Linkin Park

Taking Old School Hip-Hop, Classic Rock and electronic elements into the mix, Linkin Park burst out of the So. Cal music scene. Their debut, “Hybrid Theory” was released in late ’00. Interestingly, the CD’s title was the group’s original name.

For a lot of successful groups their third album is tough. All the initial “brilliant” ideas have been done. They either repeat themselves or find something new – which is what Linkin Park did.

Though Linkin’ Park’s “Minutes To Midnight” took nearly a year and a half to record it wasn’t for lack of material. In a September, ’06, interview Mike Shinoda claimed they had over 100 roughs for songs. “When songs are pouring out you don’t ever want to stop that,” said the vocalist. “We’ve narrowed it down since but we’re not ready to commit to those yet.” Delson felt the arduous process was worth it. “Not only is this album incredibly diverse, but the depth of the material is really strong.”

“We have put more into the new album than anything we have ever done before,” added “Phoenix” Farrell.

Leave it to Bennington to have the last word. “We’ve really moved away from anything that sounds like Nu-Metal,” went the quote. “I know that we kind of helped create the sound of that genre, but I hate that genre.”

Touring in support of a successful album is about as good as it gets in the music business. But there are still challenges. Considering all the bad things that can happen on a world trek, the following was minor but still painful.

Bennington broke his arm during the group’s October, ’07, concert in Melbourne, Australia. “But didn’t let it stop him from playing the rest of the set,” wrote Shinoda in an online post. “It was crazy.”

What happened? “I went to do a jump off the top of the stairs and . . . fell straight back and landed right on my wrist,” explained Bennington. “It f**king hurts, dude.” No doubt. File that one under “the show must go on.”


Bennington proved again to be an injury prone frontman. Linkin Park had to cancel a planned ‘08 tour of China and Taiwan because of Bennington’s hurt back. Doctors ordered him not to travel or exert himself. The tour was to raise funds for China’s earthquake ravaged Sichuan Province. The band still donated money to the cause via their Music For Relief foundation.

On safer turf, “Crank 2: High Voltage” opened in ’09. Bennington and Tool’s Maynard James Keenan appeared in the film. Bennington was a veteran of the first Crank movie.

In another showbiz related note, Delson was the keynote speaker at the UCLA College of Letters and Science commencement ceremony in L.A. Delson was a UCLA grad (class of ’99) with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. “Brad Delson is not only an innovative musician, but he is also a social activist who is committed to change through education,” said UCLA dean Judith L. Smith. Delson replaced actor James Franco who backed out because of student objections (he lacked life experience and accomplishments) and film commitments.

A couple months down the road, Glorious Excess (Dies), artwork by Shinoda went on display at the Japanese American National Museum in L.A. According to Shinoda, the pieces represent “obsession with celebrity culture, consumer addiction and fascination with excess.”

Rick Rubin, who produced “Minutes To Midnight,” returned for the ’10 release “A Thousand Suns.”

“On the last record, Rick’s challenge was getting us to open up our perception of what our music could be,” Bennington told Rolling Stone. “This time we realized it doesn’t matter what the songs sound like. If we like it and it comes from us, it’s Linkin Park.”

Maybe. Though “A Thousand Suns” was nominated for six Billboard Awards in ’11, Linkin Park left empty handed. However, they fared better on the Billboard Year-End charts with a handful on Top 10 placements – #6: Top Rock Artists Chart, #9: Rock Songs Artists Chart, #4: Hard Rock Albums Chart and #7 Alternative Songs Chart.

But then, “A Thousand Suns” alienated a portion of Linkin Park’s core audience. So Bennington made a point of highlighting the change in direction for the group’s fifth album. “With this album, we’ve incorporated a lot of guitar work with big choruses and the heavier electronic stuff to give it that really big wall of sound feeling without getting too Metal,” Bennington told Kerrang! “This will be more familiar to people than “A Thousand Suns” was, where we were like, ‘Fuck it, we’re just going to go bonkers’.”

The previous album’s political slant was markedly absent. “I feel like we’ve found a place where we’ve become comfortable in our skin,” stated Bennington. “We’ve been writing a lot about relationships.”

“Living Things,” so titled because it was “more about people, personal interactions,” dropped in ’12. With first week sales of 220,000 units the album went to #1 on the Billboard 200.

“Funds raised for Sandy Recovery help provide families with access to local childcare and other children’s service in the U.S. In Haiti, funds supported partner organization International Medical Corps’ long-term programs including cholera treatment, primary health care, water and sanitation, and disaster preparedness,” said a statement on the band’s website.

Sometimes a logical act, like dumping a problematic singer, can lead to an unexpected outcome. Having suffered through Scott Weiland’s mercurial ways, Stone Temple Pilots sacked their frontman. In his place, STP recruited Bennington who performed with the group at L.A. radio station KROQ’s annual Weenie Roast. Their set featured STP favorites plus the Bennington/STP single (released under the STP banner) “Out Of Time.”

While Bennington was touring with STP, Linkin Park released “Recharged,” an album featuring updated versions of cuts from their ‘12 record, “Living Things.” The box set contained two CDs and a 48-page photo book.

Linkin Park’s sixth studio album, “The Hunting Party,” held the lead single “Guilty All The Same,” with Rapper Rakim and an ominous keyboard riff. “The bridge on that song was always set up for rapping,” stated Shinoda. “So we decided to ask Rakim; and when we found out he was interested, we were so, so thrilled.”

The album was co-produced by Shinoda and Delson. The latter viewed the set as an alternative “Hybrid Theory” and “maybe its prequel.”

Shinoda had a slightly different take. “It’s a Rock record,” he explained. “It’s loud and it’s Rock, but not in the sense of what you’ve heard before, which is more like ’90s Hardcore-Punk-Thrash.”

“The Hunting Party” included contributions by Page Hamilton (Helmet), Daron Malakian (System Of A Down) and Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine).

The day after the album was released (6/18/14) Linkin Park was inducted into Guitar Center’s RockWalk on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.

Landing at #3 on the Billboard 200, “The Hunting Party” was Linkin Park’s first album since “Hybrid Theory” not to go to #1.

‘I feel like the Billboard chart is for one thing: first-week album sales,” said Shinoda. “This is not really a first-week sales kind of album; it’s a statement album.”

Bennington was back on injured reserve after hurting his leg, which required immediate medical attention. As a result, the remainder of the ’15 “Hunting Party” tour was cancelled after only three shows. “I’m really disappointed this injury has made it impossible to continue with this tour,” the singer said in a statement. 

Linkin Park’s seventh studio album, “One More Light,” contained the lead single, “Heavy,” with pop singer Kiiara, best known for her song “Gold.”

It was the first time the band featured a female vocalist on an original song for a studio album.  And that may have been the tipping point.

There had been social media criticism of Linkin Park’s musical direction, especially when compared to “Hybrid Theory,” but it now reached a crescendo leading Bennington to respond – in less than gracious terms. He stated that people should “move the f*ck on.”

Not to worry, “One More Light” debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It was their first chart-topper since ’12’s “Living Things.” 

Despite the success Bennington’s life took a dark turn.  He committed suicide by hanging at a private residence in Palos Verdes Estates, a district of Los Angeles County on 7/20/17. He was 41 years old.

How could this happen?  No one will know for sure, but Bennington struggled with alcohol and drug abuse and had talked about contemplating suicide as a result of being victim of child abuse.

Ironically, Bennington, a good friend of the late Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell who committed suicide by hanging earlier in the year, died on what would have been Cornell’s 53 ^rd birthday.

As might be expected, Linkin Park’s music was streamed seven times more often in the U.S. on the day of Bennington’s death as compared to the day before. There were 12.6 million on-demand audio streams of the band’s catalog.

At the ’17 American Music Awards Linkin Park were named Favorite Alternative Artist and they dedicated the award to Bennington. 

Just weeks later “One More Light Live” arrived. Recorded on the band’s “One More Light” world tour the set contained “Crawling,” “Numb,” “What I’ve Done,” “Heavy” and the title track.  

Then there was Shinoda’s three-track EP, “Post Traumatic,” referencing Bennington’s suicide.  Shinoda also stated that Linkin Park had “every intention of continuing. 

Since Bennington’s passing his widow, Talinda, and Shinoda diligently supported suicide prevention causes.  They also appeared in an ’18 PSA for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

 Meanwhile, Hahn served as a judge on “Super Band,” a Korean reality TV show. The goal was to create a “super” band comprised of musicians capable of producing music spanning numerous musical genres.  That sounded much like the original plan for Linkin Park.

Linkin Park, largely inactive since ’17’s “One More Light,” – the last album before Bennington’s suicide, the introduced Emily Armstrong, co-founder of Dead Sara, as their new co-vocalist (with Shinoda) and Colin Brittain, a songwriter and producer, on drums during a ‘24 live performance event.

Called the “Janis Joplin for the arena Rock age” Armstrong has said music was the one thing that kept her motivated in life.

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