Limp, Metallica, Sisqo Sound Off On Red Carpet

Oh, the lure of the red carpet... that magical place where artists know the eyes, and ears, of the world are on them.

On Thursday night, those making their way into Radio City Music Hall for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards took full advantage of their time in the media glare, pushing upcoming projects, offering shout outs, and gawking at the other stars gathered around them.

Making his way through the crowd with his Limp Bizkit bandmates, Fred Durst talked about his upcoming directorial film debut, "Runt," explaining that it's about "the underdog in high school." He said that he'll begin shooting the film after Limp's next album, "Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water," hits stores on October 17. Durst also managed to mention Limp's upcoming tour with Eminem, DMX, Papa Roach, and Xzibit, which he called "'The World's Most Hated' tour."

At the other end of the Napster issue, Metallica's Lars Ulrich discussed his band's legal battle with the online music distribution service during his time on the red carpet. "Its a non-issue legally. Now it's about educating the public," Ulrich said. "People have been bitching about what we're doing every day for 19 years. We take it all in stride."

Taking the less-seasoned approach, Pink told reporters on the red carpet, "I don't know how to act. It's my first year here.... I want to see what Lil' Kim is wearing."

Similarly, the men of 98 Degrees said that they were intent on checking out Janet Jackson, noting that "she's got a hot single and she's a hot entertainer."

Of course, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea took a completely different view of the proceedings (as he usually does). "This whole sh** is absurd, ridiculous, and preposterous and is not connected to the reality of my life, yet I feel very close to the music I play, and this is a part of that. I feel very grateful to share that with the world," the bassist remarked.

Rage Bassist Crashes Limp Bizkit's VMA Party

Despite all the script work, staging, and rehearsals, award shows usually only become memorable when some beautifully strange interruption halts the proceedings.

For the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, that interruption came when Rage Against The Machine bassist Tim C. perched himself atop a large set piece as Limp Bizkit attempted to accept its award for Best Rock Video.

As Limp tried to deliver an acceptance speech, the bassist shimmied up a 15-foot-high arc reminiscent of the crown of the Statue Of Liberty, and began to rock back and forth. A flurry of stagehands rushed to steady the swaying structure, and Limp frontman Fred Durst proclaimed Limp "the most hated band in the world" in what was easily the most disjointed acceptance speech of the night. Durst and his band managed to blurt out some thank-yous while staffers tried to lure the bassist down.

Toni Braxton and 98 Degrees gamely took the stage next and tried to present the subsequent award while the effort to extract Tim from the stage rigging continued.

After a commercial break, Carson Daly joined Durst, who quipped, "I guess that's just raging against the machine."

Backstage after the incident, Durst elaborated, saying, "It was weird, and it would have sucked if he got hurt getting out of there. It looked like he was struggling. I hope he gets his head checked real soon."

The development also gave VMA hosts the Wayans brothers plenty to chew on as well. "I'm just glad he wasn't a brother, or they probably would have shot his ass," co-host Shawn Wayans quipped.

For the stunt, Tim C., as well as a man identified as Big Pete Beattle, an event security worker for Rage Against The Machine, were removed from the venue in handcuffs by police.

Rage's clip for "Sleep Now In The Fire" was up against Limp in the running for Best Rock Video.