Shinoda's debut no rap rehash of Linkin Park
posted by Jas, 09/30/06
Late review of Fort Minor's "The Rising Tied" from Saturday Gazette-Mail

Linkin Park no longer Nu-metal
posted by Jas, 09/28/06
Chester talks to MTV about the new Linkin Park album and also mentions that his solo album is good to go.

We're going for the music that inspired us, rather than the nü-metal type of sound," frontman Chester Bennington said of the band's third studio album, due next year. "We're ripping that out. It's completely gone." In its place is a mix of punk and classic-rock elements with vintage hip-hop beats, the singer said.

"We've always been known for mixing a lot of different genres of music and not pigeonholing ourselves in one particular sound, but by doing so, we've kind of pigeonholed ourselves into our sound," Bennington said backstage at Saturday's Inland Invasion. "It sounds strange, but there's a common thread that people are going to expect, and we're trying to pull that out of the new music."

Linkin Park's reinvention is being guided by Rick Rubin, who is co-producing with Mike Shinoda. "We're straying away from a lot of the predictable sounds we've had in the past, but there's no question in your mind when you hear it that it's Linkin Park," Bennington said. "We've always said we write the music we write so that we can spread our wings as far as we want and try new things and go anywhere. I think we're really going to prove that with this new record."

Linkin Park wrote more than 100 songs, which they have since narrowed down to the cream of the crop. Bennington refused to elaborate on how many tracks will be recorded, but he shot down the idea of a double album. "The whole double-album thing is like the kiss of death," he said. "Not that it's not a great idea in theory, but when you put it out, it's just not."

The band has more or less decided on a title, but Bennington kept it under wraps. "It's a title I think is good and fitting for the world and also some of our own personal situations over the last couple of years," he said. While recording with Linkin Park, Bennington has set aside his solo album, but the singer said it's basically good to go.

"It's gonna come out as soon as we're winding down the LP cycle," he said. "If you want a taste, you can go online and find some stuff. It's bringing the rock back a little bit."

Video Download: Linkin Park on TRL
posted by Jas, 09/27/06
jnuts has captured the Linkin Park interview via webcam on TRL this evening, watch here and download here (left click on the 'download video' link to download). Thanks J.

Linkin Park in Big Rock
posted by Jas, 09/27/06
Attention all Malaysian rockers out there, here's your chance to win a compilation album called "Big Rock" which contains 18 songs including Linkin Park's 'Somewhere I Belong' and Fort Minor's 'Believe Me'. In addition to that you will also stand a chance to win a trip to any concert from any Big Rock artiste of their choice.

To coincide with the release of Big Rock – a compilation of 18 rock hit songs including Linkin Park's Somewhere I Belong, Green Day (American Idiot), Simple Plan (Shut Up!), Coldplay (In My Place), Keane (Somewhere Only We Know), The Darkness (Love Is Only a Feeling), Fort Minor (Believe Me featuring Mike Shinoda), Hard-F1 (Cash Machine) and Snow Patrol (Run) – Warner Music is having a call-in contest.

There are 20 CDs up for grab. How to win it? Easy. Just call Warner Music's office at 03-78760611 today from 7pm onwards and win yourself a CD of Big Rock compilation album.

For those who may miss out the chance to get the free CD, don't fret as it is available in record stores at RM29.90 a copy. With every purchase of the CD, you will get an enhanced-CD featuring PC downloads, wall papers, photo gallery, music video streams and links to download original Ringtones. And, for any Ringtones download, fans will stand a chance to win a trip to any concert from any Big Rock artiste of their choice.

Photos: KROQ Inland Invasion
posted by Jas, 09/25/06
Photos of Chester performing at KROQ Inland Invasion with Alice In Chains

more photos

Chester at KROQ show
posted by Jas, 09/25/06
Update II: More report from MTV and a quote from Chester

Singer William DuVall matched the late Layne Staley's vocals to a T, but the highlight was a cameo from Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, who sang "Man in the Box" with as much conviction as the original. "I just came out to see Muse and as soon as I got here I was asked if I would sing," Bennington said beforehand. "I'm kind of nervous. I'm like on recall, going through it in my head."

Linkin Park and Fort Minor at Summer Sonic
posted by Jas, 09/25/06
spikeminoda2000 has posted more clips from the Linkin Park and Fort Minor's performances at Summer Sonic aired on MTV yesterday. I'll have the windows version available for download later, in the meantime you can watch them at YouTube

Linkin Park - Numb & From The Inside
watch | download .flv from rapidshare or megaupload

Linkin Park - Faint & Breaking the Habit
watch | download .flv from rapidshare or megaupload

Fort Minor feat. Chester - Where'd You Go & Believe Me
watch | download .flv from rapidshare or megaupload

Chester at KROQ show
posted by Jas, 09/24/06
Couple of reviews of KROQ's 'Inland Invasion' concert from OC Register and LA Times which mention Chester's surprise appearance during the Alice in Chains set. Update: Another report from Reuters

Linkin Park on TRL Wednesday
posted by Jas, 09/24/06
Linkin Park will be on TRL via webcam on Wednesday

Video Download: 2006 Summer Sonic Interviews
posted by Jas, 09/22/06
Tatikogi reports that spikeminoda2000 has posted videos of Linkin Park and Fort Minor interviews from the Summer Sonic Festival aired on MTV Japan the other day. Watch them at YouTube here and here or download windows version of LP interview or FM interview (download instruction here). Don't forget the Linkin Park performances will be aired on Sunday.

More pics from Summer Sonic
posted by Jas, 09/21/06
MTV Japan has posted more pics of Linkin Park backstage at the Summer Sonic Festival

Chester in Crank
posted by Jas, 09/21/06
Someone has posted a clip of Chester's appearance in Crank at YouTube.

Mindless Self Indulgence remix finished
posted by Jas, 09/21/06
Julien-K Myspace blog has been updated with news about a track called 'What Do They Know' by Mindless Self Indulgence vs Julien-K & Chester Bennington which will be released later this year.

YouTube gets blanket license for Warner Music
posted by Jas, 09/18/06
Good news for all music fans, Warner Music has agreed to distribute and license its copyrighted songs and other material through YouTube, full details here

Photos: Mike and Chester and bowling for charity
posted by Jas, 09/13/06
Mike and Chester were at the launch of T-Mobile's new BlackBerry Pearl with a Night of Bowling for Charity on September 12 in Los Angeles, CA. Thanks Colleen.

more photos

New LPU video
posted by Jas, 09/13/06
Check out the new LP Underground video. The video features Chester, Brad and Joe of Linkin Park testing their skills at a virtual reality karate game. Hilarious!! Joe is so cool, Chester and Mike are talented, Brad is so lame lol!! Linkin Park is also now on MySpace, check out the latest entry about a video clip where Phoenix almost killed Mike.

Top 100 albums
posted by Jas, 09/09/06
Breakdown Conspiracy reports that New Zealand's The RockFM has their countdown of the Top 100 Albums, according to their listeners. Linkin Park was at #75, with Hybrid Theory.

Video Download: Summer Sonic Festival - Fort Minor - 'Petrified'
posted by Jas, 09/06/06
MTV Japan will have a video of Fort Minor performing 'Petrified' a the Summer Sonic Festival on their site on Friday but if you can't wait click here to see the video, thanks to -untitled- for the link. Download the file from rapidshare or megaupload

2006 VMA pics
posted by Jas, 09/02/06
Pics of Mike at the 2006 Video Music Awards are up. Update: Extended thank you note from Mike.

Video Download: 2006 VMA - Fort Minor
posted by Jas, 09/01/06
MTV Overdrive has a clip of Mike's acceptance speech at the 2006 Video Music Awards. Download from rapidshare, megaupload or turboupload, file is in flash format, download a flash player if you don't have one.

Backstage at the VMAs
posted by Jas, 09/01/06
Spin has comments from VMA winners including Mike's.

Mike Shinoda of Fort Minor took home the award for Ringtone of the Year, a new addition to the list of moon men awarded at the VMAs that seems to need a bit of justification. "We admit that ringtones are obviously a very important part of what we do these days and obviously it's made enough noise that MTV -- which gives away video music awards -- gives one away for ringtones," Shinoda said of the award. "That that's going on obviously means that they're important." But Shinoda, who mentioned he is currently in the studio working on a new Linkin Park album, doesn't have a ringtone on his own cell phone. "I unfortunately have a really lame Blackberry, and let this be a message to the people that make Blackberrys that they need to put the ability to have cool ringtones on them," he said.

and SF Gate has a review of the show and commented on Mike's acceptance speech

So many questions... There's an award for Ringtone of the Year? Seriously? For some reason, I thought that thie VMAs were the VIDEO Music Awards. The prize goes to Fort Minor, a Linkin Park side project. The guy accepting the award thanks so many business associates you almost expect to see crap dripping off his nose by the time he's done talking. How many people does it take to make a stupid ringtone anyway?

Mike's acceptance speech at VMA
posted by Jas, 09/01/06
jnuts has captured Mike accepting Fort Minor's first VMA for Ringtone of the Year award last night, watch video here or at YouTube. Pics coming up.