Wes Borland | |
---|---|
Borland performing with Limp Bizkit at Rock am Ring 2013.
|
|
Background information | |
Birth name | Wesley Louden Borland |
Born |
Richmond, Virginia, United States |
February 7, 1975
Origin | Jacksonville, Florida, United States |
Genres | Nu metal, industrial metal, alternative metal |
Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, artist, oil painter and sculptor |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, drums, violin, cello, percussion, programming |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | Independent, Cash Money, Flip, Interscope, Geffen, Mojo |
Associated acts | Limp Bizkit, Black Light Burns, Queen Kwong, Big Dumb Face, From First to Last, Marilyn Manson (band), The Damning Well, X Japan, Goatslayer, Eat the Day |
Website | www |
Notable instruments | |
Jackson Warrior Jackson Randy Rhoads Yamaha CV820 WB Ibanez RG7 CST PRS Standard 24 |
Wesley Louden "Wes" Borland (born February 7, 1975) is an American rock musician and artist. He is best known as the current guitarist and backing vocalist of the nu metal band Limp Bizkit and as the lead vocalist of the industrial rock band Black Light Burns.
He gained popularity when Limp Bizkit achieved mainstream success in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He formed a band called Big Dumb Face with his brother Scott in 1998. Borland left Limp Bizkit in 2001 and started many side projects such as Eat the Day and The Damning Well. After rejoining Limp Bizkit in 2004, Borland founded Black Light Burns, with whom he has released three studio albums and a covers album. Limp Bizkit went on hiatus following the release of their album The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) (2005). However, the band's original lineup reunited in 2009 and recorded their sixth studio album, Gold Cobra (2011). In 2016, Borland released his solo album Crystal Machete.
Borland is known for his sonic experimentation and elaborate visual appearance, which has included face and body paint, masks and uniforms. He has drawn album covers and created artwork for many of his music projects as well as oil paintings. Borland was voted #37 in Total Guitar's Top 100 Guitarists of All Time.
Originally from Richmond, Virginia, United States, Borland grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. He initially took an interest in becoming a drummer, but because his parents didn't take to the idea of bringing percussive instruments into their household, Borland began taking guitar lessons from a member of his parents' Presbyterian church. Borland's musical interests were at odds with the local music trends which leaned largely toward country music. He recalled, "I would bring in something, and my teacher would go, 'I've never heard of the Damned. Don't you want to play some Merle Haggard?'"