LIMP BIZKIT said they took a break from music when they realised it was being used by bullies.
Frontman Fred Durst said he grew increasingly unhappy with certain parts of their fanbase because it reminded him of his own childhood torment.
He said: "I got abused a lot growing up. For years I looked into the crowd and saw a bunch of bullies and a*sholes who tortured me and ruined my life.
"They were using my music as fuel to torture other people, even dressing like me. The music was being misinterpreted and the irony affected me and we stepped away."
After taking a break from 2005, the group returned to prominence last month and Fred says he decided to work with the group again after realising he wasn't responsible for the way everyone interprets his songs.
He added to Rolling Stone magazine: "I realized after years and years that I can't take all of that on my shoulders. I can just hope for the best and hope that my music finds its way to the people that I'm trying to connect with.
"There's some people who are not understanding what Limp Bizkit is about. But, then again, who am I to tell people what they can use art for or how they can interpret it?"