View source for Wes Borland

{{Short description|American guitarist and vocalist}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Wes Borland
| image            = Limp Bizkit - Festival of the Lakes - 7 15 2021 (51319169654).jpg
| caption          = Borland performing with Limp Bizkit in 2021
| birth_name       = Wesley Louden Borland
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1975|02|7}}
| birth_place      = [[Richmond, Virginia]], U.S.
| origin           = [[Jacksonville, Florida]], U.S.
| death_date       = 
| death_place      = 
| genre            = {{flatlist|
* [[Nu metal]]
* [[rap metal]]
* [[alternative rock]]
* [[industrial rock]]
* [[extreme metal]]
}}
| occupation       = Musician
| instrument       = {{flatlist|
* Guitar
* bass
* vocals
}}
| years_active     = 1992–present
| current_member_of  = {{flatlist|
* [[Limp Bizkit]]
* [[Big Dumb Face]]
* Goatslayer
}}
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Black Light Burns]]
* [[The Damning Well]]
* Eat the Day
* [[From First to Last]]
}}
}}

'''Wesley Louden Borland''' (born February 7, 1975) is an American [[rock music|rock]] musician. He is the guitarist and backing vocalist of the [[nu metal]] band [[Limp Bizkit]], the lead vocalist and guitarist of the [[alternative metal|alternative]] and [[industrial rock]] band [[Black Light Burns]], and the co-founder of the [[experimental metal]] band [[Big Dumb Face]].

Borland gained popularity when Limp Bizkit achieved mainstream success in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He formed Big Dumb Face with his brother [[Scott Borland|Scott]] in 1998 and left Limp Bizkit in 2001 to start side projects including 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 fifth studio album, ''[[Gold Cobra]]'' (2011). In 2016, Borland released his solo album ''[[Crystal Machete]]''.

Borland is known for his [[Acoustics|sonic experimentation]] and elaborate visual appearance, which has included [[Body painting|face and body paint]], [[mask]]s and [[uniform]]s. He has drawn album covers and created artwork for many of his music projects as well as oil paintings. Borland was voted number 37 in ''[[Total Guitar]]''{{'}}s ''Top 100 Guitarists of All Time''. Borland formed the label Edison Sound, which releases his own music projects.

== Career ==

=== Limp Bizkit and mainstream success (1994–2002) ===
{{See also|Limp Bizkit|Limp Bizkit discography}}
Borland joined [[Limp Bizkit]], a band formed by [[Fred Durst]], [[Sam Rivers (bassist)|Sam Rivers]] and [[John Otto (drummer)|John Otto]].<ref name=Devenish21>{{cite book |last1=Devenish |first1=Colin |title=Limp Bizkit |year=2000 |publisher=St. Martin's |isbn=0-312-26349-X |pages=[https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/21 21–51] |url=https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/21 }}</ref> Limp Bizkit developed a [[cult following]] in the [[underground music]] scene, particularly at the Milk Bar, an underground [[punk rock|punk]] club in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}} The band attracted crowds by [[word of mouth]] and covering [[George Michael]]'s "[[Faith (George Michael song)|Faith]]" and [[Paula Abdul]]'s "[[Straight Up (Paula Abdul song)|Straight Up]]"; the band also gave energetic live performances in which Borland appeared in bizarre costumes.<ref name=Devenish21 /> Borland's theatrical rock style was the primary attraction for many concert attendees.<ref name=Devenish21 /> After [[DJ Lethal]] joined the band as a turntablist, Borland left Limp Bizkit after a disagreement with Durst.<ref name=Devenish21 /> However, Borland rejoined after the band signed with [[Mojo Records|Mojo]], a subsidiary of [[MCA Records]].<ref name=Devenish21 /> After a dispute with Mojo, Limp Bizkit signed with [[Flip Records (1994)|Flip]], a subsidiary of [[Interscope Records]], and recorded their debut, ''[[Three Dollar Bill, Yall]]'', which featured an abrasive, angry sound.<ref name=Devenish21 />

Although the album was met with minimal response, touring consistently increased Limp Bizkit's success, and the third single from ''Three Dollar Bill, Yall'', "Faith", became a radio hit, leading to a slot on [[Ozzfest]], a tour organized by [[Ozzy Osbourne|Ozzy]] and [[Sharon Osbourne]].<ref name=Devenish51>{{cite book |last1=Devenish |first1=Colin |title=Limp Bizkit |year=2000 |publisher=St. Martin's |isbn=0-312-26349-X |pages=[https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/51 51–78] |url=https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/51 }}</ref> In 1998, Borland formed a side project, [[Big Dumb Face]] with his brother, influenced by [[Ween]] and [[Mr. Bungle]].<ref name=Devenish159 />

''[[Significant Other (album)|Significant Other]]'' saw Limp Bizkit reaching a new level of commercial success. The album climbed to No. 1 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard 200|200]], selling 643,874 copies in its first week of release.<ref name=Devenish127>{{cite book |last1=Devenish |first1=Colin |title=Limp Bizkit |year=2000 |publisher=St. Martin's |isbn=0-312-26349-X |pages=[https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/127 127–153] |url=https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/127 }}</ref> In 2000, Durst announced that the band's third studio album would be titled ''[[Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water]]''. The press thought that Durst was joking about this title.<ref name=diPerna>{{cite book |last=di Perna |first=Alan |title=Guitar World Presents Nu-Metal |chapter=Wild Wild Wes |page=[https://archive.org/details/guitarworldprese00kitt/page/104 104] |year=2002 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=0-634-03287-9 |chapter-url-access=registration |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/guitarworldprese00kitt/page/104 }}</ref> The album title is intended to sound like a fictional band; the phrase "Chocolate Starfish" referred to Durst himself, as he had frequently been called an asshole.<ref name=diPerna /> Borland contributed the other half of the album's title when the band was standing around at a truck stop, looking at bottles of flavored water, and Borland joked that the truck stop didn't have hot dog or meat-flavored water.<ref name=diPerna /> It debuted at number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], selling 1.05&nbsp;million copies in its first week,<ref>Seymour, Craig (October 26, 2000). [https://ew.com/article/2000/10/26/limp-bizkit-tops-billboard-album-chart/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607183116/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,85668,00.html|date=June 7, 2011}}  High 'Rollin'']. ''Entertainment Weekly''. Accessed May 21, 2008.''</ref> and was the 18th best-selling album of the 2000s in the US.

In a 1999 ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' profile on Limp Bizkit, when asked "Where will you be ten years from now?", Borland responded, "Probably not in the band."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=...By Really, Really Trying |magazine= [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |last= Borow |first=Zev |page=99 |date= August 1999 |issn=0886-3032 |volume=15 |number=8 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=nQRXCTo-FtUC&q=probably+not+in+the+band}}</ref>

=== Departure from Limp Bizkit, side-projects, brief return to Limp Bizkit, and Black Light Burns formation (2002–2009) ===
{{See also|Black Light Burns}}
[[File:Wes Borland - Black Light Burns 2009.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Borland as the frontman for [[Black Light Burns]] in 2009]]
In March 2001, Big Dumb Face released its debut album, ''[[Duke Lion Fights the Terror!!]]''. Borland stated that the band's music is "really silly and idiotic and bizarre. [...] It's nothing but stupid [...] just all these retarded songs."<ref name=Devenish159>{{cite book |last1=Devenish |first1=Colin |title=Limp Bizkit |year=2000 |publisher=St. Martin's |isbn=0-312-26349-X |pages=[https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/159 159–166] |url=https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/159 }}</ref> In the fall of 2001, Borland left Limp Bizkit,<ref name="amg">{{cite web |last=Bush |first=John |title=Limp Bizkit&nbsp;– Biography |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p213327/biography|pure_url=yes}} |website=AllMusic |year=2006 |access-date=January 27, 2008}}</ref> citing creative differences with the band.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/wes-borland-on-his-departure-from-limp-bizkit-i-wanted-to-get-away-from-this-set-sound/ |title= WES BORLAND On His Departure From LIMP BIZKIT: 'I Wanted To Get Away From This Set Sound' |website= blabbermouth.net |publisher= Kerrang! |date= July 7, 2003 |access-date= November 10, 2013 |archive-date= November 10, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131110145757/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/wes-borland-on-his-departure-from-limp-bizkit-i-wanted-to-get-away-from-this-set-sound/ |url-status= live }}</ref> When asked why Borland quit the band, [[Ross Robinson]] stated that he quit because "He doesn't sell out for money anymore".<ref>{{cite web |title=Borland quit Bizkit over 'integrity': producer |date=October 23, 2001 |url=http://www.canoe.com:80/JamMusicArtistsL/limpbizkit.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020619083329/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicArtistsL/limpbizkit.html |archive-date=June 19, 2002 |access-date=June 23, 2021 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Borland then formed the band Eat the Day,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1450528/ex-bizkit-borland-digs-in-with-his-new-band-eat-the-day/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814040711/http://www.mtv.com/news/1450528/ex-bizkit-borland-digs-in-with-his-new-band-eat-the-day/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2014|title = Ex-Bizkit Borland Digs in with His New Band, Eat the Day|website = [[MTV]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/wes-borland-eat-the-day-won-t-be-anywhere-near-as-big-as-limp-bizkit/|title=WES BORLAND: 'EAT THE DAY Won't be Anywhere Near as Big as LIMP BIZKIT'|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=July 4, 2003|access-date=November 3, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107005503/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/wes-borland-eat-the-day-won-t-be-anywhere-near-as-big-as-limp-bizkit/|url-status=live}}</ref> in which he and his brother Scott would both act as co-lead vocalists. After realizing this setup restricted their guitar-playing abilities, Eat The Day launched an open search for a new vocalist. Initially, the band released three full-length instrumental tracks for hopeful singers to download and record over. The tracks were dAdA, Beeblicowcarapis and Taste My Gun, but later they were only available as small samples. In a 2021 interview, Borland claimed that he went through at least 150 audition recordings.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|via=[[YouTube]]|title=The Most In-Depth Wes Borland Interview Ever {{!}} Drinks With Johnny #72|date=June 21, 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD_W6bK_OBg|language=en|access-date=2021-12-13|archive-date=December 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213101048/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD_W6bK_OBg|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2003, Borland announced former Stalking Tom singer Adam Yas as the new vocalist for Eat The Day,<ref>{{cite web|date=2003-01-13|title=EAT THE DAY Unveil New Vocalist|url=https://production.blabbermouth.net/news/eat-the-day-unveil-new-vocalist/|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Blabbermouth.net|archive-date=December 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213101052/https://production.blabbermouth.net/news/eat-the-day-unveil-new-vocalist/|url-status=dead}}</ref> but two months later he reported that the band "...decided to go public with our search one more time" while still staying in contact with the previously announced Yas.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|title=Wes Borland's Eat The Day Still Hungry For A Singer|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1470519/wes-borlands-eat-the-day-still-hungry-for-a-singer/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213101054/http://www.mtv.com/news/1470519/wes-borlands-eat-the-day-still-hungry-for-a-singer/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2021|access-date=2021-12-13|website=MTV News|language=en}}</ref> Around the same time, [[Bob Ezrin]] was brought in to produce their debut album.<ref>{{cite web|last=Archive-Joe-DAngelo|title=Wes Borland At Top Of His Game With Eat The Day|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1471856/wes-borland-at-top-of-his-game-with-eat-the-day/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107064314/http://www.mtv.com/news/1471856/wes-borland-at-top-of-his-game-with-eat-the-day/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2017|access-date=2021-12-13|website=MTV News|language=en}}</ref> Shortly afterward, Borland had found three potential singers for the project, with one presumably being the previously announced Adam Yas.<ref name=":0" />

Despite his claims that the three discovered vocalists were the best options available, producer Ezrin didn't believe in their abilities enough to allow Eat The Day to move forward with the production of their album, going as far as calling the singers "terrible". In order to improve the situation, Borland attempted to bring in [[Danny Lohner]], which resulted in further clashes with Ezrin and ground the project to a halt.<ref name=":0" /> Eat The Day was eventually abandoned due to being unable to find a vocalist.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/68160/borland-shelves-eat-the-day|title = Borland Shelves Eat the Day|magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date = April 21, 2020|archive-date = September 26, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210926002713/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/68160/borland-shelves-eat-the-day|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1480417/wes-borland-puts-eat-the-day-on-hold-hopes-to-hook-up-with-evanescence/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704170227/http://www.mtv.com/news/1480417/wes-borland-puts-eat-the-day-on-hold-hopes-to-hook-up-with-evanescence/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 4, 2017|title = Wes Borland Puts Eat the Day on Hold, Hopes to Hook up with Evanescence|website = [[MTV]]}}</ref> The unfinished demos from Eat the Day were subsequently released in April 2020 by Borland.

After the failure of another project, [[The Damning Well]], in 2003,<ref name="TDW">{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/bands/details.cfm?bandid=269&tab=news|title=The Damning Well bio|website=Metalunderground.com|access-date=January 12, 2013|archive-date=October 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016230420/http://www.metalunderground.com/bands/details.cfm?bandid=269&tab=news|url-status=live}}</ref> Borland began writing a solo record with its members [[Danny Lohner]] and [[Josh Freese]], with [[Joshua Eustis|Josh Eustis]] and [[Mellowdrone|Jonathan Bates]] contributing. This record served as the precursor to [[Black Light Burns]]. In August 2004, Borland rejoined Limp Bizkit and recorded another album, ''[[The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)]]'' in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1490229/wes-borland-back-with-limp-bizkit.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218003051/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1490229/wes-borland-back-with-limp-bizkit.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 18, 2012 |title=Wes Borland Back With Limp Bizkit |author=D'Angelo, Joe |date=August 16, 2004 |work=MTV News |access-date=December 17, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1514094/20051118/limp_bizkit.jhtml |title=Music Ruined Wes Borland's Life, So He's Formed A New Band |last1=Harris |first1=Chris |date=November 18, 2005 |work=MTV News |access-date=December 14, 2011}}{{dead link|date=November 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Following the release of the band's ''[[Greatest Hitz (Limp Bizkit album)|Greatest Hitz]]'' album, the band went on hiatus after arguments broke out on [[MySpace]] between Borland and frontman Fred Durst,<ref name="Aash">{{citation|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1528310/fred-durst-blasts-wes-borland-song-blogs.jhtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904045558/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1528310/fred-durst-blasts-wes-borland-song-blogs.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |title=Durst Attacks Wes Borland In Song, Blogs Over Bizkit Talk |author=Chris Harris |website=Mtv.com |access-date= January 12, 2013}}</ref> with Borland stating, "As of right now, none of my future plans include Limp Bizkit."<ref name="MTV">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1526158/borland-casts-doubt-on-limp-bizkits-future.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205152837/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1526158/borland-casts-doubt-on-limp-bizkits-future.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 5, 2011 |title=Bye Bye Bizkit? Wes Borland Says Limp Are Pretty Much Done |last1=Harris |first1=Chris |date=March 17, 2006 |work=MTV News |access-date=December 14, 2011}}</ref> 

In 2005, Borland formed Black Light Burns. Borland stated that this was now his main project, and anything else he did, including Limp Bizkit, was a side project.<ref name="Aash" /> Borland toured with [[From First To Last]]<ref name="Aash" /> roughly since early 2006. He announced plans for a fall 2006 tour that never went through due to Black Light Burns needing to find a new record label after Borland left Geffen Records. Borland had discussed plans to write and perform on the next From First To Last album, but he left the band when Black Light Burns' busy schedule started to pick up, leaving no room to work with From First to Last.

Black Light Burns released its début album, ''[[Cruel Melody]]'' in the spring of 2007 to critical acclaim. It featured Borland on the vocals and guitars. [[Allmusic]] writer Greg Prato wrote, "For many, Borland was the only Limp Bizkit member who was taken seriously. As evidenced by ''Cruel Melody'', he is now officially allowed to follow whichever musical path he so desires.".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cruel-melody-r1041044/review |title=''Cruel Melody'' – Black Light Burns |author=Prato, Greg |website=AllMusic |access-date=December 17, 2011}}</ref> In 2008, Borland, along with [[Richard Fortus]] and [[Sugizo]], supported Japanese metal band [[X Japan]] at their sold out reunion concerts at the Tokyo Dome.<ref name="blabbermouth_fortus_itunes">{{cite web|title= Fortus to Play with X Japan|work= Blabbermouth.net|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=93306|access-date= March 20, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080323185950/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=93306|archive-date= March 23, 2008|url-status= dead}}</ref>

In August 2008, at the ETP Conference, it was announced that Borland joined [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]] as a guitarist.<ref name="FMQB: QuickHits 8-15-08">{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=842530&spid=1314|title=FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!|website=FMQB|access-date=February 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527165722/http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=842530&spid=1314|archive-date=May 27, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the winter of 2008, Borland helped in the recording of [[The Color of Violence]]'s 2009 album ''[[Youthanize]]'' as a bassist.

=== Limp Bizkit reunion (2009) ===
In 2009, the original lineup of Limp Bizkit reunited and began touring, which resulted in a second Black Light Burns record being put on the backburner. Borland left Manson's employ in May of the same year, claiming his reasons for leaving included rejoining his old band and having creative differences with [[Marilyn Manson|Manson]], citing "It's the Marilyn Manson show over there."<ref name="SF Gate Daily Dish 2009">{{cite news|title=SF Gate Daily Dish 2009|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=40120|access-date=May 17, 2009|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|first=Laurie|last=Isola|date=May 14, 2009|archive-date=May 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516224352/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=40120|url-status=live}}</ref>
Limp Bizkit recorded a new album, which Borland named ''[[Gold Cobra]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.kerrang.com/2009/11/world_exclusive_limp_bizkit_na.html |title=World exclusive! Limp Bizkit name new album |author=Simon |date=November 30, 2009 |work=Kerrang.com |publisher=Bauer Performance |access-date=November 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203112253/http://www2.kerrang.com/2009/11/world_exclusive_limp_bizkit_na.html |archive-date=December 3, 2009  }}</ref> Released on June 28, 2011. It received mixed reviews,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/gold-cobra |title=''Gold Cobra'' at Metacritic |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=July 26, 2011 |archive-date=July 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703174900/http://www.metacritic.com/music/gold-cobra |url-status=live }}</ref> with multiple reviewers praising Borland's guitar playing.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/limp-bizkit-gold-cobra-track-by-track/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609012224/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/limp-bizkit-gold-cobra-track-by-track/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 9, 2011|title=''Gold Cobra'' review|journal=[[Metal Hammer]]|author=Bezer, Terry|date=July 6, 2011|access-date=October 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/gold-cobra-r2210421/review |title=''Gold Cobra'' – Limp Bizkit |author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas |website=AllMusic |access-date=December 17, 2011 |archive-date=December 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206042217/http://www.allmusic.com/album/gold-cobra-r2210421/review |url-status=live }}</ref> It peaked at No. 16 on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://allmusic.com/artist/limp-bizkit-p213327/charts-awards |title=Limp Bizkit – Charts & Awars |website=AllMusic |access-date=December 14, 2011 |archive-date=July 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727230023/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/limp-bizkit-mn0000290502/awards |url-status=live }}</ref>

Borland also designed the album artwork for [[Fear and the Nervous System]]'s 2011 eponymous [[Fear and the Nervous System (album)|debut album]].

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:BLB in Moscow, 2013.jpg|250px|thumbnail|right|Wes Borland performing with Black Light Burns in Moscow (2013)]] -->
Borland has also gone onto a remixing career with his distribution of alternative versions of songs by metal bands. Most recently, [[The Word Alive]] has had their song "[[The Hounds of Anubis]]" remixed by Borland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smnnews.com/2011/04/21/the-word-alive-deceiver-deluxe-to-include-wes-borland-remix-kanye-west-ozzy-osbourne-covers/|title=The Word Alive 'Deceiver' Deluxe to Include Wes Borland Remix, Kanye West & Ozzy Osbourne Covers|work=SMNnews.com|access-date=February 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213150319/http://www.smnnews.com/2011/04/21/the-word-alive-deceiver-deluxe-to-include-wes-borland-remix-kanye-west-ozzy-osbourne-covers/|archive-date=February 13, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also played guitar in the soundtrack of ''[[Resident Evil: Afterlife]]'' by [[Tomandandy]].

In 2012, Black Light Burns began performing after their brief hiatus and released their second studio album ''[[The Moment You Realize You're Going to Fall]]'' and a concept "album", ''[[Lotus Island (album)|Lotus Island]]'', in January 2013. In the same year, during the Black Light Burns tour, Borland stated that he would never do a solo project.  "If I would do a solo project I would put my name on the record. But that will never happen."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://entertaimnet.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/wes-borland-black-light-burns-limp-bizkit-no-solo/ |title=''Wes Borland – no solo'' |website=Entertaim.net |date=February 2013 |access-date=February 4, 2013 |archive-date=February 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207043356/http://entertaimnet.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/wes-borland-black-light-burns-limp-bizkit-no-solo/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Borland collaborated with [[Riot Games]] to develop ''Hybrid Worlds'', the theme song for the [[League of Legends]] Season 3 World Championships. Borland performed live for the event on October 4, 2013, along with [[The Crystal Method]], [[Tina Guo]], and Black Light Burns alumni [[Danny Lohner]] and [[Joe Letz]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thearmpit.net/eng/2013/09/17/league-of-legends-theme-song-featuring-wes-borland/|title=''"League Of Legends" theme song featuring Wes Borland''|website=Thearmpit.net|access-date=October 4, 2013|archive-date=October 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005005621/http://www.thearmpit.net/eng/2013/09/17/league-of-legends-theme-song-featuring-wes-borland/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Solo album, Big Dumb Face reunion, demos, and ''Still Sucks'' (2016–present) ===
On May 3, 2016, Borland released an instrumental solo album named ''[[Crystal Machete]]'' on his personal record label ([https://www.edisonsound.com/ Edison Sound] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105183150/http://www.edisonsound.com/ |date=January 5, 2017 }}), which saw him stepping outside his comfort zone by featuring no distorted guitars or vocals.<ref name="Stocks">{{cite web|url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-06-29/wes-borland-crystal-machete-limp-bizkit-black-light-burns-big-dumb-face-interview|title=Why Wes Borland wrote a soundtrack for an 80s film that doesn't exist|last=Stocks|first=Matt|date=June 2016|work=SOS|access-date=November 3, 2016|archive-date=November 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104003328/http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-06-29/wes-borland-crystal-machete-limp-bizkit-black-light-burns-big-dumb-face-interview|url-status=live}}</ref> The album was released to positive reviews, with [[Drowned in Sound]] calling the album a "a beautiful, sprawling post-rock mini epic".<ref name="Miller">{{cite web|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19543/reviews/4150264|title=Wes Borland – Crystal Machete|last=Miller|first=Gavin|date=August 2016|work=SOS|access-date=November 3, 2016|archive-date=November 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104011514/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19543/reviews/4150264|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016 he disbanded [[Black Light Burns]].

[[File:Wes Borland performing with Limp Bizkit 2019 (Quintin Soloviev).jpg|thumb|Borland performing with Limp Bizkit at Quebec Agora Fest 2019]]

In winter 2016 Limp Bizkit embarked on a co-headlining UK tour with [[Korn]], including dates at [[Wembley Arena]] with support from [[Madball]]. As of October 2017, the status of the new Limp Bizkit album ''[[Stampede of the Disco Elephants]]'' is unknown, with Borland telling [[NME]] that he has completed all of his parts for "28 or 29 songs" and is waiting for Fred to choose what songs he wants to complete before he can mix and master it. He also blamed his time in Limp Bizkit for difficulty in getting jobs with other acts such as [[Nine Inch Nails]] and [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]] in the past, stating that the other bands didn't want to be associated with his previous band.<ref>[https://www.nme.com/features/wes-borland-interview-solo-album-2152011-2152011 Wes Borland on his Big Dumb Face album, new Limp Bizkit and 'toxic' fame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127023607/https://www.nme.com/features/wes-borland-interview-solo-album-2152011-2152011 |date=January 27, 2020 }} [[NME]]. October 23, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017</ref>

In June 2017 he posted on social media that [[Big Dumb Face]] will be returning that year, eventually confirming that the new album, ''Where Is Duke Lion? He's Dead...'' would be released on October 31 via Edison Sound, with a full scale physical release to follow on November 17. Explaining why he revived Big Dumb Face after 16 years, he said that he wanted to make something "really heavy" in contrast to the post-rock of ''[[Crystal Machete]]'', and that he was currently "into making things that [he] said [he'd] never do again", such as the solo record, or reviving Black Light Burns to release a new album in June 2018. He did, however, say that he would not tour with Big Dumb Face as he has prior touring commitments with Limp Bizkit and his then-wife's band, [[Queen Kwong]]. In February 2018 Borland teased images of him working in the studio with [[Travis Barker]] on an "as yet untitled project".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/limp_bizkit_wes_borland_blink_182_travis_barker_project|title=Looks like Limp Bizkit's Wes Borland, Travis Barker have a new project|website=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|date=February 9, 2018|access-date=February 19, 2018|archive-date=February 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219153433/https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/limp_bizkit_wes_borland_blink_182_travis_barker_project|url-status=live}}</ref> He also played guitar on five tracks from [[Jonathan Davis]]'s debut solo album ''[[Black Labyrinth]]'', which was recorded between 2007 and 2018.

In April 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Borland began publicly releasing previously unheard material from Eat the Day and Goatslayer, an experimental project he had with brother Scott since the two were teenagers. Borland claimed that the latter project had 23 albums worth of material, the first of which, ''The Feather Serpent'', was released on April 25. On December 5 Borland announced that he finished recording and mixing his second solo album ''The Astral Hand'', which was released three days later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CIZMs3GHiKZ/ |title=Wes Borland on Instagram: "Okay that's a wrap. The Astral Hand is being fired off to get mastered. 8 songs, 59 minutes. Coming out before the end of the year.…" |website=Instagram.com |date=2020-12-04 |access-date=2022-03-20}}</ref><ref>[https://www.metalsucks.net/2020/12/10/wes-borlands-limp-bizkit-new-solo-album-the-astral-hand-is-quite-good/ Wes Borland's (Limp Bizkit) New Solo Album, The Astral Hand, is Quite Good] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210143534/https://www.metalsucks.net/2020/12/10/wes-borlands-limp-bizkit-new-solo-album-the-astral-hand-is-quite-good/ |date=December 10, 2020 }} [[MetalSucks]]. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020</ref>

On December 11, 2021, the third album by Big Dumb Face, ''Christmas in the Cave of Dagoth'', was released.

In April 2022, Borland was recruited by [[Danny Elfman]] to perform with his band at [[Coachella Festival]].<ref>[https://www.guitarworld.com/news/wes-borland-danny-elfman-coachella-2022 Wes Borland is playing Coachella with Nili Brosh in Danny Elfman’s band – and he's revealed his rig] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414205316/https://www.guitarworld.com/news/wes-borland-danny-elfman-coachella-2022 |date=April 14, 2022 }} [[Guitar World]]. April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022</ref>

=== Career timeline ===
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:25
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat  = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1995 till:01/12/2025
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1995
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1995

Colors =
 id:Vocals      value:red         legend:Vocals
 id:Guitar      value:green       legend:Guitar
 id:All         value:orange      legend:All_instruments

BarData =
  bar:LB text:"Limp Bizkit"
  bar:BDF text:"Big Dumb Face"
  bar:ETD text:"Eat The Day"
  bar:TDW text:"The Damning Well"
  bar:BLB text:"Black Light Burns"
  bar:QK text:"Queen Kwong"
  bar:WB text:"Solo"

PlotData=
  width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
  bar:LB from:01/01/1995 till:10/01/2001   color:Guitar
  bar:LB from:07/08/2004 till:03/15/2006   color:Guitar
  bar:LB from:02/11/2009 till:end          color:Guitar
  bar:BDF from:06/01/1998 till:07/01/2004  color:Vocals width:3
  bar:BDF from:06/01/1998 till:07/01/2004  color:Guitar
  bar:BDF from:06/01/2017 till:end         color:Vocals width:3
  bar:BDF from:06/01/2017 till:end         color:All
  bar:ETD from:11/01/2001 till:11/14/2003  color:Guitar
  bar:ETD from:03/21/2020 till:05/06/2020  color:Guitar
  bar:TDW from:01/01/2003 till:12/01/2003  color:Guitar
  bar:BLB from:09/01/2005 till:06/01/2016  color:Vocals
  bar:BLB from:09/01/2005 till:06/01/2016  color:Guitar width:3
  bar:QK from:01/10/2014 till:07/30/2017   color:Guitar
  bar:WB from:03/01/2016 till:end          color:All

</timeline>

== Personal life ==
In April 1998, Borland married his long-time girlfriend Heather McMillan. The couple divorced in 2001. His second marriage was to Anna Carlise in March 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Real Weddings: Anna & Wes|url=http://weddingcabaret.blogspot.com/2009/03/real-weddings-anna-wes_27.html|website=Wedding Cabaret|date=March 27, 2009|access-date=March 18, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402184544/http://weddingcabaret.blogspot.com/2009/03/real-weddings-anna-wes_27.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They divorced in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Peschaux|first1=Julien|title=Black Light Burns Reveals The Man Behind The Limp Bizkit Monster|url=http://www.radiometal.com/en/article/black-light-burns-reveals-the-man-behind-the-limp-bizkit-monster,97916|website=Radio Metal|access-date=March 18, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402120846/http://www.radiometal.com/en/article/black-light-burns-reveals-the-man-behind-the-limp-bizkit-monster,97916|url-status=dead}}</ref> In October 2016, he married Carré Callaway, lead singer of [[Queen Kwong]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fox|first1=George|title=Wes Borland Produced His First Solo Album 'Crystal Machete' At His Detroit Home|url=http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/05/03/wes-borland-produced-his-first-solo-album-crystal-machete-at-his-detroit-home/|website=CBS Detroit|date=May 3, 2016|access-date=August 11, 2016|archive-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821214356/http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/05/03/wes-borland-produced-his-first-solo-album-crystal-machete-at-his-detroit-home/|url-status=live}}</ref> The couple resided together in [[Detroit]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Limp Bizkit's Wes Borland and Fiancée Carré Callaway Renovate Their Dream Detroit Home in DIY Network's 'Sight Unseen'|url=http://newsroom.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com/news/limp-bizkits-wes-borland-and-fiance-carr-callaway-renovate-their-dream-detroit-home-in-diy-networks-sight-unseen.htm|website=Scripps Networks Interactive|access-date=August 11, 2016|archive-date=August 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820034504/http://newsroom.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com/news/limp-bizkits-wes-borland-and-fiance-carr-callaway-renovate-their-dream-detroit-home-in-diy-networks-sight-unseen.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Callaway filed for divorce in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BwIP1QPhoNs/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BwIP1QPhoNs |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=☽ carré ☾ on Instagram: "🐇"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=April 12, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In January 2023, Borland filed a defamation lawsuit against Callaway for statements Callaway made during an interview.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/limp-bizkit-wes-borland-queen-kwong-carre-callaway-1234661751/|title=Battle Between Limp Bizkit's Wes Borland and His Ex-Wife Now Involves ... an Album Review?|first=Kory|last=Grow|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=January 16, 2023|access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref> In March 2023, it was announced that Borland’s lawsuit had been dismissed by a Detroit judge.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metrotimes.com/music/detroit-judge-dismisses-limp-bizkit-guitarists-defamation-lawsuit-against-ex-wife-32521875?media=AMP+HTML | title=Detroit judge dismisses Limp Bizkit guitarist's defamation lawsuit against ex-wife | date=March 3, 2023 | access-date=March 4, 2023 | archive-date=March 4, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304164119/https://www.metrotimes.com/music/detroit-judge-dismisses-limp-bizkit-guitarists-defamation-lawsuit-against-ex-wife-32521875?media=AMP+HTML | url-status=live }}</ref>

Callaway and Borland were passionate about rescuing abandoned cats around the Detroit area, and together starred in a [[DIY Network]] renovation show, which followed their relocation to Detroit and subsequent renovation of a large house.<ref>{{cite web|last1=EW|title=Limp Bizkit's Wes Borland has 11 cats and a home renovation show on DIY|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/12/limp-bizkit-wes-borland-home-renovation-show|website=Ew.com|access-date=November 3, 2016|archive-date=November 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123094323/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/12/limp-bizkit-wes-borland-home-renovation-show|url-status=live}}</ref>

Borland says "growing up as a minister's son in a Christian family who were conservative with that kind of stuff had an effect on me".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/features/wes-borland-interview-solo-album-2152011-2152011 |title=Wes Borland: time-travelling severed heads and his latest solo album |work=[[NME]] |last=Ryan |first=Gary |date=October 23, 2017 |access-date=March 19, 2021}}</ref> Borland says he is an [[Atheism|atheist]], but although he does not believe in [[heaven]], he hopes he is wrong.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1733483/qa-wes-borland-tells-us-whether-he-really-hates-being-in-limp-bizkit-and-why-fleet-foxes-are-bad-for-music/interviews/ |title= Q&A: Wes Borland Tells Us Whether He Really Hates Being In Limp Bizkit, And Why Fleet Foxes Are Bad For Music |work=[[Stereogum]] |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=January 30, 2015 |access-date=March 19, 2021}}</ref>

During a 2000 interview with ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', Borland reveals that he was diagnosed with [[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder|ADHD]] as a child, and he regularly took [[Dexedrine]] in treatment for behavioral issues, though he is an advocate for treatment without medication.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/qa-wes-borland-of-limp-bizkit-184991/|title=Q&A with Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=August 31, 2000|access-date=June 12, 2023|archive-date=June 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612012634/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/qa-wes-borland-of-limp-bizkit-184991/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Borland revealed on Dean Delray’s Let There Be Talk podcast that he had invested most of his early earnings in risky stock market investments. He stated that the market decline, as a result of the [[September 11 attacks]], wiped out most of his wealth.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.audacy.com/music/rock/wes-borland-reveals-past-bankruptcy-why-he-quit-limp-bizkit | title=Wes Borland reveals how he lost all his money and why he quit Limp Bizkit|website=Audacy.com| date=November 30, 2020 }}</ref>

== Equipment ==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=April 2013}}
Borland used [[Ibanez]] seven-string guitars exclusively from 1997 until 1999. However, he stated that he played a 6-string guitar on the entire ''Three Dollar Bill, Y'all'' record. Shortly after embarking on a tour with Korn, Ibanez contacted Borland and gave him a number of seven-string Universe guitars, essentially for free, which he continued to use extensively. During the touring in support of ''Significant Other'', Borland used two custom [[Ibanez RG]] seven-strings with the electronic setup of an Ibanez AX7521 (two volume knobs and two tone knobs rather than one volume and one tone). Nothing is certain about the type of pickups that he used, however, he did use EMG pickups at one point, stating in an interview with GuitarCenter that he was moving from "passive to active pickups". Borland also endorsed the rare [[Ibanez RG7 CST]] guitar, which is made from superior/high-quality materials and is also equipped with an L.R. Baggs designed piezo system on a locking tremolo. He is currently one of two American owners of one.

Borland is one of the few guitarists to utilize [[tenor guitar]]s, which has 4-strings as opposed to the standard 6-strings. In the early days, he used a vintage Ibanez Musician MC150PW, which was modified to be fitted with 4-strings, which he used on songs such as "Nookie", "Full Nelson", and "The One". This guitar can be seen in the music video for "Nookie." Ibanez then made him a custom baritone 4-string AX that would be used to replace the Musician. This was eventually replaced by a custom-made Master Guitars "Cremona" 4-string made by luthier George Gorodnitski, a friend of DJ Lethal's father.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beckner |first1=Justin |title=The Weird Gear of Wes Borland |url=https://guitar.com/features/collections/the-weird-gear-of-wes-borland/ |website=Guitar.com |access-date=26 October 2022 |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026093808/https://guitar.com/features/collections/the-weird-gear-of-wes-borland/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Borland has been on record saying that "George's guitars are the best I've ever played.”<ref>{{cite web |last1=Master Guitars |title=Semi-hollow |url=https://www.master-guitars.com/semi-hollow/semi-hollow.html |website=Master Guitars |access-date=26 October 2022 |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116093349/https://www.master-guitars.com/semi-hollow/semi-hollow.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2022, Borland commissioned PRS Guitars to make a custom tenor guitar.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Horsley |first1=Jonathan |title=PRS has made Wes Borland a custom four-string guitar-bass hybrid – and he says it is "probably the most amazing instrument" he's ever played |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/wes-borland-prs-custom-4-string-guitar-limp-bizkit |website=Guitar World |date=April 14, 2022 |access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>

During the recording for ''Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water'', Borland switched to 6-string guitars. The entire album was recorded using a Master Guitars Cremona semi-hollow body guitar, which is visible in the video for ''My Generation''. However, Borland did not tour with this guitar and instead used [[Paul Reed Smith]] guitars, one of which is a Standard 24 in a Platinum Metallic finish, a Custom 24 in a Black Slate finish, and a 4-string baritone. After the tour, they were not seen again. A Facebook photo posted by Fred Durst in 2012 shows Borland playing the Cremona again for studio purposes.

In 2005, [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]] approached Borland about a new signature guitar, which was almost 100% designed by Borland. The model CV820WB was released that same year. A semi-hollow body guitar with a large body and new Yamaha high-output split field humbuckers, made exclusively for that guitar, it also came with the Yamaha Quick Change finger-clamp locking tremolo system, which rids the user of having to cut the ball ends off of the strings, which is very unusual for a locking tremolo. This was Borland's main guitar for the recording of Black Light Burns' ''Cruel Melody'' and the touring behind it, as well as most of the touring Limp Bizkit did before the recording of ''Gold Cobra''. Despite its innovative characteristics, it was not a popular guitar, and was discontinued in mid-2011, when Borland switched to [[Jackson Guitars]].

Borland was endorsed by Jackson shortly before the release of ''Gold Cobra'', and owns several Rhoads guitars, which he uses on Limp Bizkit shows. In addition he plays various Warriors and King Vs, one of which is a left-handed black King V with white bevels that was converted by Borland into a right-handed guitar. All of these instruments are equipped with a Floyd Rose and a single Seymour Duncan Invader pickup in the bridge position. He does not currently have a signature model with Jackson. Additionally, Borland also uses a Fender Bass VI, tuned to one octave below E standard tuning. He uses this on "The Story" on ''The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)'', and again on "90.2.10", "Walking Away", and "Back Porch" on the ''Gold Cobra'' record.

Other guitars Borland has been seen with before are a 1976 Fender Starcaster a stock ESP LTD V-401DX (used on the Limp Bizkit reunion tour for playing songs on Results May Vary) and [[Mayones]] Regius Pro 6, Legend and Setius GTM 6 Baritone guitars.

Borland tunes his guitars to C# standard tuning (C# F# B E G# C#) and to Drop B tuning (B F# B E G# C#). He also tunes his 4-string baritone guitars to a variant of this tuning with a low F# string, which is a bass string (F# F# B E). During the late 1990s when Borland played 7-string guitars, he played them like one would play a 6-string guitar by tuning the highest string to C# as well, while maintaining standard C# tuning all the way to the seventh string. This technique was later used by [[Stephen Carpenter]] of [[Deftones]] so he could play the songs he originally recorded on a six-string without losing the feel of a seven-string, as [[Limp Bizkit]] and the [[Deftones]] had toured together in the mid 1990s.

Borland uses [[Ernie Ball]] "Burly Slinky" .011-.052 gauge nickel-wound strings, where the G string is wound. For Limp Bizkit's first three albums, Borland used [[Mesa/Boogie]] [[Mesa/Boogie Rectifier|Dual and Triple Rectifier]] amps. In 2000, Borland would use the Mesa/Boogie heads in conjunction with a Diezel VH4. In the mid 2000s, on the recording of ''Cruel Melody'' and ''The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)'', Borland's main amp was the Diezel VH4.  Starting with the 2008 recording of ''The Moment You Realize You're Going to Fall'' Borland played mainly [[Orange Amps]] (specifically the Thunderverb 100 models) since touring in support of Cruel Melody began and has continued to use them since then, also on [[Gold Cobra]]. Currently, Borland plays EVH Amps and cabinets for his heavier tones. The mainstay of Borland's amp setup has been a Roland JC-120 combo amplifier to generate his particularly exceptional clean tones.

== Style ==
{| border="0"  style="float:right; font-size:80%; color:black; width:130px;"
|
{{Listen|filename=Shotgun.ogg|title="Shotgun" (sample)|description="[[Shotgun (Limp Bizkit song)|Shotgun]]", from [[Limp Bizkit]]'s album ''[[Gold Cobra]]'', highlights Borland's unique playing style in this solo. }}
|}
[[File:13-06-09 RiP Limp Bizkit Wes Borland 3.JPG|left|thumb|170px|Borland is known for his visual performance style, and often performs wearing costumes or [[body paint]].]]
Borland's guitar playing is experimental and nontraditional, and he is noted for his creative use of six and [[seven-string guitar]]s.<ref name=KittsTolinski /> ''Three Dollar Bill, Yall'' features him playing without a [[guitar pick]], performing with two hands, one playing melodic notes, and the other playing chord progressions.<ref name=Devenish21 /> The song "Stuck" uses a sustain pedal in the first bar, and muted riffs in the second bar.<ref name=HurwitzRiley /> His guitar playing has made use of octave shapes, and choppy, eighth-note rhythms, sometimes accompanied by muting his strings with his left hand, creating a percussive sound.<ref name=HurwitzRiley>{{cite book |last1=Hurwitz |first1=Tobias |last2=Riley |first2=Glenn |title=7-String Guitar |date=June 1, 2002 |publisher=Alfred Music Publishing |isbn=0-7390-2807-3 |pages=30–2 |chapter=Rhythm guitar riffs in the style of Wes Borland }}</ref> Borland has also made use of unevenly accented syncopated sixteenth notes to create a disorienting effect, and hypnotic, droning [[Lick (music)|licks]].<ref name=HurwitzRiley /> Borland uses a locking vibrato system quite extensively to "dive bomb" notes in the middle of guitar parts, as heard in songs like Limp Bizkit's "Hot Dog" and "Get a Life". He said that he got the idea to dive notes down an octave then have them come back up from [[trombone]] players.

Borland's playing is still identifiable in Black Light Burns, but by his own admission, he strives to go for a cleaner type of sound in Black Light Burns, where the heaviness comes from his bass playing, instead of in Limp Bizkit where he seeks a more metal-oriented sound. He plays keyboards and textures more overtly as tools to layer Black Light Burns' sound where in Limp Bizkit the layers are considered by the full band more.

Borland writes songs by forming them in rough outlines and filling in the details later. According to Borland, "I'm good at creating ideas while using a guitar in a new way, but it takes me a long time. I can't just come up with stuff fast and rip it up. I think about constructing songs, and even riffs, in the same way as a painting, putting on a little bit at a time. They're sketchy at first, and then I know what I want, and I fit notes into places."<ref name="Devenish10">{{cite book |last1=Devenish |first1=Colin |url=https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/10 |title=Limp Bizkit |publisher=St. Martin's |year=2000 |isbn=0-312-26349-X |pages=[https://archive.org/details/limpbizkit0000deve/page/10 10–20]}}</ref>

Borland is also known for performing in costumes and [[body paint]] during concerts, appearing in bunny and kung fu suits,<ref name=Devenish21 /> and painted as a skeleton and what he describes as a "burnt match". Describing the character, he stated, "I go onstage wearing almost nothing. I have underwear and my boots on, and I paint my whole head black—from the neck up—and I have the black contacts. All you can see is these glowing teeth."<ref name=Devenish21 /><ref name=KittsTolinski>{{cite book |last1=Kitts |first1=Jeff |last2=Tolinski |first2=Brad |title=The 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time |year=2002 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=0-634-04619-5 |pages=3–4 |chapter=Lords Of Hard Rock: Wes Borland }}</ref> Borland's black contacts were customized for him by a company noted for making contacts for the science fiction TV series ''[[Babylon 5]]''.<ref name=KittsTolinski />

== Discography ==
;Solo
* ''[[Crystal Machete]]'' (2016)
* ''Matadors and Daughters'' (EP) (2018)
* ''The Astral Hand'' (2020)
* ''Mutiny on the Starbarge'' (2023)

;Limp Bizkit
* ''[[Three Dollar Bill, Y'all]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Significant Other (album)|Significant Other]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water]]'' (2000)
* ''[[The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Gold Cobra]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Still Sucks]]'' (2021)

;Big Dumb Face
* ''[[Duke Lion Fights the Terror!!]]'' (2001)
* ''Where Is Duke Lion? He's Dead...'' (2017)
* ''Christmas in the Cave of Dagoth'' (2021)

;Black Light Burns
* ''[[Cruel Melody]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Cover Your Heart and the Anvil Pants Odyssey]]'' (2008)
* ''[[The Moment You Realize You're Going to Fall]]'' (2012)
* ''Lotus Island'' (2013)

;Eat the Day
* ''The Demos'' (2020) (recorded in 2002)
* ''The Addendum'' (2020) (recorded in 2002)

;Goatslayer
* ''The Feather Serpent'' (2020) (recorded in 1993)

;Other appearances
* [[The Damning Well]] – ''[[Underworld (Soundtrack)|Underworld]]'' (2003)
* [[The Crystal Method]] – ''[[Legion of Boom (album)|Legion of Boom]]'' (2004)
* [[From First to Last]] – ''[[Heroine (From First to Last album)|Heroine]]'' (2006)
* [[Drop Dead, Gorgeous]] – [[Worse Than a Fairy Tale]] (2007)
* [[Filter (band)|Filter]] – ''[[Anthems for the Damned]]'' (2008)
* [[The Color of Violence]] – ''[[Youthanize]]'' (2009)
* [[Combichrist]] – ''[[Scarred (EP)]]'' (2010)
* [[Combichrist]] – ''[[Making Monsters (album)|Making Monsters]]'' (2010)
* [[tomandandy]] – ''[[Resident Evil: Afterlife#Soundtrack|Resident Evil : Afterlife 3D (Music From The Motion Picture)]]'' (2010)
* [[tomandandy]] – ''[[Resident Evil: Retribution#Music|Resident Evil: Retribution (Music From The Motion Picture)]]'' (2012)
* [[Tech N9ne]] – ''[[Therapy (Tech N9ne EP)|Therapy]]'' (2013)
* [[Queen Kwong]] – ''The Strange Fruit'' (2014)
* [[Tina Guo]] – ''Cello Metal'' (2015)
* [[Sukekiyo]] – ''VITIUM'' (2015)
* DREAD – ''In Dub'' (2017)
* [[Queen Kwong]] – ''Love Me to Death'' (2018)
* [[Jonathan Davis]] – ''[[Black Labyrinth]]'' (2018)

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of films and TV shows appeared in
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
|2012
|''[[Oddities (TV series)]]''
|Himself
|Episode: "Holly-Odd"
|-
|2016
|''[[DIY Network|Sight Unseen (TV series)]]''
|Himself
|Episodes: 1-6<ref>DIY NETWORK. "Limp Bizkit's Wes Borland and Fiancée Carré Callaway Renovate Their Dream Detroit Home in DIY Network's 'Sight Unseen'". Scripps Networks Interactive. Retrieved August 11, 2016.</ref>
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Navboxes|
|list1=
{{Black Light Burns}}
{{Jonathan Davis Solo Band}}
{{Limp Bizkit}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Borland, Wes}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:American atheists]]
[[Category:American former Christians]]
[[Category:American industrial musicians]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American musicians with disabilities]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Black Light Burns members]]
[[Category:Combichrist members]]
[[Category:The Damning Well members]]
[[Category:From First to Last members]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Florida]]
[[Category:Jonathan Davis and the SFA members]]
[[Category:Limp Bizkit members]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Marilyn Manson (band) members]]
[[Category:Masked musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from Jacksonville, Florida]]
[[Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]]
[[Category:American seven-string guitarists]]