Ann Arbor, MI’s own Taproot sent their demo to Limp Bizkit’s frontman/business entrepreneur Fred Durst in 1998, not ever thinking Durst would call them back personally. To the band’s surprise, Durst replied, promising the alt-punk metal quartet the world. But Durst apparently took too long to deliver the goods, for Taproot — whose lineup comprised frontman Stephen Richards, guitarist Michael DeWolf, bassist Philip Lipscomb, and drummer Jarrod Montague — landed a deal with Atlantic Records instead. Durst felt betrayed and vented his frustration to various media outlets, but an unfazed Taproot focused on their debut, Gift, which arrived in June 2000 and unveiled the band’s tough thrash sound.