More than a decade into the band’s career, it appears that Linkin Park has not lost much of its mojo.
The nu-metal rock act has sold millions of records, beginning with its 2000 multiplatinum debut, “Hybrid Theory.” Earlier this summer, Linkin Park released its fifth album, “Living Things.” And guess what? “Living Things” debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 200, and the album’s first single, “Burn It Down,” also hit No. 1 on the rock and alternative chart.
“I’ve always felt that we just made the best record that we could make at the time,” said Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington during a conference call with national press last month. Incubus lead singer Brandon Boyd also participated in the call. “It really is a testament to how enthusiastic our fan base is about what we do in the studio. And I think that the true test of what we’ve done is good or not is obviously how well the songs hold up over time. But to hit a No. 1 is really something you just kind of hope for when you’re making a record.”
Linkin Park performs at Jiffy Lube Live on Saturday as part of the Honda Civic Tour. Mutemath opens.
| Onstage |
| Linkin Park |
| » Where: Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Drive, Bristow |
| » When: 8 p.m. Saturday |
| » Info: $31 to $88.50; civictour.honda.com |
While on their current tour, Linkin Park — which includes drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave Farrell, Joe Hahn on turntables, and vocalist and guitarist Mike Shinoda — will be able to focus on activism. Music for Relief is offering meet-and-greet packages, with proceeds going to the organization. Bennington said the band is also a supporter of Power the World, which provides sustainable energy to impoverished areas.
“The things that are very important to us at this point are really making sure that our tours are as environmentally friendly as possible, and also giving back to our local community as well as the world community that has been so good to us,” Bennington said. “So those are the things that matter to us.”
For Linkin Park, the band is just at the beginning of its touring cycle in support of “Living Things.” After the Honda Civic Tour, the group is headed this fall to perform in South American and South Africa.
Bennington sees no slowing up, and still appreciates the fans that buy the band’s music and come to shows.
“That’s one of the things that’s so interesting about our business anyways,” Bennington said. “None of us are guaranteed that anyone can come to one of our shows or care about the last record we put out. I personally, throughout my own career, every record that we go into, I look at like, this is our very first album and this is the best representation of what we are. And either people are going to love it or they’re going to hate it. Or not care.”
