Borland states that Black Light Burns is the culmination of the various projects he has been working on ever since he quit Limp Bizkit in 2001. Things began with Big Dumb Face, a solo project that Borland had worked on during his time with Limp Bizkit. Borland didn't take the project too seriously, and used it to basically test the waters, and see how hard it would be to do something serious on his own, without the aid of his band mates. After he quit the band, he began working on several different projects. The first of which was supposed to be an instrumental album one could listen to and simply relax. Simultaneously, he began Eat The Day. With this project, he became cocky, and thought because of his previous success with Limp Bizkit, duplicating that success with a new band would be simple. Borland soon found out this wasn't the case. Eat The Day eventually unravelled itself, as, in Borland's words, "I think everybody involved in that project had different ideas about the direction that it should go". Borland became self-absorbed, and along with continuous pressure from the label, and struggles finding a lead singer for the band, the project eventually disbanded.
In terms of their lineup, the band is somewhat of a successor to the brief project The Damning Well, which consisted of mostly the same members. The main difference this time around being that Borland has taken vocals into his own hands, after many attempts to find a proper vocalist in various projects.
After the 'failure' of Borland's various projects, he returned to Limp Bizkit once again, turning down the spot as Nine Inch Nails touring guitar player. According to vocalist Fred Durst, Borland only agreed to return to the band on the condition that their label, Geffen, agreed to support his solo project, Black Light Burns.
It began only as a side project, with Borland writing many of the songs during his time off from Limp Bizkit, but soon things in Limp Bizkit became very quiet, and Borland himself stated that Black Light Burns was now his main project, and anything else he did, including Limp Bizkit, was a side project. Eventually arguments broke out on MySpace between Borland and Durst, and Borland left Limp Bizkit once again, although according to him, the band members had already gone their separate ways, he simply decided not to return.
The Black Light Burns song titled "I Have a Need" was instrumentally written to be included on the Limp Bizkit release The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) in 2005, but was cut in order for the EP to remain mostly metal oriented. It features Limp Bizkit's bassist Sam Rivers on the track, and Wes was allowed to use the song for Black Light Burns when the song was turned down for use by Limp Bizkit.
On June 16, Borland announced that the band and Geffen Records had parted ways. There was little word in the following months over the situation regarding a new label, though as of October 25, the band is in negotiations with a label, and are hoping to release their debut album early 2007.
Borland has stated that he is the only constant in Black Light Burns, as the other members of the studio lineup are expected to be mostly unable to participate in touring with Black Light Burns, such as the notoriously busy Josh Freese.
The initial touring lineup of Black Light Burns includes Nick Annis (previously in Open Hand, Turn of the Screw) as a guitarist and Marshall Kilpatric (previously in The Esoteric) on drums, as well as Wes Borland himself.
Black Light Burns' first tour was previously set to begin in fall of 2006 with From First to Last, who Borland also plays bass for on and off. This tour was to feature Borland doing double duty as the singer/guitarist for Black Light Burns and then bassist for From First to Last afterwards. However, Sonny Moore (singer of FFTL) developed a node on his right vocal chord and has to get surgery, thus ending Wes Borland's current touring stint with From First To Last.
In late 2007-early 2008, after a scheduled break from touring for the their label to secure an overseas release of Cruel Melody, Black Light Burns announced plans for a covers album that also includes remixes and b-sides from Cruel Melody, and a DVD containing live and behind the scenes footage of the band. Artists PJ Harvey, INXS, The Jesus Lizard, Love and Rockets, The Swans, Fiona Apple, Lard, and Borland's own old side project Big Dumb Face will be covered for the release. The two discs will be released together in spring of 2008.
On March 30, 2008 Wes Borland made a post on the band's MySpace about how he filled in for the band X Japan and was "looking forward to coming home and getting back to work on the next BLB album", by which he means the second full length Black Light Burns album, due to the fact that their cover song album was already complete by that point in time.
As of August 2008, at the ETP Conference, it was announced that Borland is now the current Marilyn Manson tour guitarist.
Also Two new songs have appeared on http://www.myspace.com/wesleyborland. They are entitled Cats and Cats And Cats, B4Lf3r
Much like Nine Inch Nails, Black Light Burns consists of two entities, the studio band, and the live band. Some members of the band that recorded in the studio may not be able to tour with the band, and future live members might contribute to future CD releases, therefore lineup changes could occur. Borland did all of the vocals, guitar, and bass on the album.
Studio Line-up
1. Wes Borland - (previously in Limp Bizkit, Eat The Day, Big Dumb Face)
2. Danny Lohner - (previously in Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle)
3. Josh Freese - (The Vandals, Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, many more)
4. Josh Eustis - (Telefon Tel Aviv)
When asked on Black Light Burns's MySpace if the studio band listed above would return for the band's second record, Wes Borland replied "Probably not. Marshall is the full time drummer for BLB now, but Danny Lohner may be returning for some input on the next record."
Live Line-up
1. Wes Borland - Vocals, Guitar
2. Marshall Kilpatric - Drums (previously in The Esoteric, Today is the Day)
3. Nick Annis - Guitar (previously in Open Hand, Turn Of The Screw, shortly played for Seether while on tour in Ozzfest)
4. Dennis Sanders Jr.-Bass
Wes Borland's MacBook Pro will be playing the keyboard or loops that the four above bandmembers can't/won't be playing live. According to Borland, Josh Eustis, who played keyboards and sound design on Cruel Melody, was supposed to join the live lineup, but opted to do production instead, leaving Borland to use his laptop to reproduce samples and keyboards live.
How to Look Naked
Black Light Burns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I thought I'd seen it all
But my own two eyes would prove me wrong that day
There are things that I've done
Only seen by the sun
And those things will be buried in my grave
The crows and buzzards will pick your bones clean
No name of yours will be upon the wall
We line up on the edge to watch you fall
No one knows, you don't take off your clothes
No one knows
No one knows, you don't take off your clothes
No one knows
You took to the land, like fishes take to sand
You clambered up your cross to raise your flag
Made tissue paper sales, used thread instead of nails
Your autograph was carved across your back
We thought that you were done, but then you grabbed your gun
You pushed and fought and ran full speed ahead
You turned for the hill, we cannot find you still
We hit the lights and hoped that you'd be dead
No one knows, you don't take off your clothes
No one knows
No one knows, you don't take off your clothes
No one knows
Won't stop now
If you know
What? Oh!
We hope we'll get to see you fall through the canopy
With a stomach full of blood you'll find the ground
No one knows, you don't take off your clothes
No one knows
No one knows, you don't take off your clothes
No one knows
The song "How to Look Naked" by Black Light Burns is a haunting and enigmatic piece that delves into the themes of secrecy and shame. The first verse alludes to the singer witnessing horrific things, perhaps even committing them, that they would rather take to their grave than reveal to anyone else. This sets up the sense of privacy and hidden truths that runs throughout the song.
The chorus, "No one knows, you don't take off your clothes," seems to suggest that there is something shameful or taboo about revealing oneself in a naked or vulnerable state. The repeated line reinforces the idea of secrecy and the fear of being exposed. The second verse introduces a character who has raised their own flag and become something of a spectacle, but still hides their true self. The line "Your autograph was carved across your back" could be interpreted as a reference to self-harm, meaning that despite their public persona, the character is still struggling with internal demons.
The final verse contains a violent image of the character falling from the sky with their "stomach full of blood." This could be seen as a metaphor for the character's inner turmoil and the inevitable reckoning that comes with keeping secrets and hiding one's true self.
Overall, "How to Look Naked" is a somber meditation on the human tendency to keep secrets and the fear of being exposed.
Line by Line Meaning
I have seen people bleed
I have witnessed the physical action of blood drawn from an individual
And I thought I'd seen it all
I believed I had encountered every possible scenario or situation
But my own two eyes would prove me wrong that day
To my surprise, I was proven incorrect by an experience I had on that particular day
There are things that I've done
I have carried out various activities or deeds
Only seen by the sun
The sole witness to these actions was the sun or daylight
And those things will be buried in my grave
These actions or deeds will remain undisclosed and will be taken to my grave
The crows and buzzards will pick your bones clean
Animals such as crows and buzzards will remove any remaining flesh from your decomposing body
No name of yours will be upon the wall
Your name will not be included or recognized on any memorial or monument
Hold tight on Halloween, and rape by magazines
Be careful on Halloween and avoid being victimized by people or media that might use or exploit you
We line up on the edge to watch you fall
We anticipate or eagerly await observing you fail or suffer a downfall
No one knows, you don't take off your clothes
Your secret behavior of not removing your clothing is not known to anyone
You took to the land, like fishes take to sand
You adapted well or felt natural in your surroundings, similarly to how fish fit in on a beach
You clambered up your cross to raise your flag
You worked hard or struggled to accomplish a goal or assert your authority
Made tissue paper sales, used thread instead of nails
You used subpar or low-quality materials in your business practices, such as selling tissue paper and using thread instead of nails
Your autograph was carved across your back
Your signature or personal mark was ingrained or permanently marked onto your back
We thought that you were done, but then you grabbed your gun
We assumed you had conceded or given up, but then you unexpectedly seized a firearm
You pushed and fought and ran full speed ahead
You exerted force and fought hard while continuing on a path with great momentum
You turned for the hill, we cannot find you still
You abruptly changed direction or plan by heading towards a hill, and we are now unable to locate you
We hit the lights and hoped that you'd be dead
In an effort to stop or kill you, we turned off the lights and wished for your death
Won't stop now
I will not cease or desist my activities or behavior
If you know
If you possess the knowledge or awareness
What? Oh!
An exclamation and expression of surprise or confusion
We hope we'll get to see you fall through the canopy
We have the desire to witness your downfall or to see gravity pull you through the leafy cover of a forest
With a stomach full of blood you'll find the ground
You will meet your end with a stomach full of blood and subsequently fall to the ground
Contributed by Callie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BoingoTarash90s
Wes is one unique individual. Good stuff!
fuuby
I so hope they make another of these! great, great music video, real piece of art.
Chrollo
This is genius. Wes Borland one of the best artist of all time.
Andras Polle
how can this band have only 15 451 views seriously, they should at leat have 2 Million !
Steak_and_Titties
Only has 63,056 views 2 years later, the world is FUCKED!
Ryan Black
This is the best video ever made.
Daniel Rogers
amazing artist! Wes Rules
political stabwound
I've been a fan of Wes since the goat slayer stuff...before bizkit, when I first heard BLB all my music listening dreams came true
Anthony Rooney
I'm glad Durst has nothing at all to do with BLB, let's keep it that way.
Diego Brando
A Wes Borland nightmare.