History of Linkin Park in Timeline
Linkin Park is an American rock band formed in 1996. The original lineup included Chester Bennington (lead vocals), Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Dave Farrell, and Rob Bourdon. Bennington's death in 2017 led to a hiatus and Bourdon's departure. The band reformed in 2024 with new members Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain.
3 hours ago : Linkin Park Returns to Australia After 13 Years with 'From Zero' Tour.
Linkin Park triumphantly returned to Australia after 13 years, performing their 'From Zero' tour in Brisbane. It marked their first Aussie show in over a decade, with the full setlist available.
1950: Analysis of Billboard hits features Linkin Park
A 2015 analysis of Billboard hits from 1950 to 2005 on Spotify, identified Linkin Park's "Numb" and "In the End" as highly "timeless" songs.
1994: Collision Course
In 1994, Alice in Chains' Jar of Flies, Collision Course with Jay-Z became the second ever EP to top the Billboard 200, going on to sell over 300,000 copies in its first week.
1996: Linkin Park Formation
In 1996, Linkin Park was formed in Agoura Hills, California.
November 1997: Xero Demo Album Release and First Show
In November 1997, Xero released a four-track demo album and performed their first show at the Whisky a Go Go, opening for SX-10 and System of a Down.
1998: Jeff Blue's Impression of Xero
In 1998, Jeff Blue was impressed with Xero's live show but believed they needed a different vocalist.
March 1999: Chester Bennington Joins Xero
In March 1999, Chester Bennington joined Xero as the new vocalist, recommended by Jeff Blue.
May 1999: Self-Titled EP Release
In May 1999, Hybrid Theory released a self-titled extended play (EP) and circulated it across internet chat-rooms and forums.
October 1999: Bassists Recruitment
In October 1999, Scott Koziol and Ian Hornbeck replaced Kyle Christner as bassists for Hybrid Theory recordings.
1999: Signing with Warner Bros. Records and Name Change
In 1999, Hybrid Theory signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records. The label advised the band to change their name to Linkin Park to avoid confusion with Hybrid.
1999: Original recording of "She Couldn't"
In 1999, Linkin Park originally recorded the track "She Couldn't" which was included on a 20th anniversary edition of their debut album Hybrid Theory.
October 24, 2000: Hybrid Theory Album Release
On October 24, 2000, Linkin Park released their debut album, "Hybrid Theory".
2000: Hybrid Theory Release and Success
In 2000, Linkin Park released their debut studio album, "Hybrid Theory", which achieved Diamond certification by the RIAA. Singles like "One Step Closer", "Crawling", and "In the End" charted highly.
2000: Farrell's Return and Hybrid Theory Release
In late 2000, Dave Farrell returned to the band. Linkin Park subsequently released their breakthrough album, Hybrid Theory.
November 2001: Linkin Park Underground Fan Club Formation
In November 2001, Linkin Park, in collaboration with Jessica Sklar, established "Linkin Park Underground", their official fan club and street team.
2001: Hybrid Theory Success
In 2001, Hybrid Theory sold over 4.8 million copies, becoming the best-selling album of the year.
2001: Hybrid Theory included in Best of 2001 by Record Collector
In 2001, the album "Hybrid Theory" was included in the Best of 2001 by Record Collector.
July 30, 2002: Reanimation Album Release
On July 30, 2002, Linkin Park released "Reanimation", a remix album, featuring collaborations with various artists.
December 2002: Announcement of New Studio Album
In December 2002, Linkin Park officially announced the production of a new studio album inspired by the region of Meteora in Greece.
March 25, 2003: Meteora Album Debut
On March 25, 2003, Linkin Park's second album, "Meteora", debuted and achieved worldwide recognition, peaking at No. 1 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart.
October 2003: Meteora Sales Success
By October 2003, Linkin Park's album "Meteora" had sold nearly three million copies.
2003: Meteora Release
In 2003, Linkin Park released their second album, "Meteora", continuing the band's success.
2003: Meteora's Success in the US
In 2003, Linkin Park's album "Meteora" was the third best selling album in the United States.
2003: MTV2 names Linkin Park the sixth-greatest band of the music video era
In 2003, MTV2 recognized Linkin Park as the sixth-greatest band of the music video era and the third-best of the new millennium.
March 2004: Donation to Special Operations Warrior Foundation
In March 2004, Linkin Park donated $75,000 to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
November 2004: Collision Course Release
In November 2004, Linkin Park and Jay-Z released "Collision Course", a remix album featuring intermixed lyrics and background tracks from both artists' previous albums.
2004: International Tours
In 2004, Linkin Park spent the first few months touring around the world with the third Projekt Revolution tour and several European concerts.
December 2005: New Deal with Warner Bros. Records
In December 2005, Linkin Park negotiated a new deal with Warner Bros. Records.
2005: Analysis of Billboard hits features Linkin Park
A 2015 analysis of Billboard hits from 1950 to 2005 on Spotify, identified Linkin Park's "Numb" and "In the End" as highly "timeless" songs.
2005: Hybrid Theory included in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die"
In 2005, Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park was listed in the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" and ranked No. 11 on Billboard's Hot 200 Albums of the Decade.
2005: Hurricane Katrina Relief
In 2005, Linkin Park raised money to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.
August 2006: Album Production Update
In August 2006, Linkin Park had recorded thirty to fifty songs for their upcoming album, with Mike Shinoda stating the album was halfway completed. The album, initially planned for release in 2006, was later delayed to 2007.
2006: Qwerty First Appeared
In 2006, the song "Qwerty" first appeared on LP Underground 6.0.
May 15, 2007: Minutes to Midnight Album Release
On May 15, 2007, Warner Bros. Records released Linkin Park's third studio album, "Minutes to Midnight", in the United States. The album sold over 623,000 copies in its first week and topped the Billboard Charts.
2007: Minutes to Midnight Release
In 2007, Linkin Park released their third album, "Minutes to Midnight", marking a change in the band's sound.
2007: Singles Releases and Awards
Throughout 2007, Linkin Park released multiple singles from their album, including "Bleed It Out", "Shadow of the Day", "Given Up", and "Leave Out All the Rest". The band also won the "Favorite Alternative Artist" award at the American Music Awards in 2007.
June 29, 2008: Projekt Revolution Gig at Milton Keynes
On June 29, 2008, Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour included a gig at the Milton Keynes Bowl, which was later recorded for a live CD/DVD.
November 24, 2008: Road to Revolution: Live at Milton Keynes Release
On November 24, 2008, Mike Shinoda officially released "Road to Revolution: Live at Milton Keynes", a live CD/DVD, which is a live video recording from the Projekt Revolution gig at the Milton Keynes Bowl on June 29, 2008.
2008: Continued Success and Collaboration
In early 2008, Linkin Park continued to release singles from their album and collaborated with Busta Rhymes on his single "We Made It", which was released on April 29.
May 2009: Announcement of Fourth Studio Album
In May 2009, Linkin Park announced they were working on a fourth studio album, planned for release in 2010, with Rick Rubin returning as producer. The album promised to be experimental and cutting-edge.
January 19, 2010: "Not Alone" Release for Haiti Relief
On January 19, 2010, Linkin Park released the song "Not Alone" as part of a compilation from Music for Relief called Download to Donate for Haiti in support of the Haiti Earthquake crisis.
February 10, 2010: "Not Alone" Music Video Release
On February 10, 2010, Linkin Park released the official music video for the song "Not Alone" on their homepage.
August 31, 2010: MTV Video Music Awards Performance Announcement
On August 31, 2010, it was announced that Linkin Park would perform "The Catalyst" live for the first time at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, 2010.
September 12, 2010: MTV Video Music Awards Performance
On September 12, 2010, Linkin Park performed "The Catalyst" live for the first time at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. The venue of the debut live performance of the single was Griffith Observatory.
October 2010: A Thousand Suns Concert Tour Launch
In October 2010, Linkin Park launched a concert tour to promote their new album, "A Thousand Suns".
2010: Expected Album Release Year
In 2009, Linkin Park planned to release their fourth studio album in 2010, titled "A Thousand Suns".
2010: A Thousand Suns Album Release
In 2010, Linkin Park released "A Thousand Suns", incorporating more electronic sounds into their music.
January 11, 2011: Download to Donate for Haiti V2.0 Launch
On January 11, 2011, Linkin Park launched an updated version of Download to Donate for Haiti, called Download to Donate for Haiti V2.0, which included Keaton Hashimoto's remix of "The Catalyst".
May 2011: Billboard estimates Linkin Park's earnings
In May 2011, Billboard estimated that Linkin Park earned US$5 million between May 2011 and May 2012, ranking them as the 40th-highest-paid musical artist.
July 2011: Next Album Production Aim
In July 2011, Bennington stated that Linkin Park aimed to produce a new album every eighteen months, hoping to release a new album in 2012.
September 2011: Beginning Phases of Next Album
In September 2011, Linkin Park was in the beginning phases of their next album, focusing on keeping the creative juices flowing.
2011: Billboard Awards Nominations and Year-End Charting
In 2011, Linkin Park was nominated for six Billboard Awards but did not win any. However, the band charted in numerous Billboard Year-End charts.
March 28, 2012: Music Video Filming Confirmation
On March 28, 2012, Shinoda confirmed that Linkin Park was filming a music video for "Burn It Down", directed by Joe Hahn.
April 2012: Living Things Album Title and Lead Single Release
In April 2012, Linkin Park announced that their fifth album would be titled "Living Things" and described it as a "return to form". The album's lead single, "Burn It Down", was released on April 16.
May 2012: Billboard estimates Linkin Park's earnings
Billboard estimated in May 2012 that Linkin Park earned US$5 million between May 2011 and May 2012, making them the 40th-highest-paid musical artist.
2012: Living Things Release, Chart Success, and Award Nomination
In 2012, Linkin Park released "Living Things", which ranked No. 1 on the US Albums Charts with over 223,000 copies sold during its debut week. The single "Castle of Glass" was nominated for 'Best Song in a Game' at the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards.
2012: Living Things Album Release
In 2012, Linkin Park released their fifth album, "Living Things", which combined elements from their previous records.
2012: VH1 Bracket Madness Win
In 2012, Linkin Park was voted the greatest artist of the 2000s in a Bracket Madness poll on VH1.
May 2013: Recording of Sixth Studio Album Begins
In May 2013, Linkin Park began recording their sixth studio album.
August 10, 2013: Collaboration with Steve Aoki on A Light That Never Comes
On August 10, 2013, Linkin Park collaborated with Steve Aoki to record the song "A Light That Never Comes" for the online game LP Recharge.
September 12, 2013: LP Recharge Game Launch
On September 12, 2013, Linkin Park's online puzzle-action game, LP Recharge (short for Linkin Park Recharge), was launched on Facebook and the official LP Recharge website.
October 29, 2013: Recharged Remix Album Release
On October 29, 2013, Linkin Park released Recharged, a remix album featuring remixes of songs from Living Things.
March 6, 2014: Guilty All the Same Single Release
On March 6, 2014, Linkin Park released "Guilty All the Same" (featuring Rakim) through Shazam as the first single from their upcoming album. The single was later released on the following day by Warner Bros. Records.
June 13, 2014: The Hunting Party Album Release (Most Countries)
On June 13, 2014, Linkin Park's sixth album, "The Hunting Party", was released in most countries.
June 14, 2014: Download Festival Performance
On June 14, 2014, Linkin Park performed at Download Festival, where they played their debut album, Hybrid Theory, in its entirety.
November 9, 2014: MTV Europe Music Award for Best Rock
On November 9, 2014, MTV Europe named Linkin Park the "Best Rock" act of 2014 at their annual music awards ceremony.
2014: Kerrang! Declaration
In 2014, Kerrang! declared Linkin Park "the Biggest Rock Band in the World Right Now".
2014: Kerrang! Declares Linkin Park the Biggest Rock Band in the World
In 2014, Kerrang! declared Linkin Park as the Biggest Rock Band in the World Right Now, recognizing their continued success and influence.
2014: The Hunting Party Album Release
In 2014, Linkin Park released their sixth album, "The Hunting Party", returning to a heavier rock sound.
January 2015: The Hunting Party Tour
In January 2015, Linkin Park embarked on a tour to promote the release of The Hunting Party, consisting of 17 concerts across the United States and Canada. The tour was canceled after only three concerts when Bennington injured his ankle.
February 28, 2015: Darker Than Blood Performance Preview
On February 28, 2015, Steve Aoki gave the first preview of the song "Darker Than Blood", a collaboration with Linkin Park, during his performance at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois.
May 2015: Neon Future II Release
In May 2015, Steve Aoki's album Neon Future II, which featured the song "Darker Than Blood" with Linkin Park, was released.
November 2015: Start of Seventh Studio Album Production
In November 2015, Linkin Park began working on new material for a seventh studio album.
2015: Kerrang!'s Rock 100 list
In 2015, Kerrang! ranked "In the End" and "Final Masquerade" as the top two songs on Kerrang!'s Rock 100 list, highlighting their enduring popularity.
2015: BlizzCon Closing Ceremony Performance
In 2015, Linkin Park performed at the closing ceremony of BlizzCon 2015, Blizzard's video game convention.
2015: Analysis of Billboard hits features Linkin Park
In 2015, an analysis of Billboard hits from 1950 to 2005 on Spotify identified Linkin Park's "Numb" and "In the End" as highly "timeless" songs.
2016: Future Album Plans
In May 2014, Shinoda reflected on The Hunting Party and commented on Linkin Park's future, stating that the next album would be coming in 2016.
February 2017: Promotional Videos for New Album
In February 2017, Linkin Park released promotional videos on their social network accounts, featuring Shinoda and Bennington preparing new material for the album.
May 19, 2017: One More Light Album Release
On May 19, 2017, Linkin Park released their seventh studio album, 'One More Light'. Several promotional singles, including "Battle Symphony", "Good Goodbye" (featuring Pusha T and Stormzy), and "Invisible", were released prior to the album's official launch.
July 2017: Chester Bennington's Suicide
In July 2017, Linkin Park's lead vocalist Chester Bennington committed suicide, which led to a seven-year hiatus for the band.
July 20, 2017: Chester Bennington's Death
On July 20, 2017, Chester Bennington died by suicide. Mike Shinoda confirmed the news on Twitter. The band also released a music video for "Talking to Myself" earlier that day.
November 2017: American Music Award
In November 2017, Linkin Park received the American Music Award for Favorite Alternative Artist and dedicated the award to Chester Bennington.
2017: One More Light Album Release
In 2017, Linkin Park released their seventh album, "One More Light", which was a more pop-oriented record.
January 28, 2018: Shinoda's statement on Linkin Park's future
On January 28, 2018, Mike Shinoda responded to a fan on Twitter stating his intention to continue with Linkin Park, emphasizing the need for rebuilding and answering questions.
February 18, 2019: Shinoda's interview about Linkin Park's future
On February 18, 2019, Mike Shinoda mentioned in an interview that the band was open to continuing, but the form it would take was yet to be decided, also mentioned that it was not his goal to look for a new singer.
2019: Joining of Delson
In 2019, Brad Delson rejoined Mike Shinoda, Dave Farrell and Rob Hahn to work on new music.
April 28, 2020: Dave Farrell Reveals New Music in the Works
On April 28, 2020, bassist Dave Farrell revealed that the band was working on new music.
August 20, 2020: Linkin Park Collaborates with Beat Saber for 20th Anniversary
On August 20, 2020, for their 20th anniversary, Linkin Park partnered with the virtual reality rhythm game Beat Saber to release 11 maps based on their songs.
2020: Armstrong attended Masterson court
In 2020, Emily Armstrong attended Danny Masterson's court appearance.
January 8, 2021: "One Step Closer" Remix Release
On January 8, 2021, Linkin Park released a remix of "One Step Closer" by 100 gecs.
April 2022: Shinoda Reaffirms No New Album, Music, or Touring
In April 2022, Mike Shinoda reiterated that the band was not working on a new album, new music, or touring.
February 2023: Meteora 20th Anniversary Teaser and Album Announcement
In February 2023, Linkin Park started an interactive game on their website, teasing the 20th anniversary of Meteora. On February 6, they revealed a previously unreleased demo, "Lost", which was formally released on February 10, as the lead single from the reissue of the album, released on April 7.
2023: Band approached Armstrong and Brittain
In 2023, Linkin Park approached Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain to reform as Linkin Park to record and release new music and perform the band's back catalogue.
2023: Armstrong accusations
In 2023, The Mars Volta frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala, accused Emily Armstrong of being connected to the Church of Scientology and perceived support of convicted rapist Danny Masterson.
February 23, 2024: "Friendly Fire" Release
On February 23, 2024, Linkin Park released a previously unreleased song from the One More Light sessions, titled "Friendly Fire".
April 30, 2024: Reported Reunion Tour Offers
On April 30, 2024, it was reported that Linkin Park's booking agency, WME, had taken offers for a potential reunion tour and headlining festival dates in 2025, featuring Shinoda, Delson, Farrell, and a female vocalist.
September 2024: YouTube views of the tribute concert
As of September 2024, the tribute concert Linkin Park and Friends: Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington had 25 million views on YouTube.
September 2024: Linkin Park Reformation
In September 2024, Linkin Park announced their reformation with the addition of Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain to the lineup.
September 24, 2024: "Heavy Is the Crown" Release
On September 24, 2024, Linkin Park released "Heavy Is the Crown" as the main theme for Riot Games' 2024 League of Legends World Championship.
October 24, 2024: "Over Each Other" Release
On October 24, 2024, Linkin Park released "Over Each Other" as the album's third single.
November 13, 2024: "Two Faced" Release
On November 13, 2024, Linkin Park released "Two Faced" as the album's fourth single.
November 15, 2024: From Zero Album Release
On November 15, 2024, Linkin Park's eighth album 'From Zero' was released after the band announced their comeback at a livestreamed event and released the lead single of the album, "The Emptiness Machine".
November 16, 2024: End of Initial Arena Tour
On November 16, 2024, Linkin Park concluded their initial nine-date arena tour in São Paulo, Brazil.
2024: From Zero Album Release
In 2024, Linkin Park released their eighth album, "From Zero", returning to their original sound while incorporating elements from previous records.
March 17, 2025: "Up From the Bottom" Announcement
On March 17, 2025, Linkin Park announced a new song titled "Up From the Bottom", to be released on March 27 as the first single from the deluxe version of From Zero.
November 2025: Grammy Nominations and Theme Song
In November 2025, Linkin Park was nominated for two Grammys for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, and "Heavy Is the Crown" was used as the theme song for WWE's Royal Rumble event.
2025: Potential Reunion Tour and Festival Dates
Linkin Park is slated to be headlining a reunion tour and festival dates sometime in 2025, with their booking agency WME taking offers to set this tour in motion.
February 1, 2026: 68th Annual Grammy Awards
On February 1, 2026, the 68th Annual Grammy Awards took place, with Linkin Park nominated for Best Rock Album for From Zero and Best Rock Performance for "The Emptiness Machine".
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