Limp Bizkit’s long-awaited return to the limelight has been a global success, and let’s be honest—it’s about time! After a health-related postponement of their original UK comeback tour in the summer of 2022, many fans were left fearing that this might be the end of the road for the nu-metal icons. But, true to their rebellious spirit, Limp Bizkit proved you can’t keep the nu-metal generation down, rescheduling their tour for the following spring. The band’s return was met with roaring excitement from both old and new fans alike—and for good reason.
I’ve been a fan of Limp Bizkit since the late ’90s, when their second album Significant Other dropped, packed with hits like ‘Break Stuff’ and ‘Nookie’ that spoke to an entire generation’s frustrations. Yet, despite being a diehard fan, I didn’t get the chance to see them live until the summer of 2023. By then, they had played two stand-alone ‘mini’ festivals in Halifax and London, and I was lucky enough to catch them at Gunnersbury Park. And let me tell you—every bit of the hype about how amazing they are live? It wasn’t inaccurate.
The atmosphere in Manchester was electric. You could feel the energy of the crowd surge with every beat of the music, as if we were all feeding off the same fire that had once made Limp Bizkit the kings of MTV and the VMA stage in the early 2000s. It’s no exaggeration to say that their live shows live up to the decades of hype. From Fred Durst’s commanding presence to Wes Borland’s iconic, otherworldly stage persona, every aspect of the band’s performance kept the crowd on its toes. Let’s dive into the show…
Limp Bizkit’s Loserville tour finally hit Manchester, bringing their chaotic energy to fans old and new. With FOUR (yes, four) support acts—Bones, Ecca Vandal, N8NOFACE, and Karen Dió, with Riff Raff as MC—it was clear the night was going to be one for the books. After checking out these artists (who were all new to us), we decided to skip them. Honestly, the only act we were interested in was Karen Dió, but she had the unfortunate honour of being first on at 7 p.m. (If she’d been the final support, we would’ve been there earlier). So, we opted for compulsory pre-gig cocktails at the Hard Rock Cafe before heading into the arena, around 9:15 p.m, with Limp Bizkit scheduled to hit the stage around 9:40 p.m.
We grabbed drinks and checked out the merch, which was a bit disappointing. I’m a sucker for posters, but there was none to be found—just one t-shirt and one hoodie, neither of which stood out for the price. So, we moved on and made our way to the standing floor. I always position myself around the outside of the crowd, towards the back. Being 5’3″, this has become second nature; it’s a much better view and audio experience for a short person!
After an unnecessarily long intro from Riff Raff (clearly filling time as the band prepared), the curtains finally parted to reveal the Loserville backdrop. The crowd went wild, and Limp Bizkit (Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John Otto, DJ Lethal and Sam Rivers) kicked things off with an absolute banger in ‘Break Stuff’. While it was amazing to hear, it felt a little too early in the set for such a high-energy song. That said, the band kept the momentum going from there, and the energy in the arena never dipped. Wes Borland was an absolute showstopper, dressed as a living, breathing sugar skull with an incredible full-head mask. It couldn’t have been comfortable, but it was a jaw-dropping and impressive spectacle.
Having kept an eye on Setlist.fm (standard procedure, of course!), I was ready for the usual setlist—except the band had a few surprises up their sleeves. Instead of jumping straight into ‘Show Me What You Got,’ they threw in a quick interlude of Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’, which made the crowd lose it before sliding into ‘Hot Dog’— missing ‘Show Me What You Got’ entirely. This left me on edge, excited to see what other deep cuts might show up.
The set continued to flow with hits like ‘Take a Look Around,’ ‘Nookie,’ and ‘Full Nelson.’ But then, something special happened: Durst pulled two lucky ladies from the front of the pit, both dressed as Bizquettes (black cycling shorts, white tees, red hats), and handed them mics. They completely smashed it during the song, and I think the entire arena was simultaneously jealous and impressed. It was one of those “once-in-a-lifetime” moments you don’t forget, the kind of crowd interaction mastered by the likes of Green Day and the Foo’s that seems to be becoming more popular with more acts and I’m SO here for it!
A brief interlude from DJ Lethal, with snippets of DMX’s ‘Party Up’ and Pantera’s ‘Walk’, then led us into a run of four iconic LB tracks—‘My Generation,’ ‘Livin’ It Up,’ ‘My Way,’ and, of course, ‘Rollin’’. I’m not ashamed to admit it—I went nuts for the latter, just like everyone else. The collective nostalgia was palpable.
Another brief interlude where the band’s transition into ‘Proud Mary’ was followed by DJ Lethal scratching through the Lethal Weapon theme, the pace shifted with ‘Behind Blue Eyes,’ Limp Bizkit’s only true ballad and a solid cover of The Who’s original. Fans all held their phones up to the sky, creating the blanket of stars effect that must always look breathtaking from the stage for artists.
Then came the moment that made me lose my tiny little mind: ‘Counterfeit’. It’s a deep cut from 3 Dollar Bill, Y’all, and one that they rarely perform live. I had a feeling something was coming with the changes to the earlier set and when it did, it was pure magic. Fans around me, old schoolers like myself, turned to each other in shock and excitement. We were all thinking and shouting the same thing: “OH MY GOD!” The roof was on fire as the crowd got a moment they never expected.
The night drew to a close with ‘Boiler’ (always a solid choice) and—unfortunately—‘Break Stuff’ again. The repetition of this song was a bit frustrating. The first time, it was amazing, but by the second, it felt more like a throwaway encore. I really would’ve loved to hear another classic such as ‘Like This’ (which has the same, if not more energy than ‘Break Stuff’) or ‘Dad Vibes’, which is a real crowd-pleaser. We all know there’s only so much room in a setlist, but playing the same song twice seemed like a missed opportunity. Why not mix it up a bit more?
Although I can appreciate that it is hard to sit to LB’s music (who doesn’t want to get down to their hits, right?), it was tough to ignore the fact that pretty much everyone in the seated areas was on their feet. This has become a regular bugbear at gigs, and it’s especially frustrating when people forget that some fans book seats specifically because they can’t stand. If you’re standing in your seat, you’re not just blocking your own view—you’re blocking the view for everyone behind you and ruining the experience for people who want to enjoy the show without the distraction.
Arenas and venues need to address this issue better, perhaps by creating clear divisions between ‘standing’ and ‘seated’ areas. Allocating ‘standing seats’ zones would make a huge difference in ensuring fairness and consideration for everyone. Sadly, this gig was a prime example of how inconsiderate behaviour can impact the enjoyment of the show.
Despite these annoyances, I’d still give the show a solid 4/5. The energy was high, the surprises were fun, and Limp Bizkit delivered a performance that fans won’t forget anytime soon. However, there were a few things that could’ve been better. The double play of ‘Break Stuff’ was frustrating—while it’s an iconic track, it felt unnecessary to have it twice when there were so many other worthy songs to choose from. Plus, the show’s length—just 1 hour and 20 minutes and only 14 songs—was a bit of a let down. For comparison, the Foo Fighters played an average of 27 songs per set on their last tour and were on stage for nearly three hours.
Now, if this shorter set is due to Fred’s health or another reason, that’s fair enough. But I can’t help but wonder why they didn’t give more. Fans are always ready for more if they can deliver it, and the crowd would’ve been all in for a longer show.
In the end, Limp Bizkit’s Loserville tour was a fantastic night—packed with nostalgia, surprises, and that undeniable energy that only they can bring. Still, it’s hard not to walk away feeling like the show could’ve been just a little longer, with a more varied setlist. The crowd wants more, and if they can give it, we’ll be right there, singing along to every track and losing our minds as we smash the choreography to ‘Rollin’. Until next time, boys!
