Hi all. I just joined today for a brief message to document a bit of
LB history.

Although I'm not a Limp Bizkit fan, I live in Jacksonville, and have
been very active in the music scene since about 1990. More recently,
I've taken the role of music historian pretty seriously, so I'm here
to combine the two things.

This story may only be for the Hardcore Limp Bizkit fans, or
Jacksonville residents on the scene in 1993...

I remember reading "Folio" weekly lifestyle/local politics magazine
in 1993 when I saw a full-page advertisement for a new Jazz Coffee-
house named "Juice 'n Java" opening up in the area of town between
San Marco and Mandarain...a somewhat upscale part of town. I was
transitioning between my days as a Miami Bass producer/rapper (who
wrote and recorded the original version of "Who Let the Dogs Out")
into my days as a vintage Jazz aficianado and progressive Hip-Hop fan
during that era. I went to J&J the 2nd night it opened, and went
there just about every night until it fell under new ownership. The
original staff of baristas contained the early-Rave-culture
couple, "Krista & Russ", who often organized social events for all of
us regulars & staff...I think Russ is now the 93.3 DJ known
as "Spike"...I don't know, I don't listen to much mainstream radio
(sorry)...and the staff also contained Nicole, the leagendary
beautiful girl! Anyway, the 2nd batch of hirees contained Wes
Borland, who had long, curly hair then. John Otto was a regular
customer there. At that time, he was a UNF Jazz student, and the
drummer for the Avant-Garde Jazz group, "The Matt Buttler Quintet".
John and I occasionally sat out front and discussed Jazz. He turned
me onto early "Pat Metheny Group" stuff, and gave me the 1st opinion
to snub Miles Davis's body of work...he also didn't think much of the
local trumpeter Logineau Parsons who occasionally played at J&J.

Wes, John, Jamie (and early LB member), his brother Matt (and random
girls, musicians, etc) would regularly go out to 4am breakfasts at
places like Village Inn and Denny's...usually the Arlington or
Baymeadows locations. We'd discuss music to no end. One time, we had
a contest to see who bought "the worst music ever". All of us would
name off some crap we actaully shelled out money for...Jon won the
contest after confessing to buying "Taylor Dayne's" album in his
youth. We'd discuss Hip-Hop, Jazz, Rave Culture...but most notably,
they'd discuss what they called "Heavy Groove"...heavy rock music
with a funky groove. I wasn't a fan, so I'd remain quit during those
discussions.

When Wes formed his band "Kronk", I'd show up to support him, usually
playing "Spike's Dog House" in Arlington. Later, he changed the name
of that band to "600 lbs. of Furious Pig" after he saw some "news of
the weird" story relating to that. Wes's best friend began working
there at J&J, and became the boyfriend of Nicole. Sometimes the 4 of
us would get together and do nothing. Wes's friend was a suburban
punk fan (Fat Wreck Chords/Lag Wagon type stuff). They were all cool
with each others music choices...this was 1993-1994 you know...

I always was rather quiet during these days as I went through a
wretched breakup and was embarrassed of my "Miami Bass" past in the
presence of these Jazz educated heavy rockers...but they'd quiz me on
Hip-Hop and whatnot sometimes. I remember one time Wes showing me
some hand-written lyrics that had little intersting drawings on
them...he said what do you think?

"Pretty cool" I said.

"Don't you do anything as a creative outlet?" he said.

I just didn't answer, completely embarrassed both about my booty-
music past and my lack of direction for my music-future. Little did I
know how much pride I'd obtain later about that stuff...

When Juice & Java fell into the hands of different owners, we all
went our seperate ways...except that San Marco Jazz-Rock core of
friends. I ran into Jamie years later at the "head shop" known
as "Carribean Connections" when it was still at the beach. This was
an important day stylistcally...

Jamie never wore baggie Jnco jeans prior to this. Wes did, as did the
local ravers such as Krista & Russ, but it was clear that this was
now the uniform of the "heavy-groovers". He was buying a "Fuct" T-
shirt with a picture of Kiss's Gene Simmons on it. He told me that
he, Wes, John, Wes's brother, and their tatoo/piecer friend started a
band, and gave me a hand drawn flyer for their show. It was
spelled "Limp Bizkut" that day. I said something I'll never forget
when he invited me to the show...

"You know, I've supported Wes and Jon in their many bands, but the
truth is, I just don't like that 'heavy rock', so I wish you guys the
best of luck...I pass. I hope your band does well..."

A couple months later, I saw them on MTV's "Fashionably Loud"...very
surreal seeing something go from the local coffee shop to primary
influence on generation Y's harder edge.

When I made my 1st trip to England in 2000, I stepped off the tube to
see kids in Limp Bizkit T-shirts...how weird!

Jacksonville based music historian,
Joe aka PappaWheelie