Linkin Park, from California's own Agoura Hills formed in 1996 and has been thriving over the U.S and around the world since. Their music styles are filled with rap and hip-hop to the gritty melodies of rock and metal music. Their album, Hybrid Theory, gave them their first big break in the music business. Their second album Meteora continued their musical success and even topped Billboard 200 album chart in 2003. Following this album the band not only thrived in the music business but that of charity. They went around the world helping and giving their time to charity.In 2003 MTV2 named them the sixth greatest band of the music video era. All of their different styles and looks defintely put the band into peoples mouths and minds.

Later in 2004, the band began to work with Jay-Z to produce a remix album called Collision Course. Shinoda,vocalist and guitarist, formed a new band called Fort Minor as a side project. At around this time the relationship between Warner Brothers Records and the band began to go down hill due to several trust and financial issues. In December of 2005 the band negotiated a deal.

The band has donated alot of money from charities they hosted and even attended. The band even performed on Live 8's stage for a global performance alongside Jay-Z. In 2006, they returned to work on their new album Minutes to Midnight and to produce this album they chose producer Rick Rubin. Sadly, the album wasnt released till 2007.

In its first week, Minutes to Midnight sold over 600,00 copies. The album also took the top spot on the Billboard charts. Their song "What I've Done" was used in the soundtrack for the 2996 action film, Transformers. Later that year the band won "Favorite Alternative Artist" in the American Music Awards. On July 7,2007 the band performed at Live Earth Japan.

Present Day Success

The bands new album, A Thousand Suns, has been a major success! The album started out in October of 2008 when Mike Shinoda revealed on his blog the ideas that he, Phoenix and Hahn had for the new album.

The bands single "New Divide" came out on May 7, 2009 for the sequel to Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen. The albums first single, "The Catalyst", from the brand new album came out on August 2, 2010. On August 31,2010 the band performed their single live for the first time at the 2010 MTV Video Awards on top of the Griffith Observatory, which is normally used in Hollywood Movies.

The band is currently on tour and have many selected dates in various countries around the world.

Musical Styles

The musical styles over the years have changed but only slightly which probably is what has kept the band afloat with their fans. Both albums, Hybrid Theory and Meteora combine the alternative metal, nu metal and rap rock sounds along with influences and elements from hip-hop, alternative rock and electronica.

With their album Minutes to Midnight the band experimented with influences from wider ranges of genres and styles. Their newest album is seen as a turning point for the bands career. It also consists of a political element since they use speeches by American political figures. It is seen as a great album since both rapper vocalist, Mike Shinoda, and lead vocalist, Chester Bennington are heard singing in many of the songs on the album.

The Fans

Much of the bands fan database has grown throughout the years and has given them much of their success. Though the band has changed their musical styles over the years, the fans dont seem dont mind. The fans have grown with the band and has given alot of support. Their music has inspired many people to do their own type of bands and has even motivated many of the people to do better things in their own lives due to the amazing visuals in their music videos and in their lyrics. Over the years the band has grown and matured while still keeping their ideals and motivations towards achieving their goals for the future. Every album that the band has sold over the years has been a crowd favorite and they never stop to sell out stadiums worldwide. In Asia and South America the band has grown and has a growing database to give them a bigger name for themselves then they had ever thought or dreamed of.

For many of the people that grew up listening to them, they have been a sign of teen angst against the world of which they hate. And for others, an outlet for their voice. A voice of the people out there, for those that dont know where else to turn to as a release of their bottled up anger and hate. In many ways, this band is a positive band for kids out there. It gives them people to look up to and a sign of change for younger generations. Many of their fans grew up listening to them or have parents that are fans and have passed them down. We can expect to see Linkin Park for a long time in the world.