Old-school
hip-hop
traditional
classic
rock
and
spooling
electronic
vibes
were
the
initial
factors
behind
the
building
of
the
alternative
metal
quintet
Linkin
Park.
The
band's
southern
Californian
musical
roots
were
also
an
underlying
basis
for
drummer
Rob
Bourdon
guitarist
Brad
Delson
and
MC/vocalist
Mike
Shinoda
formed
a
tight
friendship
while
still
in
high
school.
Shortly
after
graduation
art
student
and
DJ
Joseph
Hahn
hooked
up
with
bassist
Dave
"Phoenix"
Farrell
and
Shinoda
for
the
band
Xero.
Hybrid
Theory
came
later
but
the
band
opted
on
the
name
Linkin
Park
when
singer
Chester
Bennington
was
the
last
piece
added
to
the
band
in
1999.
Soon
the
band
became
a
noticeable
face
at
the
Whisky
as
well
as
favorites
in
and
around
Los
Angeles.
Zomba
Music's
Jeff
Blue
was
one
of
the
few
who
didn't
turn
the
band
down
for
a
contract
at
the
turn
of
the
millennium
-
Linkin
Park
signed
to
Warner
Bros.
after
being
turned
down
three
times
in
late
1999
and
got
to
work
on
their
debut
album.
Taking
a
piece
from
their
past
they
named
the
album
Hybrid
Theory.
It
was
released
in
fall
2000
and
it
showcased
their
likes
for
fellow
alternative
acts
such
as
the
Deftones
the
Roots
Aphex
Twin
and
Nine
Inch
Nails.
The
Dust
Brothers
also
collaborated
on
the
record
as
well
as
producer
Don
Gilmore
(Pearl
Jam
Eve
6
Tracy
Bonham).
Singles
such
as
"Crawling"
and
"One
Step
Closer"
were
massive
radio
hits
and
video
favorites
among
the
TRL
crowd
on
MTV.
Joint
tours
with
Family
Values
and
the
Project:
Revolution
Tour
with
Cypress
Hill
led
the
band
to
play
324
shows
in
2001.
Linkin
Park
was
in
demand.
Come
January
2002
Hybrid
Theory
received
three
Grammy
nominations
for
"Best
Rock
Album"
and
"Best
New
Artist."
A
month
later
Linkin
Park
walked
away
with
an
award
for
"Best
Hard
Rock
Performance"
for
"Crawling."
They
spent
the
remainder
of
the
year
hold
up
in
the
studio
again
working
with
Gillmore
recording
a
follow-up
to
their
eight
times
platinum
debut
Hybrid
Theory