Media Credit: Kate Drexel
By: Kate Drexel,
Arts and Entertainment Editor-
Linkin Park’s back, and better than ever! Their new 12-tracked record, LIVING THINGS, was released on June 26th, 2012 for the world to get lost into the new music they had to offer.
The band formed in 1996, starting with three friends since high school: Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon and Brad Delson. The three decided to take their music interests more seriously after high school, by recruiting Joe Hahn, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell and Mark Wakefield to be apart of their band, originally named Xero.
Due to lack of success, Wakefield was forced to leave the band, later being replaced by the band’s current front man, Chester Bennington, in March 1999. They eventually changed their name from Xero to Hybrid Theory. However, after discovering that the name was already being used, they changed it yet again to Lincoln Park, similar to the park in Santa Monica near where the band originated.
Because of expenses and complicated legalities, the band finally changed their name to the title we all know-Linkin Park.
Soon in 2000, their debut album was released into the world with Hybrid Theory. Throughout the years, they successfully released 4 more albums, including this year’s, LIVING THINGS.
This album includes a lot of catchy songs and beats, ones that will never escape your mind. All titles of the songs are in caps lock, representing the band’s ever-changing style.
The first single, “BURN IT DOWN”, was released into the world April 16, 2012. Their music video for the single was released on MTV on May 24. The video has 27 million plus views on YouTube, and has been nominated for the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Rock Video and Best Visual Effects.
Their second single, “LOST IN THE ECHO” was released as an interactive music video connected through Facebook.
Another track off the record, a very moving one for that matter, “POWERLESS” was released as a music video promoting the new horror flick, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, with shots of the band performing live in Russia and the film itself.
Linkin Park participated in the 11th Annual Honda Civic Tour with Mutemath, later joined by Incubus. The tour started on August 11 in Bristow, Virginia at the Jiffy Lube Live Pavilion.
The tour was to promote the new model of the Honda Civic featuring artwork from the Linkin Park album, as part of supporting the release of their new record. The tour ended on September 10 in Chula Vista, California.
As of recently, the band performed at the iHeart Radio Festival in Las Vegas. On September 25, front man Mike Shinoda hosted a video chat with the fan club, Linkin Park Underground.
A total of 700 dedicated fans participated in this chat, causing it to shut down the chat in exactly 20 minutes. The chat took place in Shinoda’s home in Beverley Hills.
Luckily, The Mosaic was able to get VIP access to such a unique opportunity, and got the chance to ask these few questions.
Where will you continue your tour next?
Mike: I believe we will be going to South America next and South Africa for the first time.
Have you messed up on stage before?
Mike: There were times where I messed up on stage, like in the Bristow concert; I started “Bleed It Out” early. Other times, I would mix up verses, like sing the second verse first.
Why did you cut the recent tour short?
Mike: We cut the Honda Civic Tour short so we can go down a different tour route.
What was the hardest part about making LIVING THINGS?
Mike: We all got together and put our heads together to figure it out. It was a lot of energy, especially for Chester, to mash all of the old stuff with the new stuff.
Will there be a Living Things Tour?
Mike: Yes, there will be a Living Things Tour in 2013, starting in Australia and New Zealand.
LIVING THINGS is available for purchase at your local music store and digital download.
5/5
No tracks to skip
