Linkin
Park is not just Rock, Rap, or Electronica. They are a Hybrid of different
styles, which makes them truly unique.
Linkin Park started in 1996 when rapper Mike Shinoda and guitarist Brad Delson
started a band called Xero. Also in the band was Mark Wakefield the vocalist,
Joseph Hahn the DJ, Rob Bourdon the drummer, and "Phoenix" Farrell the
bassist. The band made a four track demo tape including: Fuse, Stick N' Move,
Rhinestone, and Reading My Eyes. Mark Wakefield left the band and the guys
changed the band's name to Hybrid Theory. Phoenix left the band to tour with
another band, "The Snax." The guys played for fun and later, became
signed with Zomba Music when they played at Los Angeles’s Whiskey Club. The
last addition to the band came along, Chester Bennington. He thought that he
could really help with the music. Chester has an extraordinary voice when he
sings aggressively; he could nail pitches that no one else could reach. He said,
"Years of singing built up a lot of scar tissue." Hybrid Theory made a
six track EP in 1999 including: Carousel, Technique, And One, Step Up, High
Voltage, and Part of Me.
A year later, the band changed their name to Linkin Park to avoid legal hassles.
They chose Linkin Park because Chester regularly drove by Lincoln Park and
thought it was unique. He said that he liked the name because the music would
define the name rather than the name to define the music. They changed the
Lincoln to get the URL site www.linkinpark.com. Phoenix came back to the band
when The Snax were done touring to be a permanent member of the group. After
trying hard to find a record company, Warner Bros. Records signed Linkin Park
when they heard their demos.
In October 2000, Linkin Park released their debut album, Hybrid Theory. Hybrid
Theory includes hits like One Step Closer, Crawling, and In The End. Hybrid
Theory eventually received 8x platinum. Hybrid Theory didn't include any curses
because the band wanted to write honest lyrics and they thought that the curses
took away from the music. The band wanted something that they could listen to
over and over again and still enjoy. They thought they achieved that
accomplishment.
After releasing Hybrid Theory, the band tour all over the world, receiving fame
everywhere. They toured with bands like POD, 3 Doors Down, and System Of a Down.
In July of 2002, LP released the Hybrid Theory Remix album, Reanimation. The
remixes include rappers like Black Thought and includes 20 tracks.
Linkin Park started writing new material on their tour bus in late 2002. In
March of 2003, LP released their sophomore album, Meteora. This album includes
hits like Somewhere I Belong, Faint, and Numb. Included on Meteora and
Reanimation were enhanced portions of the discs. These included videos and other
goodies you could view on your PC. The band wanted the fans to see the process
and the "Blood, Sweat, and Tears," they put into making the record
with the final result.
Linkin Park has won many awards including an award at the VMAs. Their popularity
has grown worldwide. From their curse-free lyrics, to their turntables and
samples, to their hybrid genres, Linkin Park is truly a unique group.