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| VH1 INTERVIEW Fred Durst: Give Peace a Chance By Heather Parry 10/09/2001 Fred Durst With a newborn son to think of, the Limp Bizkit leader tries to make sense of terrorist attacks, pleads for a kinder world, and requests a bit more sensitivity from Hollywood. There was a time when Fred Durst encouraged fans to "Break Stuff." That time is over. In the wake of the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, Limp Bizkit's often-agitated leader is making a positive change. "It is time to come together and realize that life is so precious, every single day, every night, everything we take for granted," Durst said. In a sobering interview, Durst talked about filming the video for "Rollin'" at the top of the now-demolished World Trade Center towers, what kind of world he wants his newborn son, Dallas, to inherit, and why he thinks we all must find a way to get along. VH1: Where were you when you heard about the terrorist attacks? What was your reaction? Fred Durst: I was asleep when I heard. I had a phone call after the first building had been struck. I turned on [the TV] and saw the second building get hit. For me, like everybody else, it [was] a surreal situation. It's hard to comprehend. It's reality, unfortunately. I instantly started worrying about all humanity, worrying about my new son, worrying about what's to come. I've been supporting the red, white, and blue constantly since, but I don't believe it's a territory thing. I don't think it's an America thing. It's a world thing. It's a human beings thing … Life on Earth is temporary as it is. The afterlife is there for us, but let it happen when it's supposed to happen, not because you want to carry out [acts of] hatred. VH1: A lot of artists have said that they've turned to music because they get some sense of relief from it. Have you been listening to any music? Have you written any new songs? Durst: I listen to older music to inspire me. I'm not listening to anything like [Lee Greenwood's] "God Bless the U.S.A." or [Bruce Springsteen's] "Born in the U.S.A." I'm listening to more melancholy music that's sentimental, sad. The Cure, Bad Company, Frank Sinatra. VH1: In addition to being a musician, you're also a director. A lot of people have started taking another look at Hollywood, specifically at "Die Hard"-style action movies. Do you think Hollywood needs to look at its scripts more closely? Durst: I believe in freedom of expression. Do I believe in glamorizing [violence] and that creating an addictive story has to start with destruction? I never was a fan of those types of movies … It's hard to separate the movies from the reality right now, but I don't think we made it happen by creating those movies. I don't think the people who did the attacks were fans of those movies. But I think action-packed thrillers maybe shouldn't thrive off of destruction as much as they have. The freedom to do what you want to do should be there, but I think the world has changed permanently. It's time to reconsider those types of things. Pulling all the different songs from video and radio … I don't think those songs and videos were driving people to be destructive, but I think we should be a little cautious, because we're all listening now. Before, those songs were irrelevant. Those movies were irrelevant. Now that this has happened, they're not … I don't think we should have songs that make people feel like they should retaliate. Or songs that make people feel destructive or feel angst in an angry, physically damaging way. VH1: Where do you think Hollywood goes from here? Durst: I think Hollywood has a new edge. I think now they can really get in touch with humanity and character studies, more of a human, common-man type of view. Movies can be driven by personalities and individuals, common themes to help us understand one another. I think comedy's great, drama's great, action's great. A lot of the action that we've glamorized and that previously only lived in the movies has become reality. Maybe we don't need those kinds of action films right now. We love movies, we love music. This is no reason whatsoever to stop either. It's a reason to make music and movies 10 times better for everybody. VH1: Your video for "Rollin'" was shot on top of the World Trade Center. Durst: We received a letter the day before the attack from the World Trade Center thanking us for letting them be a part of a video that just won an award [the 2001 VMA for Best Rock Video]. I had it framed. I found it very ironic, very bizarre that I received that letter on Monday, and Tuesday the attacks occurred. For me to have gotten to go to the top of such a great, powerful structure … to have those people embrace me and let Limp Bizkit spend 22 hours on top of the World Trade Center doing what we do … And for it to be taken down? The structure itself means nothing to me. I don't believe in that structure being a symbol of power, of pride, of America. What means something to me is the people that were killed around and in that building innocently, for no reason except hatred. It overwhelms me. I thank God the night we were on the World Trade Center wasn't the night they decided to do that. |
| Wish You Were Here A September 11, 2001 Tribute Version of the Pink Floyd Song with Fred Durst and other artists Sung on a World Wide Benefit Broadcasted on every network. Prime time ~ September, 2001 |
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