Q: In less than a year you’ve gone from opening tours (P.O.D., Papa Roach), to headlining your own tours (Taproot, Alien Ant Farm), to playing in Europe (with the Deftones) and now you’re on the main stage of Ozzfest. What has been the secret to your success?

Chester: We're just too damn good looking for them to put us on a different stage.

Mike: Here we go again.

Phoenix: For us, touring and performing is our life. It always has been. The secret to our success is touring and determination.

Joe: From the get go, all we wanted to do was get our music out there to the public.

Q: In October 2000, your album debuted at #16 on the Billboard charts, which is unusual for a young band. What factors helped your album to debut so strongly?

Mike: It’s not unusual as many people think it is, well, at least I don't think so. I mean, look at Hanson. They were younger than us when they released their first album and it skyrocketed.

Brad: Did he just say Hanson?

Chester: Touring, touring, and more touring. We've been touring non-stop for a very long time. Its gotten to the point where the guys take their girlfriend's and I take my wife on tour with us when we go overseas or on long tour's.

Q: On the latest Billboard, your album climbed to its highest position ever at #8, and has been on the charts for 40 weeks. What is it about Linkin Park that not only remains popular in the eyes of your diehard fans, but also seems to attract new listeners with every new day?

Rob: In my opinion, people want to hear something new besides the same old crap that they play on MTV, the same bubblegum pop that's practically taken over MTV.

Chester: If I see that Willa Ford music video one more time, I think I'm going to yarf. I really don't understand what the deal is with people who don't write their own music. They may have a good voice and everything, they may know how to dance, but give me a break. I really have no respect for people who don't write their own music.

Mike: We have great fans and we're gaining more every day.

Joe: We're going to take over the world.

Mike: Our fans are some of the most intelligent people. It’s awesome to perform night after night and meet new fans and old fans.

Rob: Without our fans, we wouldn't be where we are today.

Chester: Exactly.

Q: On the opposite side of the coin, you have Linkin Park-haters who believe your band sold out since your "Hybrid Theory" days due to your recent success on MTV (Return of the Rock, 3 music videos, MTV Cribs, 2 VMAs nominations for Crawling, etc). What are your thoughts on this?

Mike: You don't see us making Burger King Commercials or anything like that do you?

Chester: Sellout. I hate that word. We didn't sellout at all. Some people should just pull their heads out of their asses. MTV is a great way to get music out to people worldwide. You're not selling out if you're on MTV. We just look at it as an opportunity for publicity and a way to get our music out to more people.

Joe: Music videos are great. They're a way for the artist or band to express themselves not only music wise, but visually too. We try to make our music videos like mini-movies.

Q: Going back to Ozzfest, what kind of experience has this tour been to your band (fan support, other bands, venues, crowds, etc)?

Chester: It’s been one hell of an experience. We've had some good times, and some bad times. All in all, it was great. The audiences that we've performed in front of have been really cool.

Mike: Ozzfest has been one of the best tours for us because not only are we getting out to our normal fanbase, but people who have never listened to us before are getting a taste of what we have.

Q: Can you tell me if there is any kind of process that is used for bands to be chosen for Ozzfest, and how Linkin Park was chosen not only for Ozzfest, but for the main stage?

Chester: It just depends on if you're at the right place at the right time.

Mike: It’s one of the mysteries of Ozzfest!

Chester: We were just glad to be a part of Ozzfest. The bands that we've been touring with on Ozzfest have been extremely cool.

Q: Besides Ozzfest, you’ve had a chance to play with a number of great bands. Has there been a particular act so far that has really impressed you, or is just fun to tour with?

Chester: STONE TEMPLE PILOTS!

Mike: I knew you were going to say that.

Chester: Stone Temple Pilots are my favorite band. They have everything you could ever want in a band.

Joe: Chester worships Scott Weiland. STP is great. They're really fun guys to be around.

Chester: Orgy is another great band. Ryan and I and Brian (Head) from KoRn have been working on my signature series for the Replicant Clothing Line that they have. My wife and I are also currently working on a few pieces for the line as well. But I won't say anything else because it’s a surprise.

Q: Do you have any wild stories or embarrassing moments to share, while living on the road?

Chester: While we were on the road a few months ago, there was this huge rumor that my wife and I had split up and I was seeing Chasmin Stover, she's the former bass player of the band Fetisch.

Mike: The funny thing is, we never met her before that rumor and we ran into her at a show back in February. Her and Joe hit it off and now she's his girlfriend.

Joe: Ironic huh?

Chester: There was another time when Mike was in a really foul mood and we had to make a pit stop so he could use a porta potty.

Mike: Chester?!

Joe: I remember this one!

Chester: Anyways, Mike went to use the porta potty and we were waiting inside the RV. It was Joe's idea, but we all got out and started to rock the thing back and forth. We didn't mean to, but we ended up tipping the porta potty over while Mike was in it!

Mike: That was so not funny.

Joe: Yeah it was, you should have seen the look on your face when you got out of there!

Rob: Mike was covered in crap. He had to strip down before we let him back on the bus because he smelled so bad!

Chester: Then we attacked him with air freshener.

Brad: Lysol!

Mike: I almost ran over Chester with a golf cart when we were in Florida.

Chester: That was pure evil.

Q: You’ve had a chance to perform in both indoor clubs and large outside venues? What are the pros & cons of each, and which do you prefer?

Mike: I like both. I love small venues because you can really get up close and personal with your fans. But then again, I like big venues too because there's more people.

Chester: Well said.

Phoenix: I agree with Mike. He took the words right out of my mouth.

Q: I believe that after Ozzfest, you are scheduled to headline a European tour with Adema opening. What’s the difference between American venues and European venues?

Chester: European moshpits are very violent.

Mike: They like to throw stuff at bands.

Phoenix: When we were in Europe last, someone threw a full water bottle at me but I caught it before it hit me.

Joe: I remember that! It was like seeing something out of the movie The Matrix.

Brad: We get lots of bra's and underwear thrown at us too.

Chester: Someone threw one of those water bra's at me. You know the one's with the fake balloon things inside them that are filled with water to make girls' boobs look bigger? Someone threw a red one at me and I put it on and wore it for the rest of that concert.

Q: Your band has also been rumored to appear on this year’s Family Values tour. Can you confirm any information like when the tour will get started and who else will be included on the tour?

Chester: Yes we're on the lineup for Family Values. A few of the other bands that are also on the lineup are Stone Temple Pilots, Staind, just a lot of great bands.

Mike: We can't forget about Lostprophets either. They're going to be on the lineup too.

Joe: We really can't disclose the kickoff date yet. It’s a surprise.

Q: Besides Family Values and your upcoming European tour, do you have any other tours in the works?

Mike: That's another big surprise. You'll just have to keep your eyes peeled and your ears open.

I’d like to talk about your music now.

Q: You’ve already released 2 singles in One Step Closer & Crawling, with In the End (my personal fav) scheduled to be released in mid-August, followed by Papercut (I believe) in Sept. What other tracks can we expect to be released as singles?

Mike: We want to release all of them as singles.

Joe: We're going to try at least.

Chester: We feel that all of the songs on the album are great and all of them would be perfect for singles.

Q: In the End will be your third music video. How important is music videos to a band’s success these days and is there ever a time where image becomes more important than the music?

Chester: Image is never more important than the music.

Joe: Music videos are great for publicity, but when it all boils down, music is much more important than the image.

Q: You’re planning on releasing a DVD later this year. What can we expect to find on this DVD?

Mike: That's supposed to be a secret too, but it will have tons of live footage, behind the scenes stuff, out takes, slipups, everything like that. A lot of fan stuff as well.

Q: Certain members of Linkin Park will be making a guest appearance on the upcoming new X-ecutioners album, "Built From Scratch". Can you explain who was contributing to what, and how the final product sounds?

Mike: Joe and I did that.

Joe: The final product is going to be a mix of hard yet melodic sounds and of course, good beats.

Q: Are there any other musicians you would like to collaborate with, or have make guest appearances on a future album?

Chester: Stone Temple Pilots!

Mike: Our friends from Orgy. Those guys are a riot.

Phoenix: Aaron Lewis. He's a great musician.

Joe: I'd like to try something with Stevie Nicks or Tuuli. It would be different and something brand new. It’s always good to experiment with new things and branch out and try things that you've never tried before.

Chester: Yes and I'm going to join the band Kittie soon.

Mike: And I'm going to be one of Cher's backup dancers!

Q: Speaking of a new album, do you have any new material in the works right now, and if so, can you give us some information (song titles, lyrics, possible release date, etc)?

Mike: We're always writing new material. But we can't give away anything right as of now because it’s just pre-material and that would spoil the surprise.

Q: You worked with Don Gilmore (The Apex Theory) on your debut album. What producers would you like to work with in the future?

Chester: Butch Vig. He's excellent at what he does. Not only is he a great musician, but an awesome producer.

Mike: We'd also like to work with Orgy too.

Q: What would you like to accomplish on your new album that you didn’t on your debut album?

Chester: To be honest, we're happy with the way our last album turned out. It was great and it was accepted by millions of people.

Mike: It turned out to be the most incredible thing that has ever happened to us.

Q: Originally Phoenix was a part of your band, then he left, and now he has rejoined. Can you explain this little drama?

Phoenix: Back when Linkin Park was called Xero, I decided to go with my old band, The Snax, when they went on tour because they needed me. I dropped Xero and went with them. But when we got done touring after a year, I came back to the guys. The rest is history.

Q: What does Phoenix bring to Linkin Park, and how much influence will he have on writing & recording any new material (as I believe he wasn’t part of the writing process beforehand)?

Joe: We're all helping out with writing new material for the next album.

Mike: Phoenix brings his own personality into the band. We all have our own set personalities. He's the weirdo and Chester is the conceited one who likes to show off his butt. Joe has an obsession with frogs, Brad loves to sleep as much as he possibly can. Never give Rob chopsticks.

Chester: Yeah and Mike snores.

Q: Can we expect to see any older tracks (Step Up, High Voltage, etc) re-worked for any future releases?

Mike: A remix album is in the works, but that's all we're going to say about that one.

Q: You’re music as a whole contains a kind of hip-hop/metal vibe. What are your thoughts on the whole "rap-rock" phenomenon?

Mike: We didn't invent the whole phenomenon and neither did Limp Bizkit or Crazy Town, or any of those bands for that matter. Rock and hip-hop have collaborated for years. We don't try to put a label on what we do. We take everything that we can reach for musically, and mesh it together.

Joe: The Beastie Boys are one of my biggest influences. They've done so much with the whole thing and they're still going strong.

Q: Linkin Park is known for their commitment to their fans (art contest, chats, etc). What other surprises do you have in store for your fans in the future?

Chester: We can't spill any information yet, but what we have in store for the fans will blow everyone out of the water because we have a ton of special stuff in the works.

Q: Do you have any last words for your fans?

Mike: I'd like to thank all of our fans for their endless because without them we wouldn't be where we are today.

Chester: I would like to also thank the fans on the Internet over at the official message board, Liz and the others over at the Bennington Family yahoo club, www.linkinparkweb.com , www.lpfan.com , and www.lpstreetsoldier.com among the other wonderful websites, message boards, and what not that have been supporting us!

Phoenix: Yes, thanks for all of your support and we'll be seeing you on the road!