СТАТЬИ
Source: Hit Parader :: Article Title: Linkin Park: Enjoying It All
Author: P.J. Merkle :: Issue Date: June 2002
The members of Linkin Park are having the time of their lives. Nearly 2 years after this California-based rap/metal band released their now-sextuple-platinum selling debut disc; Hybrid Theory, Linkin Park just can't seem to get the rock and roll "bug" out of their system. Every few months we keep hearing about how this high-powered unit is going to take a well-deserved break from the rigors of the tour trail ... and almost immediately thereafter, we are informed the group has decided to keep om going "just a little longer."
First it was a variety of opening act gigs that carried the band across the face of Planet Earth. Then just as response to such songs like One Step Closer began to escalate, came a variety of headlining opportunities. Then there was last summer's Ozzfest ... then the start of LP brigade's own Countdown to Revolution outgoing .. and finally there was Projekt Revolution, a road outing that saw this like-minded sextet push things to the musical max. Like high-spirited kids in an amusement park, the members of Linkin Park apparently just can't get enough of a good thing.
"We're having so much fun right now, why should we stop?" Shinoda asked. "Who knows if a chance like this will ever come our way again? I don't want to sound like I don't have confidence that we can do this all over again with our next album, but the opportunity is in front of us right now." No matter what they may-or may not- accomplish in the future, it would be hard to imagine a band enjoying their initial rock and roll experiences more than Linkin Park. Despite the often unpredictable whims that often accopmany sudden stardom, these guys have hung together like family, and remain one of the most approachable, appealing and downright affable units currently operating within the hard rock realm. In fact, as their fame and subsequent fortune has escalated over the last two years, it seems as if the LP brigade has warmed to their new-found statis in the metal hierarchy as few bands have done before. And now, as they finally begin to put their traveling bags away and place their collective concentration upon the writing and recording of Album Two, it seems from being even more daring and more spectacular their second time around.
"There was a lot of things we want to try on the next album." Delson said. "We've been thinking about song ideas, and playing around with a number of things for the last year. We talk about songs and jam a bit backstage and even on the bus. It helps pass the time. We're pretty much ready to go right now. It should be a great album.
So where exactly does a band like Linkin Park go with their second album? Do they follow the kinetic blending of rock reactants that made Hybrid Theiry such a smash? Do they attempt to bring even more diverse musical elements into their bold artistic mix? It seems that we will all have to wait a few more months to find out the answer to these questions. But from the few tantalizing clues that the group members have supplied, it seems as is Linkin Park's sophomore outing is an album destined to make the entire contemporary music world stand upand notice.
"We've always been lucky in that we never had to really 'work' to bring all this together," Shinoda said. "It's all been very natural for us. I'm not saying that it's been easy, because it hasn't. But we've never had to force together ideas that really didn't go together -- at least in our minds. Our music has always been a hybrid of different styles and attitudes. But rather than having them conflict, we've made them work together."
Made them work, indeed. For the last two years these six talented rockers have done seemingly everything possible to make sure that their unique rock and roll belnd provides maximum bang-for-the-buck for their millions of fans aroud the world. For Linkin Park, it certainly has been dfizzying, exhiliarating and often exhausting sojourn through the creative mine field that we all lovingly call rock and roll. But these guys wouldn't have it any other way. From the moment they first hit the spotlight right up through the completition of the Projekt Revolution tour, this unit has continually risen to meet eery challenge presented by the contemporary music world. Their tours, their videos and their album have all thrilled audiences around the globe with their hard-hitting power and street-wise savvy. But there's no denying that the inherent pressures of recording and touring and just taking care of the daily business associated with being in a best-selling band have bgun to take their toll on this still learning unit.
"When things finally do start to break for you, it speeds everything up so much," Sinoda said. "We love everything that's going on, but we really need about 12 more hours in every day to get everything done. There's just so much more involved in life right now. We'd like it if we could just focus on the music and making sure everything was perfect when we go on stage each night. But with all the travel, and the interviews and other stuff to do, it's just not that easy. There are days when you just want to get some rest, but you know you've got a lot of work -- and a lot of fun -- waiting out there for you."
It's certainly not like Shinoda -- or for that matter, any member of Linkin Park -- is complaining about his band's current lot in rock and roll life. In fact, you'd have to looklong and hard to find siz guys more content, congenial and down-right confident than the members of this very special band. Despite all that they've already accomplished, they know there's still a long way to go. They know they've just begun to show what they can do with their imaginative musical blend. And they know that the eyes of the rock world are now anxiously following their every move.
"We haven't even had time to process all the good things that have happened to us," Delson said. "It seems like just about everyday something new comes along to blow our mind. One day it's 'Your new album went multi-platinum.' The next it's 'We're off to Europe.' You certainly appreciate each and every one of those things, but we're so busy, and things are happening so quickly, that you really don't have the chance to let 'em sink all the way in." s how well we all still get along. Sometimes you hear horror stories about bands that have been together on the road for a year or more, and that's just not true with us. We started this whole thing as really good friends, and we still are really good friends now. I don't think we're the kind of band that's got a lot of hidden secrets or surprises. With us, it's pretty much "what you see s what you get." We all have our tastes in music, but even those are pretty normal. I like all sorts of things from rock to rap. Chester has really diverse tastes. Brad's taste may be a little surprising because occasionally we catch him listening to pop music. But all those influences and tastes are cool. They all go into the mix and come out as Linkin Park.
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