Linkin Park: Linkin Park

Music
The music of Linkin Park is a mix of alternative metal, rap, electronic, and hip-hop sounds. Like others in the nu metal genre, their sound has been criticized as being overly commercial and mainstream-friendly.

Band History
Linkin Park began in the surroundings of Mike Shinoda's bedroom studio, where he and friend Brad Delson recorded the band's first material in 1996. The two had attended Agoura High School together in Los Angeles-suburb Agoura Hills, where they met the band's drummer, Rob Bourdon. Shinoda met up with DJ Joseph Hahn while studying illustration at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Meanwhile, attending UCLA, Delson shared an apartment with bassist Dave Farrell, who left the band after college and returned a year later. At this point, along with vocalist Mark Wakefield, they named themselves Xero (after revising the former name Super Xero) and recorded several demo tracks. They were never signed and the project floundered.

Shinoda advertised for a vocalist, choosing Chester Bennington, a transplanted Arizona native who started making records when he was 16. They immediately started to write and record music.

At first they called themselves 'Hybrid Theory' after the addition of Bennington (the idea being that they were a hybrid of hard rock and rap), but due to a trademark issue with a band called Hybrid they were forced to change their name. Some discarded ideas were Clear, Probing Lagers, Ten PM Stocker and Platinum Lotus Foundation. Eventually, they settled on Lincoln Park, suggested by Bennington because after band practice he would have to drive past Lincoln Park in Santa Monica to get home. However the domain "lincolnpark.com" cost more than the band could afford, so they changed the spelling to Linkin Park.

Working with an independent label, the band recorded the album Hybrid Theory EP, which featured "Carousel", "Technique", "Step Up", "And One", "High Voltage", and "Part of Me".

After being signed to Warner Brothers in 1999 their first album, Hybrid Theory, was released in 2000. It was the top-selling album in the United States and New Zealand in 2001, with the hit singles "One Step Closer", "Crawling", "Papercut", "In The End" and "Points of Authority". The album was notable for its absence of profanity, in contrast to many other nu metal bands' songs.

Linkin Park were part of the Ozzfest in 2001, touring along side Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Crazy Town, Papa Roach, and Disturbed. Linkin Park also created their own tour - Projekt: Revolution, and on it have toured with Cypress Hill, Adema, DJ Z-Trip, Xzibit, Mudvayne and Blindside.

In 2002, they released a hip-hop remix album of their Hybrid Theory album, called Reanimation, featuring many underground hip-hop figures, with an artistic direction mainly dictated by Shinoda and Hahn. They also released a remix version of their song, "Points Of Authority".

In 2003 their new studio album was released, titled Meteora, which debuted at #1 in the US and UK, and #2 in Australia. It contained the singles, "Somewhere I Belong", "Faint", "Numb", "From The Inside", "Lying From You", and "Breaking The Habit". Later in the year, they joined forces with fellow nu-metal band Limp Bizkit and Metallica for the Summer Sanitarium Tour 2003. From this tour, Linkin Park released a new CD/DVD set called Live in Texas. This set contains tracks from their three previous records, and was filmed on location at their Summer Sanitarium performances in Dallas and Houston, Texas .

In 2004, Linkin Park created the Meteora World Tour. This tour included Linkin Park, P.O.D., Hoobastank, and Story of the Year.

In 2004, Linkin Park was touring with Snoop Dogg, The Used, Korn, and Less Than Jake on the main stage, and No Warning, Ghostface, Funeral for a Friend, M.O.P., and Downset on the second stage as part of Projekt Revolution 2004. They also had a travelling DJ, Z-Trip with them, along with Irvin the Urban Action Figure.

On November 30, 2004, Linkin Park released Collision Course, a collaboration with rapper Jay-Z featuring rap-style remixes ("mash-ups") of songs from Meteora and Hybrid Theory using lyrics from Jay-Z's repertoire. Collision Course debuted at #1 in the US, but peaked at #17 in the UK. In the Netherlands Collision Course topped the charts at 7th place. Their first Collision Course hit single, Numb/Encore, reached #1 at the Free Record Shop Download Charts in the Netherlands.

On the eve of its initial public offering in May 2005, Linkin Park demanded to be released from its contract with Warner Brothers Music on the grounds of a lack of confidence. The band is in negotiations with the label over a new record contract. Linkin Park still has four albums outstanding on its 2000 record contract. [1]

Linkin Park is currently writing and recording a new album, set to be released in 2006 (although work has been stopped due to the contract re-negotiations). Mike Shinoda is also in the process of releasing a hip-hop side project under the moniker Fort Minor. It reportedly features several well-known underground rappers, including Gift of Gab, and will be released on September 12th, 2005.

On July 2, 2005 Linkin Park preformed in Live 8 at Philadelphia, USA, performing part of their set with Jay-Z.

Members
Chester Bennington (vocals / guitar)
Mike Shinoda (alias: Fort Minor) (vocals / sampling / rhythm guitar, keyboard)
Joe Hahn (aliases: Chairman Hahn, Mr. Hahn) (turntables / samples)
Brad Delson (guitar)
Rob Bourdon (drums)
David 'Phoenix' Farrell (bass)
Alic Stone - Chief Production Manager
Kenny Hausauer - Extra Screamer
Vernon Goodwin - Bag Pipes

The roots of Linkin Park stretch well beyond the debut of their first CD, released in 2000.
In 1996 MC/vocalist Mike Shinoda and guitarist Brad Delson were graduating from the California high school they attended together.
Up until that point Delson had been in a band called Relative Degree. After graduating Delson invited Shinoda to form a new band, with Relative Degree band mate Rob Bourdon serving as drummer. Shinoda agreed and soon the trio formed a band called SuperXero.
SuperXero continued to evolve while the band members attended college. While attending art college Shinoda met and befriended DJ Joseph Hahn. While taking classes at UCLA Delson became close friends with room mate and bass player Dave Farrell. Farrell and Hahn would both join the band, expanding the sound of the group which shortened its name to simply "Xero".
Vocalist Mark Wakefield joined as lead vocalist and the group recorded their first self-titled EP.
While the band was still struggling to get signed by a record label Wakefield left. Delson's connections at Warner Music referred the band to Chester Bennington. Bennington was a Phoenix, Arizona native who had just left a band called Grey Daze.
Bennington auditioned for Shinoda and Delson over the phone by playing a recording of his lyrics over Xero's instrumentals. The band was blown away and brought Chester in as lead vocalist.
The band began to promote itself aggressively. Unfortunately in the process they discovered that the name "Xero" had already been taken. The band changed its name to Hybrid Theory, to reflect their unique sound.
Hybrid Theory recorded a self-titled EP. Dave Ferrell was unable to record with the band for the EP due to a commitment with another band. Bassist Kyle Christner filled in for Farrell on the album.
This EP helped make the band, and got them signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1999.
The band soon received notice from the Warner legal department that "Hybrid" was already taken by a band in Britain. The group would have to change their name again.
Chester Bennington suggested Lincoln Park, after the park the band drove by every day on the way to recording sessions. The band soon discovered that all the good website domain names for "Lincoln Park" were already owned by other people. They changed the spelling in order to avoid any future problems and thus, Linkin Park was born!
Farrell was again temporarily replaced, this time by bassist Scott Koziol. Farrell rejoined the band in 2001 after the release of their first album.
In October of 2000 Linkin Park's first CD, aptly titled "Hybrid Theory", was released. The album was a huge success and quickly established the sound that Linkin Park is known for. Their music has been described as "Nu Metal", because of its blend of rock, hip-hop, rap, metal, and electronica.
In the time since their launch Linkin Park has toured the globe on their own and as a part of major music festivals. A fan club, called Linkin Park Underground was formed, and an album called "Reanimation" was released that featured remixes of Linkin Park songs by well-known DJ's.
The group won a Grammy in 2002 for "Best Hard Rock Performance". Their next album, "Meteora", was released in 2003 and debuted at number one on Billboard's music charts. The band also collaborated with rapper Jay-Z to release an EP titled "Collision Course".
In 2005 the band established Music for Relief, a benefit organization to help people affected by the 2004 tsunami in India. In 2006 Linkin Park confirmed that they will be producing their third studio album. Rick Rubin of Beastie Boys fame has signed on as producer. The group also received a 2006 Grammy award for "Best Rap/Sung collaboration".
It's safe to say the Linkin Park has made an impact on the music scene and will continue to do so. The band is truly much more than "rap rock" as some critics have labeled them. Fans are eagerly waiting to see how they will smash any pre-conceived labels on their next and future albums.