| Ask
Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson for a wish-list of bands hed
like to tour with, and hes ready with a response. "We told
our manager, Pick a band and we can tour with them. Our
music reaches out in so many directions that theres pretty much
an unlimited amount of cool bands with which we could play.."
Delson
is understandably proud of the diversity and uniqueness apparent
on the bands debut album, Hybrid Theory (the bands original
name). Built on an aggressive hard rock foundation, flavored with
hip-hop vocal stylings and electronic flourishes, Linkin Parks
sound is utterly their own, an accomplishment strengthened by the
bands remarkably powerful and unforced songwriting. But almost
everything about Linkin Park has been unforced, including their
Southern California origins.
Delson
and emcee/vocalist Mike Shinoda attended the same high school together,
where Delson also met the bands drummer, Rob Bourdon. Shinoda
then hooked up with DJ Joseph Hahn while studying painting at the
Pasadena Art Center. The final piece in the puzzle was singer Chester
Bennington, a transplanted Arizona native who started making records
when he was sixteen.
"Since
I learned how to talk Ive been telling everybody I was gonna
grow up to be a singer," laughs Bennington. "When I was
two, I used to run around singing Foreigner songs theres
tapes of me doing that."
The
combination of Benningtons rich, mammoth vocal style clicked
immediately with Shinodas streetwise emceeing. "I think
one of Chester and Mikes goals is to be as integrated as possible,"
offers Delson. "We want our sound to come across so that people
go, oh, thats Linkin Park, not I heard this
hip-hop part, and now theyre hitting me over the head with
this rock chorus. We want everything to have dynamics, but
also a continuous cohesive flavor, so that you know what band youre
listening to."
It
was that cohesive style and instantly memorable songs that attracted
immediate attention, starting with a publishing offer after the
bands very first show at L.A.s famed Whisky. After showcasing
around town and eventually inking with Warner Bros., the band began
work on their first album with producer Don Gilmore (Eve 6, Lit,
Pearl Jam). "We met with a lot of people and had a very difficult
time deciding," says Shinoda. "But Don, aside from making
things sound good, stood out as someone who could really push us
further as songwriters.
The
end result is an album thats as well-crafted and melodic as
it is confrontational, with a strong lyrical message.
"We
try to push real things through in our lyrics; whether its
feeling insignificant or questioning your own thoughts or discovering
the dark side of yourself."
Weaving
influences as diverse as Deftones, Nine Inch Nails, Aphex Twin,
and The Roots into a single unified whole, Linkin Park and Hybrid
Theory are living proof that a fresh combination of talent, an unwavering
dedication to craft, and a pure artistic vision can result in a
powerful musical statement.
"Ive
wanted to do this my whole life, and I feel really blessed to be
here," says Bennington. "A lot of hard work and dedication
and faith can get you through anything and make it happen."
|
|