After a nationwide talent search failed to yield a replacement for guitarist Wes Borland, Limp Bizkit has chosen former Snot axeman Mike Smith as his successor.
Smith made his Bizkit debut last Sunday, when the group played live as part of Wrestlemania XIX in Seattle.
“We really like jamming with Mike,” Bizkit frontman Fred Durst said on the band’s official Web site (http://www.limpbizkit.com). “He’s dope. This you will find out soon enough.”
The band is still working on material that will appear on its upcoming Flip/Interscope album, due June 17. Durst has repeatedly offered different titles for the set, including “Bipolar,” “Less Is More,” and “The Search for Teddy Swoes.” The album may include recently recorded collaborations with rap stars Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg.
Durst also announced that Limp Bizkit is planning a “guerrilla tour” in May. “You know, one were we just show up and play free concerts for you,” he said. The group undertook a similar tour in the summer of 2000 with sponsorship from Napster.
In an ironic twist, Borland’s new band, Eat The Day, has endured its own struggles in its attempt to find a lead vocalist. The group has sifted through hundreds of demo submissions, but Borland said on the group’s official Web site (http://www.eattheday.com) that “the search for a singer is still on.” Interested parties can now download sample instrumental tracks from the site, add their own vocals, and send them back to Eat The Day for consideration.