Limp Bizkit, System Of A Down Mend Fences For Post-Family Values Tour
After a brief volley of harsh words following System Of A Down's departure from the Family Values tour, a tete-a-tete between System and Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst has managed to patch things up a bit.
Durst has invited the progressive metal outfit to join Limp Bizkit and Method Man and Redman for a post-Family Values tour (dubbed the "Billionaire Pirates" tour) that launches November 4 in Tampa, Florida.
System was originally scheduled to hook up with Family Values on October 16 and remain on the outing for its final few weeks. However, System was dropped from the tour, leaving the band's management (Velvet Hammer) to contend that Durst had pulled the band when another Velvet Hammer act balked at Durst's attempts to sign it to Interscope Records (see [article id="1431278"]"Did Durst Dump System Of A Down From Family Values Tour?"[/article]).We just want to bring good music to the kids," Durst now writes in a statement on the band's official Website. "We love System and although we may not love their management, we don't think they should be punished for the people working for them. We want to do what's best for our fans and wouldn't want business to interfere in why we started making music in the first place.
Durst had harsher words than that for System's management when he dropped the band from Family Values earlier this month, telling the MTV Radio Network, "We love System Of A Down, but we can't stand their manager, so he's the piece of sh** that got them off the tour" (see [article id="1431276"]"Fred Durst Sounds Off On System Of A Down-Family Values Split"[/article]).It really came as a shock to us, this drama," System drummer John Dolmayan told MTV News on Friday. Dolmayan says that System and Limp were able to get beyond management level hang-ups when the two bands spoke directly recently to hammer out their problems. The two acts, who struck up a friendship while touring with Ozzfest '98,were able to set the management issues aside and line up the tour. "A lot of it is misunderstanding," Dolmayan said of the situation. "There's no reason to have enemies in this world, especially over something so trivial.
In the days immediately following System's departure from the Family Values tour, the band had lined up one month worth of dates opening for Filter. However, System's management says that the band will now not be joining Filter after all. Perhaps understandably, Filter frontman Richard Patrick, who stepped to the plate to help System, is now feeling a bit betrayed himself.It's pretty weak for a band that pretends to have such high moral standards to walk off our tour, after confirming it in writing, when we came to their rescue after they got fired from Family Values," Filter frontman Richard Patrick told MTV News. Patrick went on to note that while he is less than thrilled with System, he places no blame with Durst and Limp Bizkit, with whom he iscurrently on the road as part of the Family Values tour.
We owe them a phone call and an apology," System's Dolmayan told MTV News of Filter. "In a perfect world, we could do both tours," he added, noting that guitarist Daron Malakian's recent knee injury has made extensive touring difficult.We don't like to cancel on anybody," Dolmayan said. "We feel like sh** about it.Filter tour openers Simon Says remain on the bill, and the band is seeking a third act to round out the lineup.In the coming weeks, System also plans to shoot a new video, this time for the track "Spiders." The first single from the band's self-titled debut album, "Sugar," was added this week to Los Angeles' KROQ, where it promptly landed in that station's nightly top five request countdown.After its run in the States, System will launch a European tour in mid-December. That stint will include performances at Black Sabbath's farewell shows in Birmingham, England on December 21 and 22. Thosedates will also see Drain STH and Godsmack take the stage.
System is also courting offers for tours next year and plans to devote at least some time early next year to writing material for a new album.If you want to check out Limp Bizkit, System Of A Down, and Method Man and Redman on the "Billionaire Pirates" tour, here's where to go:- 11/4 - Tampa, FL @ USF Sun Dome
- 11/5 - Miami, FL @ Miami Arena
- 11/6 - Orlando, FL @ Orlando Arena
- 11/8 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
- 11/9 - Nashville, TN @ Nashville Arena
- 11/10 - Memphis, TN @ Mid South Coliseum
- 11/12 - Knoxville, TN @ Thompson-Boling Arena
- 11/13 - Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Coliseum
- 11/14 - Morrisville, NC @ Raleigh Sports & Ent. Arena
- 11/16 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Continental Airlines Arena
- 11/17 - Montreal, QC @ Molson Centre
- 11/18 - Toronto, ON @ Skydome
- 11/20 - Peoria, IL @ Peoria Civic Center
- 11/21 - Omaha, NE @ Omaha Civic Auditorium
- 11/22 - Madison, WI
@ Dane County Coliseum
-- Robert Mancini, with additional reporting by Tina Johnson
