Linkin Park is a global phenomenon with millions of fans around the world. The band has sold over 50 million albums worldwide. In addition, their music has been featured in numerous video games, movies, trailers, and TV shows.
Linkin Park is genre-bending AF and is adored their fans for their ability to shift genres with each release.
Their polarizing album, One More Light, was a great example of this, released on May 19th, 2017. It was a substantial stylistic change and divided critics across the spectrum. Despite this, Linkin Park created top-charting songs from the album, notably “Heavy.”
Whether they’re donating their time and energy to charity initiatives that assist individuals coping with mental health difficulties or supporting efforts to raise money following natural disasters, Linkin Park never shies away from getting involved.
Read below for a few reasons why all people should love Linkin Park!
7. Linkin Park Have The Biggest Hearts
Linkin Park has always been about more than just the music. They have put time and money into some really great causes. Their most notable charity is Music For Relief, which they started in 2005 to help the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Music For Relief has raised over 12 million dollars for various relief efforts, such as natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, tsunamis in Japan and Haiti, and the 2020 California Wildfires.
Linkin Park also puts together many headlining events to benefit the organizations’ missions, such as the “Music For Relief: Concert for The Philippines” at Club Nokia on January 11th, 2014. Linkin Park headlined an event that raised over $300,000 for victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Music For Relief is also a member of the Power the World initiative, aiming to provide 1 million families in developing nations with long-term, sustainable energy solutions.
Another excellent example of how much they care is the One More Light Fund, established in memory of their late singer Chester Bennington. The One More Light Fund was established to assist people who are having difficulties with their mental health. They have so far raised over $1 million for this purpose, keeping the memory of their beloved frontman alive.
Finally, one of Chester’s most poignant moments came from his last ever concert, when he took a moment out to comment on the (then) recent Manchester bombings:
“I just want to make sure before we leave and go back home, that we pay our respect and share some of our love and our prayers for the families and the victims of the tragedy at the Manchester Arena. My heart has never been broken so much, until the day I found out that that tragedy happened. And since that day I’ve been wearing these little earrings with the bees in ’em, I know that’s a symbol of strength and hope in the city of Manchester.
And I’m gonna keep these in, I’m gonna keep these in, until all this nonsense stops and we can start loving each other, we can stop hurting each other, because we believe in something different, than the person standing next to us. The one thing that can’t be defeated is love, right? You can conquer hate by ignoring it, you can destroy it by loving the person next to you. So I want everybody here tonight to look at the person standing next to you and just tell ’em that you love ’em and you are happy that they’re here with you tonight, having a good time.
Listening to music. Celebrating life. We don’t care what you look like, we don’t care where you come from, we don’t care what you believe in. We love every single one of you out there, and nothing will ever change that.”
6. Linkin Park’s Debut Album Was The Voice of a Generation
Linkin Park has had a significant impact on the current rock music climate, and Hybrid Theory was a significant turning point when it was released. It was one of the top-selling albums of 2001, as well as one of the best-selling debut records ever. Of course, many fans still adore “One Step Closer,” the album’s lead single, but there are even more reasons to love this record.
Hybrid Theory was a one-of-a-kind work. With musical influences from Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Deftones, and U2 and Shinoda’s hip hop background, it’s creative and innovative. The combination of electronic genres with rap and rock feels distinctive compared to other nu-metal bands. Chester’s voice is passionate, fiery, and soulful, adding a distinct flavor to the music.
Along with pushing boundaries musically, Linkin Park’s 2000 debut album had a tangible effect on listeners’ lives. The narratives woven throughout the songs, drawn from Chester’s own adolescent experiences, seemed thoroughly autobiographical to many people who grew up in the early 2000s. What’s even better, is that many current rock bands directly credit Linkin Park for their existence. Bands like Motionless In White and Bring Me The Horizon, both state Linkin Park as a massive influence on their careers. These bands have accomplished much in their own right, and none of this would’ve been possible without this band.
A recurring theme in tributes that appeared on the internet after Bennington’s untimely death is how Hybrid Theory helped many through dark times. Many individuals would not be here if it weren’t for this album, and as a result, it will always be a classic.
5. They Made The Brilliant A Thousand Suns
A Thousand Suns, the fourth studio album from Linkin Park, was a significant departure from popular music at the time. Before this release, Linkin Park was already known for being a hard rock group with various genre influences. However, they still had an easily identifiable sound. So when A Thousand Suns dropped in 2010, it shattered all preconceptions about what Linkin Park could accomplish as a band.
The innovative and creative songwriting of this album is unrivaled. It is a testament to the exceptional quality of this release that it should be placed alongside such game-changing albums as Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. A Thousand Suns was Linkin Park’s attempt to stretch their own boundaries. They experimented with sounds and genres not typically seen from other rock groups of the time. Where else would you discover hints of Reggae, Bhangra, Industrial Rock, Progressive Rock, Ambient Rock, and influences from Public Enemy and The Beatles all in one album? A Thousand Suns isn’t only genre-defying; it’s an array of styles that only Linkin Park could pull off.
A concept record about nuclear war and mankind’s fallibility, this album seemed to be the perfect follow-up to Minutes To Midnight. While Minutes To Midnight warned of humanity’s impending destruction, A Thousand Suns was the atom bomb that decimated everything in its wake. From this moment on, Linkin Park would never be the same. No musical style, sound, or experiment was out of bounds. This was their line in the sand. The band carried on with Hybrid Theory’s mission statement and ran with it in a previously unimaginable way. Many critics consider it their masterpiece, and after 11 years, there is still nothing on the radio like it.
4. Linkin Park’s Incredible Fanclub and Their Connection To Fans
Known as the LP Underground, the Linkin Park Fanclub is a community for fans of the band to discuss and share their passion for Linkin Park. The fan club has been in operation for 20 years. It offers a plethora of perks that are not available to other fan clubs, including annual merchandise boxes and previously unheard demos.
The band has also held international fan gatherings since 2010. The first Linkin Park summit was held in London, England, at the O2 Arena and attracted fans worldwide. These worldwide summits, including an in-person fan Q&A with the band, backstage trips, and extended length meet and greets, have brought fans closer to the group than ever before.
To date, the band has hosted summits in London (England), Sydney (Australia), Chicago (Illinois, USA), Hamburg (Germany), Tokyo (Japan), Camden (New Jersey, USA), Cape Town (South Africa), Auckland (New Zealand), Hong Kong (China), Darien Center (New York), The Woodlands (Texas), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Calgary (Alberta).
Even though the future of the fan club has been uncertain since 2017, it is still active today. Many “LPU Lifers” still proudly call the fan club home.
Social Media Presence
The band has maintained a solid social media presence, often engaging with followers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. In addition, the band’s members frequently retweet or reply to remarks and showcase fan content.
Mike Shinoda is an excellent example of this. He currently streams on Twitch several times a week to interact with his followers, create art and music, or simply play video games with them. Earlier this year, Mike launched a series called “Shinoda Produce Me,” in which fans submitted songs for him to remix and perform live on his Twitch channel.
Linkin Park also, at one point, had Global fan Ambassadors to help promote the band and their music. The Linkin Park Ambassador program included fansites from around the globe, including Australia, Brazil, Chile, England, Germany, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Portugal, and others. Some examples of these fansites were The Linkin Park Association, Linkin Park Live, Linkin Park Fan Corner, and Blackchester.de.
Each ambassador provided valuable insight on Linkin Park’s music in their native language while promoting the band’s works across the globe. Only Linkin Park could figure out such a remarkable way to directly involve the fans!
3. Linkin Park’s Sense of Humor
The band’s hilarious personalities have always endeared them to fans. Linkin Park has never shied away from allowing its hair down for a quick chuckle, whether it’s with the long-sought-after “Wizard Song” from Meteora’s Making Of or whole EPs of joke songs.
This was most apparent when Linkin Park released a fan club-only EP under the fake band name “MMM…Cookies,” called Sweet Hamster Like Jewels From America!We’re not kidding. This hilarious EP featured such classics as PB & Jellyfish, No Laundry, and 26 Lettaz in the Alphabet. Sadly, some fans took it too seriously and complained. This is why we can’t have nice things.
Eventually, Linkin Park would create a spiritual follow-up to this release when they appeared on Good Mythical Morning. Linkin Park appeared on the show in episode #1135 to help Rhett and Link discover if music could affect food taste. An absolutely hilarious EP ensued, including songs about Flaming Hot Cheetos, Sour Patch Kids, Cup of Noodles, Global Warming…and mouth beef.
Never stop being yourselves, guys.
2. Linkin Park and Their Production Team are Leaders in Crowd Safety
On August 13th, 2011, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, a stage collapsed moments before Sugarland was set to take the stage. Linkin Park’s long-time tour manager Jim Digby founded the Event Safety Alliance in response to this tragedy. Jim was always very passionate about crowd safety, working off 30+ years of experience with acts like Bon Jovi, Marilyn Manson, and Phil Collins. He wanted to enact meaningful change in the industry.
Jim formed The Event Safety Alliance to provide guidance on safety measures and educate the industry on preventing similar tragedies. The emphasis of the ESA is to make professionals and guests “empowered, safe, and aware” about potential hazards around them. In addition, the ESA holds safety summits, severe weather summits, and crowd safety symposium workshops.
If Someone Falls Down…
The band is highly concerned about fan safety. They take any occurrences that endanger fans very seriously, even if they are not to blame or at fault. For example, in 2012, after scaffolding outside of a concert venue in Cape Town, South Africa, collapsed from high winds and killed one woman and injured 19 others, Linkin Park still reached out in a show of support.
“Following our performance tonight at Cape Town Stadium, we were advised that several people were injured as a result of the collapse of an advertising tower erected by Lucozade in the parking area outside the venue,” the band stated on their website.
“Though we have had no relationship with the sponsor or the entity responsible for erecting the structure, we take the safety of our fans very seriously, and our thoughts are with all of those who were affected by this tragedy.”
This is why the Event Safety Alliance’s dedication to weather safety is so vital. Linkin Park has always worked closely to guarantee that every event is as safe as possible.
If you’re a fan of Linkin Park, you’re no doubt familiar with their guiding principle. “If someone falls down? Pick ’em up!” The band has been known to halt concerts to save lives, discourage out-of-control crowd behavior, and prevent assaults. In short, you can rest confident that your safety is in good hands if you see Linkin Park live.
1. The Incomparable Chester Bennington
Chester Bennington’s voice was one of Linkin Park’s most distinctive features. Chester’s incredible range didn’t just place him among the best vocalists of his time; it made him one of the greatest voices ever, in my opinion. Don Gilmore once famously said that Chester could sound like three people singing at once. So there is no argument that Chester has earned his title as an icon.
Linkin Park could explore anything from folk, pop, R&B, metal, or even country in their songs (“Sharp Edges”). Yet, Chester never failed to dominate the performance. The passion that seethed through his lyrics and vocals made Linkin Park shows unforgettable experiences. Chester was a vocalist who could switch from screaming his lungs out to flawlessly recreating Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” with a studio-perfect pitch a few songs later. It is telling that even the best rock vocalists of this generation can’t sing Linkin Park songs as Chester did. Because when it comes to rock vocalists: There was Chester Bennington, and then there was everyone else.
A Legacy That Lives On
In closing, Linkin Park is an iconic band for many reasons. Their cultural impact on society has been monumental. Songs like “Numb” still resonate with fans 18 years since its release. They are a band that doesn’t care about genre lines or trends; they do what they want and create meaningful art in every way possible- from album covers to live shows.
With every new generation of music listeners than comes about, more and more people are discovering this absolutely incredible band and what they have to offer. We strongly believe that Linkin Park have the potential to be like Nirvana, or U2, in the sense that decades from now their music will continue to be enjoyed and continue to inspire people the world over.
We can confidently say that we will continue to love Linkin Park forever.
What are the reasons you love Linkin Park? Let us know in the comments below.,
