Mike Shinoda, who was born in Los Angeles in 1977, is a founding member of the American rock band Linkin Park. In the 00s, they gained significant recognition as pioneers of the nu-metal genre. Building a strong fanbase online in the late 90s, they reached mainstream success in 2000 with their first album, Hybrid Theory, which remains one of the top-selling albums of all time. After releasing seven albums with Linkin Park, Shinoda debuted his solo album, Post Traumatic, which features songs written after the tragic death of Linkin Park co-frontman Chester Bennington in 2017. His latest EP, The Crimson Chapter, has recently been released.
At the time this photo was taken, I was 25 years old and backstage during a US tour. During that period, I had a distinct difference in behavior depending on whether I was with friends or in a professional setting like a photoshoot or on stage with Linkin Park. Like many artists, I created a persona as a way to protect myself. Being in the spotlight made me uncomfortable, so I developed a certain way of acting around others. This can be seen in many of the pictures from that time – I appear more confident, almost like I was trying to imitate the rap artists I admired, such as Public Enemy. Thankfully, I have since become more comfortable and have let go of that persona.
If I were left to my own devices, I would simply stay still in a photo. However, we had already taken numerous pictures for various publications, so photographers would request more unique poses. I was open to doing a relatively harmless pose like this, but some photographers would ask for more bizarre shots: “Just be silly!”; “Will you jump off of this thing?”; “Can you make a dumb face?” I quickly realized that if they took 100 normal photos and one silly one, they would choose the silly one for the cover. This made us frustrated, and eventually we learned to refuse these requests. If they asked us to do something crazy, we would just say no.
During this time, my memories are not clear, but we were definitely experiencing great success. We were on a lengthy tour and promoting our second album, Meteora, while simultaneously recording it. We traveled to various cities around the world for 18 months without taking any breaks. I was hardly ever at home and ended up letting go of my apartment lease. My belongings were put into storage and when I returned, I would stay with my girlfriend. I was still young and inexperienced, but it was a transformative experience to try new foods, see unique architecture, and immerse myself in different cultures.
As our group grew in size, our core remained the same – dedicated to carefully selecting and conveying our message. We constantly questioned our intentions: what message were we trying to convey through our music and what was our artistic vision? We were aware that our album, Hybrid Theory, had a profound impact on many people and would be a memorable moment. However, we were adamant about not getting stuck in a past version of ourselves. Now, I can reflect with a hint of nostalgia. I can even laugh at the ridiculous pants I used to wear during that time.
During my childhood, music was my main interest and pastime. It wasn’t until 1996, when Linkin Park was formed, that music became my job instead of just something I enjoyed. I began playing the piano at the age of four and continued to expand my musical skills through exploring jazz, rap, and blues. I also learned how to play the guitar, keyboard, and use samplers. While studying at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, I believed I was heading towards a career as an illustrator. I supported myself by working as a graphic designer and used my earnings to purchase music equipment and records.
Being famous was never a priority for us, but it ended up happening anyway. In the beginning, we would all cram into photos together. The photographers wanted it to be just Chester or me and Chester, but we wanted people to know that our band was a collective effort, not just the lead singers at the front. While it was a blessing for Linkin Park to gain recognition and respect, I would have been content with success without the fame that came with it. The celebrity aspect of my career always felt strange to me, which is why I created an art series in 2008 and 2009 called “Glorious Excess,” where I explored topics such as celebrity culture, reality TV, and famous figures like Michael Jackson and Princess Diana. As I walked red carpets with other famous people, I couldn’t help but think about how odd and unnatural the whole experience was. It was both fascinating and unsettling to be treated a certain way simply because our music was popular.
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That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the success of something that a lot of people had told us was not going to work. We felt vindicated, especially by the connection we had with our fans. As we got further into our career, everybody in the band adapted in different ways, but we always tried to look after each other. Each member of Linkin Park is very intelligent academically – but emotionally smart, too, which was fundamental at times. We toured non-stop for the first two records, and kudos to Brad [Delson, guitarist], Dave [Farrell, bassist] and Rob [Bourdon, drummer], who took stock of how our lives had changed and suggested we had a break. They would say things like, “Aren’t we lucky to have done this? But don’t we also have a lot of responsibility now?” That subtle approach to communicating was very powerful and led us to the decision to slow down for a minute.
I wouldn’t have taken the time to pause and contemplate without their presence. I am constantly filled with creative ideas and rarely experience a period of stagnation. Whether it’s writing songs, collaborating with my band, composing for a film, or painting for leisure, I am constantly in motion. Everyone handles grief differently; for me, I found solace in staying active through music and art.
While we did not directly address aging in our lyrics, the concept of evolution was a recurring theme throughout our time in Linkin Park. In 2007, we took note of the changing landscape of the music industry. When we first entered the scene, bands like Korn, Rage Against the Machine, and Nine Inch Nails were able to achieve chart success. However, by the release of our third album, Minutes to Midnight, bands like the Strokes and the White Stripes were dominating. We were aware of the emergence of younger artists with fresh ideas and our band’s evolving role in the industry. This did not cause concern, but rather motivated us to continue looking towards the future.
Recently, we received the figures for our 2023 listenership data. We have gained a significant number of new followers, estimated in the tens of millions, on various streaming services. It’s amusing to observe the spread of memes on TikTok featuring Linkin Park’s music. This group of fans is personally thrilling to me, not just because it means more supporters for our art, but also because it proves the lasting impact of our songs. At the time, I could never have imagined that our music would still resonate with people two decades later.
Source: theguardian.com
