90s rocker unrecognisable amid $317 million lawsuit with music label

An iconic 90s rocker stepped on stage looking unrecognisable at his recent UK gig as a multimillion-dollar lawsuit brews back home in the US.

Backward baseball caps and a goatee were this rocker’s signature look in his 90s heyday. But these days, he appears virtually unrecognisable under a wild mane of hair and overgrown grey beard.

Many fans couldn’t believe it when Fred Durst took to the stage in Birmingham, England, while on his Loserville tour in the UK and Europe with his band Limp Bizkit.

The 54-year-old frontman belted out the band’s hits including Rollin’, Behind Blue Eyes, Break Stuff and My Way, proving that although he looks unlike his ‘90s self, he can still rock out on stage.

With his hair bouncing uncontrollably with every beat while hiding his face, many online fans could not guess it was the rocker when a video of his performance did the rounds on X.

“I didn’t even recognise Fred Durst,” one tweeted, as another commented, “That’s insane I hardly recognise him.”

“I need his hair routine and product list IMMEDIATELY. On grey hair too?!” one user fangirled.

Fred Durst unrecognisable during his Birmingham show in the UK. Picture: TikTok

The rocker had a head full of curly hair and a grey beard. Picture: TikTok

Meanwhile, others compared the three-time Grammy nominee to other famous people:

“What in the Frederick Douglass mixed with Nick Nolte?” one tweeted, as another was convinced “it was Will Ferrel doing a joke”.

“You mean Fred Claus?” another asked, as one made reference to a Simpsons character: “He looks like sideshow bob.”

Durst’s appearance comes amid his band’s lawsuit with music label Universal Music Group, who they claim deliberately withheld as much as $US200 million ($317 million) in royalties.

Durst rose to fame in the 90s with his band Limp Bizkit.

The band went to score three Grammy Awards over the years.

Limp Bizkit are suing Universal Music Group for $317 million allegedly withholding royalties.

Among the claims in the lawsuit include breach of contract to fraudulent concealment, fraudulent business practices and copyright infringement.

At the time of filing in October, Limp Bizkit – made up of drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, turntablist DJ Lethal and bassist Sam Rivers – claimed in a statement that UMG “designed and implemented royalty software and systems that were deliberately designed to conceal artists’ royalties and keep those profits for itself”.

UMG requested for the lawsuit to be dismissed one month later, claiming it was “fiction” and “based on a fallacy”. But this week Judge Percy Anderson allowed the case to proceed in his US federal court.

UMG has been asked to file a response to the copyright claims by April 7.

Originally published as 90s rocker unrecognisable amid $317 million lawsuit with music label