June 22, 1999. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 834,000 copies in its first week and received a Grammy Award nomination later in the year of its release. The RIAA certified it 7x platinum in...
, Borland's playing became slower with increased emphasis on groove and heaviness, with more traditional song structures used. On the third Limp Bizkit release, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, Borland's playing became more eclectic, combining the prior elements of heaviness and traditional structure with playing big, complex guitar chords not normally played in metal music before then.
On The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)
The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)
The Unquestionable Truth is the fifth studio album by Limp Bizkit, released on May 2, 2005 internationally and a day later in North America. Despite being less than 30 minutes long and containing only seven tracks, it is still considered a studio album rather than an EP. The Unquestionable Truth ...
, recorded five years later, featured some of his most aggressive guitar work ever released, using distortion
Distortion
A distortion is the alteration of the original shape of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation. Distortion is usually unwanted, and often many methods are employed to minimize it in practice...
through most of the album and putting all of his trademark effect pedals to rest, instead focusing on heavy riffing, metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
tremolo picking
Tremolo picking
Tremolo picking, also known as alternate picking or double picking, describes the musical technique of picking on a guitar or other string instrument in which a single note is played repeatedly in quick succession. It can be achieved either with the fingers or with a pick...
and palm mute
Palm mute
The palm mute is a playing technique for guitar and bass guitar executed by placing the side of the picking hand below the little finger across all of the strings very close to the bridge and then plucking the strings with the fingers while the damping is in effect. This produces a muted sound...
/release techniques. However, in Black Light Burns
Black Light Burns
Black Light Burns are a rock band fronted by Wes Borland, of Limp Bizkit. The band's original studio lineup consisted of Borland, Danny Lohner, Josh Eustis and Josh Freese. Their debut album Cruel Melody, was released on June 5, 2007. The band released a covers and b-sides CD/DVD combo package in...
, Borland's guitar playing is at its most eclectic. Borland's metal, electronic, jazz, indie rock, soft, progressive influences come through, and the songs take unexpected turns all throughout.
Wes played Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
7 string guitars with Limp Bizkit and later used Paul Reed Smith
Paul Reed Smith
Paul Reed Smith , is a luthier and the founder and owner of PRS Guitars.Smith is originally from Bowie, Maryland. He made his first guitar while at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and continued to build guitars after he finished college, making them one at a time, one a month...
guitars. He plays a custom 4 string AX series Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
on songs "Nookie", "Full Nelson", "The One", and "Stalemate". He tuned his 7-strings to [Low to High] D♭ G♭ B E A♭ D♭ D♭/C# F# B E G# C# C# (occasionally with the low string dropped to B) and tuned his 4 string to [Low to High] F# F# B E, with the lowest F# string being a bass guitar string, with that lowest F# being one whole octave below the preceding F# string. The method of using 6-string tunings on 7-string guitars is now used by Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
guitarist Stephen Carpenter
Stephen Carpenter
Stephen Carpenter is an American musician known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of the alternative metal band Deftones. His guitar technique makes use of both ringing open strings and dissonant chord voicings, as well as stock power chords in polyrhythms...
, who learned the technique from Borland after transitioning to 7-strings.
Borland told crowds at his guitar clinics in the middle east and Total Guitar
Total Guitar
Total Guitar is a monthly magazine based in the United Kingdom. The magazine is the best selling guitar magazine in Europe.The magazine is owned by Future Publishing, who publish many other magazines ranging from drums and video games to mountain bikes and knitting magazines.Total Guitar regularly...
magazine that he considers himself more a songwriter/rhythm guitarist than a lead guitarist, saying that he never got into shredder bands or jazz fusion artists. He says his two hand tapping technique was inspired somewhat by Les Claypool
Les Claypool
Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
of Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
and the rhythmic nature of his bass playing, and not so much from the lead guitar craze of the 1980s. However, he has incorporated lead guitar into his music after leaving Limp Bizkit from time to time.
Most recently, on the Gold Cobra
Gold Cobra
Gold Cobra is the sixth studio album by American rock band Limp Bizkit, released on June 24 in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, on June 27 in the United Kingdom and on June 28 in the rest of the world in 2011 by Interscope Records...
album, Borland has noticeably taken a different approach to playing styles. He used his signature Yamaha guitar in the studio, however, as demonstrated on the Gold Cobra album, he began using different tunings other than C# Standard (the tuning used on every LP he played on until he left Limp Bizkit). On the songs "Bring It Back", "Get a Life", and "Loser", he played in Drop B tuning, which is basically C# Standard with a dropped B, which has also been used on previous albums as well. On the songs "Walking Away", "90.2.10", and "Back Porch", he used E Standard tuning. Also, he has incorporated guitar solos into some songs on the Gold Cobra album, most notably on the first single, "Shotgun".
Personal life
Borland married Heather McMillan on April 10, 1998, but later divorced. He has been married to his current wife, Anna Borland, since 2008.Borland is not only known for his live stage costumes and grotesque dressing and fashion, he has also handled album art during his stint in Limp Bizkit. Likewise, he has provided the album art for both of the Black Light Burns releases. He has been working to get an art gallery open to display his paintings.
Borland established a MySpace account displaying several of his paintings. He has posted ambient musical pieces that were written after the Black Light Burns
Black Light Burns
Black Light Burns are a rock band fronted by Wes Borland, of Limp Bizkit. The band's original studio lineup consisted of Borland, Danny Lohner, Josh Eustis and Josh Freese. Their debut album Cruel Melody, was released on June 5, 2007. The band released a covers and b-sides CD/DVD combo package in...
debut album Cruel Melody
Cruel Melody
*Alternative Press - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Cruel Melody is still interesting, ambient and, much like its creators, unforgettable."...
was completed.
Equipment
During his time in Limp Bizkit, Borland was endorsed by IbanezIbanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
and almost exclusively used their guitars in recordings and live performances. The guitars' piezo
Piezoelectric sensor
A piezoelectric sensor is a device that uses the piezoelectric effect to measure pressure, acceleration, strain or force by converting them to an electrical charge.-Applications:...
system allowed him to change from electric to acoustic sounds with the flick of a switch. After leaving Limp Bizkit, Borland switched from Ibanez guitars to Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
, which released a Wes Borland signature guitar called the CV820 WB. Borland has since begun an endorsement with Jackson Guitars
Jackson Guitars
__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
, using several Warrior and Randy Rhoads models. He also retired his Mesa Boogie amplifiers and currently uses Orange Amplifiers in live performances along with Roland. Borland now uses a 6-string guitar in Limp Bizkit, instead of the 7-string he used to use. He also owns a fretless guitar, the Vigier Excalibur Surfreter in black serial number 000298.
Guitars
Current touring guitars:- Jackson Warrior WR-1 White with Black Bevels and Gun Metal Gray
- Jackson Warrior WRMG
- Jackson Randy RhoadsJackson Randy RhoadsThe Jackson Randy Rhoads is an iconic model of electric guitar, originally commissioned by guitarist Randy Rhoads and produced by Jackson Guitars....
Other and retired guitars:
- Yamaha CV820 WB - Former Wes Borland signature guitar
- Yamaha SA503 TVLYamahaYamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
- Troy Van LeeuwenTroy Van LeeuwenTroy Dean Van Leeuwen is an American musician and producer. Van Leeuwen began playing music at young age and started playing guitar at age 13. Soon Van Leeuwen was playing in various local bands such as Jester, 60 Cycle and later Failure...
signature guitar. - Hagström IIIHagströmHagström is a musical instrument manufacturer in Älvdalen, Dalecarlia, Sweden. Their original products were accordions that they initially imported from Germany and then Italy before opening their own facility in 1932. During the sixties, the company started making electric guitars and later...
- Mayones Regius PRO 6 Baritone
- Fender StarcasterFender StarcasterThe Fender Starcaster was a semi-hollowbody electric guitar made by the Fender company. The Starcaster was part of Fender's attempt to enter the semi-hollowbody market, which was dominated by Gibson's ES-335 and similar designs.-Design and production:...
1976 - SilvertoneSilvertone (instruments)Silvertone was the brand name used by Sears, Roebuck and Company for its line of sound equipment from 1915 to 1972. A hand-cranked phonograph was introduced under the Silvertone brand by Sears in 1915...
- Fender Jazz BassFender Jazz BassThe Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
- ESPESP Guitars, located in North Hollywood, California, is an American-based, Japanese-owned manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.- History :In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop called Electric Sound Products in Tokyo. It provided custom replacement parts for guitars. In 1976, ESP gained a reputation...
LTD V-401DX - Fender Mustang Bass (custom)
- Jackson Warrior WR-1 USA Series
- Ibanez AX Custom 4-stringIbanezis a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
baritoneBaritone guitarThe baritone guitar is a variation on the standard guitar, with a longer scale length that allows it to be tuned to a lower range. It first appeared in the classical music realm... - Ibanez AXR 7-stringIbanezis a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
- Ibanez AX-7221 7-stringIbanezis a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
- Ibanez AX-7521Ibanezis a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
- Ibanez R6-1Ibanezis a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
- Ibanez RG7621Ibanez RGThe Ibanez RG series has the maximum subtypes of guitars under the Ibanez Electric Guitar catalog and a popular series of Ibanez electric guitars produced by Hoshino Gakki. The Ibanez RG was originally designed as a derivative of Steve Vai's JEM\Universe series and released in 1987. Manufacture of...
- Ibanez RG7CSTIbanez RGThe Ibanez RG series has the maximum subtypes of guitars under the Ibanez Electric Guitar catalog and a popular series of Ibanez electric guitars produced by Hoshino Gakki. The Ibanez RG was originally designed as a derivative of Steve Vai's JEM\Universe series and released in 1987. Manufacture of...
- Ibanez Sabre 7-stringIbanez SThe Ibanez S Series is a guitar series produced by Hoshino Gakki. Introduced in the late 1980s, the S Series is notable for being a streamlined mahogany bodied guitar with a maple neck that plays comfortably while retaining the resonance of mahogany...
- PRS Standard 24Paul Reed SmithPaul Reed Smith , is a luthier and the founder and owner of PRS Guitars.Smith is originally from Bowie, Maryland. He made his first guitar while at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and continued to build guitars after he finished college, making them one at a time, one a month...
- Cremona 4 string
- Cremona 6 string
- Jackson RX10D RhoadsJackson Randy RhoadsThe Jackson Randy Rhoads is an iconic model of electric guitar, originally commissioned by guitarist Randy Rhoads and produced by Jackson Guitars....
- Rickenbacker 360RickenbackerRickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
- Vigier Excalibur SurfreterVigier Guitars-History:1978: Patrice Vigier sets up as an independent luthier.1980: Exhibits at his first music show in Paris introducing the Arpege series and the following: A/ Trapezoid through body neck B/ Metallic reinforcement under the fretboard...
Effects
- BOSS RV-3 Reverb/DelayBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
- BOSS EQ pedalBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
- BOSS Noise GateBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
- BOSS Super PhaserBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
- Devi Ever Bit ManglerDevi EverDevi Ever Effects, previously known as Effector 13, is a boutique effects pedal company based in Portland, Oregon that was founded in 2003. The company is named after the company's founder, Devi Ever. All of the effects pedals are hand built in the USA, in small batches...
- Digitech XP300 Space Station
- DOD Electronics Buzz BoxDOD ElectronicsDOD Electronics or simply DOD is a Harman International company specializing in making guitar effects pedals, most of which are now discontinued. Additionally, the company has made active crossover gear....
- DOD Electronics FX-25B Envelope FilterDOD ElectronicsDOD Electronics or simply DOD is a Harman International company specializing in making guitar effects pedals, most of which are now discontinued. Additionally, the company has made active crossover gear....
- Electro Harmonix Q-Tron
- Fulltone Deja-Vibe pedal
- Furman Power Conditoner
- iZotope Trash
- Korg DTR-1 TunerKorgis a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
- MXR Phase 90MXRMXR, also known as MXR Innovations, was a manufacturer of guitar effects units, co-founded in 1973 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood . MXR was based in the United States in Rochester, New York. MXR Innovations, Inc. was incorporated in 1974...
- Rocktron Hush Unit
- Taurus ZEBU Reverb/Delay
- Taurus VECHOOR multi-chorus
Amplifiers
Current amplifiers:- Orange Amplifiers - Current amplifier for distortion both in studio and live performances.
- Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Guitar Amplifier - x3 Current amplifier for clean sounds both in studio and live performances.
- A/B Box - Split the signal between the different heads.
- 60’s Sears SilvertoneSilvertone (instruments)Silvertone was the brand name used by Sears, Roebuck and Company for its line of sound equipment from 1915 to 1972. A hand-cranked phonograph was introduced under the Silvertone brand by Sears in 1915...
- Marshall cabinetsMarshall AmplificationMarshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
- Diezel VH4 HeadsDiezelDiezel Amplification GmbH is a small firm based in Bad Steben, Germany, founded by Peter Diezel, that builds high-end guitar amplifiers. The company was established in 1994.-Bands and artists:...
- Used during recordings. - Mesa Boogie cabinetsMesa BoogieMesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
- Selmer Zodiac Twin 50
Retired amplifers:
- Mesa Boogie Dual or Triple RectifiersMesa BoogieMesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
- x3 used for dirty sounds.
- Mesa Boogie 4x12 CabinetsMesa BoogieMesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
- x3 used for dirty sounds.
Discography
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| With Limp Bizkit Limp Bizkit Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999... |
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| 1997 | Three Dollar Bill, Yall$ Three Dollar Bill, Yall$ Three Dollar Bill, Yall$ is the debut album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit, released July 1, 1997 through Flip/Interscope. It was produced by Ross Robinson and was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA in July 2001 in the US... |
| 1999 | Significant Other |
| 2000 | Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water |
| 2001 | New Old Songs New Old Songs - Album chart positions :... (Remix album) |
| 2005 | The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) The Unquestionable Truth is the fifth studio album by Limp Bizkit, released on May 2, 2005 internationally and a day later in North America. Despite being less than 30 minutes long and containing only seven tracks, it is still considered a studio album rather than an EP. The Unquestionable Truth ... |
| Greatest Hitz Greatest Hitz Greatest Hitz is Limp Bizkit's 2005 greatest hits compilation album. Along with the group's most successful singles, the album also features three new songs. "Why" and "Lean On Me" were left-overs from Results May Vary, which were dropped due to Mike Smith joining the band and new "heavier" songs... (Compilation) |
|
| 2011 | Gold Cobra Gold Cobra Gold Cobra is the sixth studio album by American rock band Limp Bizkit, released on June 24 in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, on June 27 in the United Kingdom and on June 28 in the rest of the world in 2011 by Interscope Records... |
| With Black Light Burns Black Light Burns Black Light Burns are a rock band fronted by Wes Borland, of Limp Bizkit. The band's original studio lineup consisted of Borland, Danny Lohner, Josh Eustis and Josh Freese. Their debut album Cruel Melody, was released on June 5, 2007. The band released a covers and b-sides CD/DVD combo package in... |
|
| 2007 | Cruel Melody Cruel Melody *Alternative Press - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Cruel Melody is still interesting, ambient and, much like its creators, unforgettable."... |
| 2008 | Cover Your Heart and the Anvil Pants Odyssey Cover Your Heart and the Anvil Pants Odyssey Cover Your Heart and the Anvil Pants Odyssey is a CD/DVD collection from the industrial rock band Black Light Burns. The CD component features cover songs chosen by the band as being influential in their own music, as well as several instrumental b-sides from the band's debut album Cruel Melody.... |
| 2011 | 2nd Studio Album |
| With Big Dumb Face Big Dumb Face Big Dumb Face is a band formed by Wes Borland shortly before he left Limp Bizkit. The style hails to Frank Zappa and Ween as their primary influence... |
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| 1998 | Demo |
| 2001 | Big Dumb Metal EP |
| 2001 | Duke Lion Fights the Terror!! Duke Lion Fights the Terror!! Duke Lion Fights the Terror!! is the debut album by Big Dumb Face, released on March 6, 2001.-Album information:A video of the song "Duke Lion" was released, which features the band prancing around in a maniacal fashion on screen while performing the song with occasional appearances from other... |
| With From First to Last From First to Last From First to Last was an American rock band based out of Los Angeles, originally hailing from Valdosta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida. The band released their first EP titled Aesthetic in 2003 with vocalist Phillip Reardon, followed by Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count in 2004 and Heroine in... |
|
| 2006 | Heroine |
| With The Color of Violence The Color of Violence The Color of Violence is an American experimental side project of the post-hardcore band From First to Last. It features From First to Last's drummer Derek Bloom and former guitarist/backup vocalist Travis Richter. The Color of Violence is a way for the members to experiment and have fun with music... |
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| 2009 | Youthanize Youthanize - Musicians :The Color of Violence*Travis Richter – lead vocals, guitars, composer*Derek Bloom – drums, guitars, bass guitar, percussion, keyboards, synthesizers, programming, composerGuest musicians... |