Can u say u started a project in 1996 and had more than 11 million people, worldwide know of your achievements?
Well, Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson can! 1996 was the year Mike and Brad started seriously getting into their music. They created their first material in Mike's bedroom/studio and annoyed his neighbors with sleepless nights, I'm sure they don't mind now!
Mike and Brad attended the same highschool where Brad met Rob Bourdon. The three of them were kickin' when they ventured off to College.
Mike- Art Center College in Pasadena meeting Joseph Hahn
Brad- UCLA sharing an apartment with Phoenix
Phoenix was in a band that he played with in Highschool called "The Snax."
It was then that the first layer of LP was formed..."Xero"
"Xero" consisted of Mike, Brad, Rob, Joe, Phoenix and Mark.
At a show in LA, Zomba Music Publishing signed them.
(mark eventually left "Xero" on good terms, due to "things not working out.")
Phoenix left "Xero" for a bit to tour with "The Snax."
When things started to get involved and in depth, labels were not willing to risk anything with them so they decided to alter themselves a little bit. They needed something to round out the group. They began a search for a lead singer and were having auditions when a friend linked them to a Phoenix, Arizona native, Chester Bennington.
Chester was contacted on his 23rd birthday in the middle of a surprise party and was given the best news of his life, the moment he had been waiting for. Chester had been making albums since he was 16 and had a group of his own called "Grey Daze."
Chester was given a demo of "Xero," one tape with vocals, one just instrumental.
When Chester and his wife, Samantha, listened to the demo Chester said, "we looked at eachother and went, 'This is it, this is the one. It's gonna happen, even if it takes five years."
In three days Chester had recorded his parts and was very excited about this opportunity. Chester called the guys and played the tape over the phone, the next day he was on a plane to L.A. to formally audition for the band.
As soon as Chester began, Rob claims that the other guy that was in the studio to try out just got up and left because he could not compete with someone as great as Chester.
After Chester joined the group, they changed their name to "Hybrid Theory."
It was difficult to get signed, no one wanted them and everyone was turning away. No one seemed to believe in them and you better believe they are regretting that now! Eventually Warner Bros. Records took them on board!
There was a band named "Hybrid" already so they changed there name in memory of a park that Chester used to drive by on his way to rehearsal everynight...
Lincoln Park.
The guys liked the name and thought it flowed and accepted it. Later having to change the spelling to get an official web page....hence:
"LINKIN PARK"
Chester comments on how the name change was a positive thing in that, "It leaves the music to define the name rather than the name define the music."
Phoenix was not present for the recording of the album, Hybrid Theory, but returned in time to tour with them. Now making LP a whole!
Chester Bennington : Vocals
Rob Bourdon : Drums
Brad Delson : Guitars
Joseph Hahn : Records, Sampling
Mike Shinoda : EmCee, Vocals, Beats, Sampling
Dave "Phoenix" Farrell : Bass, Cello
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