Limp Bizkit - John Otto Drummer Profile & Gear | MetalForge
Limp Bizkit, formed in 1994, fused rap and metal to become one of the biggest nu-metal bands.
Explore John Otto's hip-hop influenced drumming with Limp Bizkit.
Limp Bizkit History
Limp Bizkit formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1994, founded by vocalist Fred Durst alongside guitarist Wes Borland, bassist Sam Rivers, and drummer John Otto, who studied jazz drumming at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and has remained the band's only drummer throughout its history. DJ Lethal, formerly of House of Pain, joined shortly after to add turntables to the band's sound.
The band's fusion of rap vocals, down-tuned nu-metal riffs, and hip-hop-derived rhythm reached its commercial peak with Significant Other (1999) and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000), the latter debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and selling more than a million copies in its first week. Otto's jazz background gave the band's grooves an unusually loose, swinging feel compared to other nu-metal drummers of the era.
After a mid-2000s commercial decline and lineup turmoil, the classic lineup reunited and has continued releasing music, including Gold Cobra (2011) and Still Sucks (2021), while remaining a fixture of the festival circuit. Limp Bizkit's blend of rap-metal bravado and radio hooks made it, alongside Korn, one of the defining commercial forces of the nu-metal era.
Limp Bizkit's Place in Metal Drumming
John Otto's jazz training set him apart from most of his nu-metal drumming peers: rather than relying purely on aggressive down-strokes, he layered swung hi-hat patterns, ghost notes, and syncopated grooves borrowed from funk and jazz fusion under Limp Bizkit's rap-metal riffs, giving the band's rhythm section a bounce that helped its singles cross over to hip-hop and pop radio. That approach has made Otto a frequently cited example of how jazz vocabulary can be applied inside a heavy, groove-based metal context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the drummer for Limp Bizkit?
John Otto has been Limp Bizkit's drummer since the band's founding in 1994. He is one of four founding members alongside Fred Durst, Wes Borland, and DJ Lethal.
Did anyone else ever drum for Limp Bizkit besides John Otto?
Sammy Siegler filled in on drums for much of the 2005 EP The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1), but John Otto has otherwise been the band's drummer on all albums and tours since 1994.
What is Limp Bizkit's best-selling album?
Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000) was Limp Bizkit's most commercially successful album, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over a million copies in its first week.
When did Limp Bizkit form and where?
Limp Bizkit formed in 1994 in Jacksonville, Florida, blending nu-metal and rap-metal.
Who played drums on Limp Bizkit's "Three Dollar Bill, Y'all"?
John Otto played drums on "Three Dollar Bill, Y'all" (1997).
Who played drums on Limp Bizkit's "Still Sucks"?
John Otto played drums on "Still Sucks" (2021).