Results May Vary is the fourth studio album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit, released on September 23, 2003, through Flip and Interscope Records. It is the band's only release under the sole-leadership of vocalist Fred Durst after the temporary departure of guitarist Wes Borland, who left in 2001. Guitarist Mike Smith of Snot was brought in to replace Borland, although his time with the band was brief, and Durst along with a number of guests ended up handling the majority of the album's guitar work.
The album differed from Limp Bizkit's established sound up until that point; although the album still featured elements of hip-hop and nu metal, it also branched out into other musical styles, including alternative rock, acoustic, funk and jazz. It also featured less rapping and more introspective lyrics related to heartbreak, bullying, and self-pity. An alleged affair with Britney Spears by Durst (denied by Spears) during collaborating sessions for her 2003 album In the Zone and resulting rejection by Spears was also cited as an inspiration for some of the album's material. To promote the album, music videos featuring high-profile actors were created for "Eat You Alive" and a cover of the Who's "Behind Blue Eyes"; the former featuring Thora Birch and Bill Paxton and the latter featuring Halle Berry.
Upon its release, Results May Vary peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard 200, selling at least 325,000 copies in its first week of sales. While the album still eventually went platinum, both the debut and lifetime sales were still well below prior albums Significant Other (1999) and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000). Results May Vary sold at least 1.3 million copies in the United States, and received mainly negative critical reception as well. Results May Vary was Limp Bizkit's last studio album released before they went on hiatus for the three years between 2006 and 2009.
Background and recording
In October 2001, Fred Durst posted on the band's website: "Limp Bizkit and Wes Borland have amicably decided to part ways. Both Limp Bizkit and Borland will continue to pursue their respective musical careers. Both wish each other the best of luck in all future endeavors." Borland explained why he left Limp Bizkit; he said: "I could have probably gone on and still played the part of the guitar player of Limp Bizkit, but musically I was kind of bored. If I was to continue, it would have been about the money and not about the true music, and I don't want to lie to myself, or to them or to fans of Limp Bizkit."
According to Durst, Limp Bizkit would "comb the world for the illest guitar player known to man" to replace Borland. the band recorded with Snot guitarist Mike Smith. Jon Wiederhorn of MTV wrote, "Limp Bizkit jammed with four finalists after their much-publicized guitarist audition tour, but now it looks like Fred Durst might be taking a cue from his Puddle of Mudd pal Wes Scantlin and handling both vocal and guitar duties himself."
After a later falling-out with Smith, Durst told a fansite: "We are the type of people that stay true to our family and our instincts and at any moment will act on intuition as a whole. Mike wasn't the guy. We had fun playing with him but always knew, in the back of our minds, that he wasn't where we needed him to be mentally." Limp Bizkit scrapped many of Smith's sessions, recording another album that was also scrapped. Al Jourgensen of Ministry also joined the band in the studio. The contributions of all three were omitted from the finished album for unknown reasons. but contributions from either also did not appear on the album. During production of Results May Vary, Durst claimed he listened to such artists as the Cure, Patsy Cline, Mazzy Star and classical music for inspiration. The finished product assembled songs from a number of sessions.