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Uncasvilled, CT show canceled. Mike's blog
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Another show has been canceled due to Chester's bad health. Seems like his illness is more severe than we first thought. Mike posted something concerning this on his blog
LP CANCELLATIONS: DC AND UNCASVILLE February 10, 2011
Hi guys,
We are deeply disappointed that we’ve had to cancel our second show in a row. It’s been a long time since we’ve played in your town, and were excited for you to hear the new music and see the new production. As you know, it’s not often that we have to cancel a gig–Chester appreciates all the love you all have sent on the website, and we know that it will help him to bounce back soon.
We know it’s not the same, but we’d like to give you a free audio download of any show from this tour. If you purchased your tickets through linkinpark.com, check your email over the next few days for details on how you will receive your refund and your download.
Sincerely,
Mike and LP
PS: For updates on Chester’s health and the status of upcoming shows, go to www.linkinpark.com
Linkin Park has been forced to cancel their February 10th show in Washington DC at the Verizon Center. Lead vocalist Chester Bennington is ill and under doctor's orders to refrain from performing. The band sincerely regrets this unavoidable cancellation and apologizes to fans for any disappointment caused. Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase beginning February 11th.
Metromix talked to Mike and Chester about their dark new album and high-tech tour.
What drew you to explore the dark and heavy themes on “A Thousand Suns?” Mike Shinoda: It turned out that all six of the guys felt like there was a universal fear that I think a lot of people these days do have: that fear, whether it be in the front of their mind or in the back of their mind, that humanity as a whole is and has been for a long time on the brink of destroying itself. Whether that be slowly or quickly, it’s just that a possibility exists in the world, and I think we’re all scared of it to some degree. So that’s kind of how we decided that…it was proper for it to be a part of the record.
Linkin Park Feels 'Energized' to Write New Music on the Road
Monday, January 17, 2011
Billboard reported a conference call with Mike and Chester about writing new musical material and Linkin Park's future plans.
"I like we're where at right now," the group's Mike Shinoda said during a conference call with reporters. "Creatively I feel like the band is really energized...We are really trying to get focused on getting in the studio as often as possible...It's definitely on our minds that we want to be trying to write as much as we can."
The video for Linkin Park's next single "Waiting for the end" is out. If I have to say one thing about the video, then it is beautifully creative. This is definitely one of my personal favorite Linkin Park music videos. Thanks Joe for the great job (and the whole band for participating in filming such a gorgeous piece of art)
Today we are premiering the music video for “Waiting for the End.” It was an opportunity to experiment with pushing the digital envelope as it pertains to the visual language created thus far for A Thousand Suns. It was my attempt to digitally crush us to the point that you feel the soul of the music through what has become the essence of us. We become the ghosts in the machine. Some may say that because of technology, we lose a sense of who we are. I counter that by illustrating that we can get closer to who we are if we sift through the noise. If this sounds like it’s too ‘out there,’ just ignore what I said and enjoy the pretty pictures. Watch the video here.
Then go here and let me know what you think. Enjoy.
-Joe
Voting online for bands seems to be quite a joke for older fans, but this year, let's make an exception. The new album is receiving many conflicting reviews - I think it's time the band needs out support. Linkin Park is confirmed to performed at the MTV Europe Music Awards and nominated in two categories. Vote for them HERE (easy and fast - you don't have to sign up to vote), spread the world some Linkin Park love.
MTV put online a series of 8 videos called "MTV News Extended Play: Linkin Park" interviewing Mike and Chester pre-VMA, discussing Linkin Park's new album and all that jazz. You can check out those videos HERE
"People asked us if it's a concept record, and in the middle of the process, we were contemplating whether or not that was what we wanted to do," LP's Mike Shinoda told MTV News at their VMA rehearsal on Saturday. "And I think, as we finished it, it became clear that, usually the problem with concept records is, like, [the] term usually refers to things like [the Who's] Tommy or ... rock operas and stuff like than that has a narrative. And this doesn't have a narrative; it's more abstract that that.
"So if those albums are more of an Andy Warhol, this is more of a Jackson Pollock," he continued. "You can kind of look at it, and all the stuff's in there; you pull out whatever it means to you."
So now that we're clear that A Thousand Suns isn't a concept record, we couldn't help but wonder: What concept was Bennington mulling over in his head when he sat down with MTV News back in November '08? Let's just say it involved a boy and a bike — and that it's probably better he abandoned the idea completely.
"I tried to write 30 songs about a kid with a red bike and make it the most moving thing that ever happened in music, and it wasn't good at all," he said. "So we kind of dumped the kid-and-the-red-bike concept really early on."
Tell me if the concept about a kid with a red bike is not just painfully adorable (and painful...) But of course, it's smart that they moved on from that idea before the Union of Straight Linkin Park fans would get pissed off. Love Mike's comparison of the album with Warhol/Pollock's works. I am not the biggest fan of Pollock, but Mike surprised me with how accurate it is to compare their newest work with Pollock's - considering the trippy vibe both sharing. Does the Warhol/previous albums say something? Watch the interview HERE (one of the 8)
Warner Music Japan has announced on Wednesday that the American rock band Linkin Park is contributing a theme song for Bandai Namco Games' Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. arcade game. In addition, a deluxe box of the band's newest album, A Thousand Suns, will bundle a limited-edition Gundam plastic model ("Gunpla") in Japan on November 24.
The theme song, "The Catalyst," is the first single from the album. Two editions of the album will ship in Japan on September 15, two months before the "Gunpla 30th Anniversary Edition" will ship. This is the first time that a video game from the Gundam franchise has featured a song from a Western musical artist.
The album's Gunpla 30th Anniversary Edition will include a HGUC 1/144 RX-78GP01Fb Gundam GP01Fb Full Vernian "Linkin Park Edition" plastic model kit. According to their official Japanese website, the members of the band are big fans of the Gundam robot anime franchise, and they designed the custom color scheme of the model. The Gunpla Edition will feature special box art with the band members and the Gundam design.
This is too amusing to be ignored on our site. I feel like pumping my fist in the air. Gundam + Linkin Park = a nerd's heaven. And do you see those boys in uniform? I can haz a thousand new fics inspired by this? You may wanna consider buying this.
Another great news: MTV reported that Linkin Park's performance at Griffith Observatory was voted best surprised at VMA 2010, leading by 56 per cent of votes. MTV also commented
When the band appeared at the observatory (watched by thousands of excited fans on hand) and kicked into "The Catalyst," it was a truly epic moment in VMA history.
In second place, Rihanna racked up 32 percent of the vote for her surprise appearance during Eminem's show-opening performance of the pair's chart-topping single "Love the Way You Lie." Third place belonged to Cher's outfit and Lindsay Lohan's cameo (both got four percent), while Swift's song, Justin Bieber's drum solo and the drop-in by Pusha T during Kanye West's "Runaway" brought up the rear. But in a show full of surprises, Linkin Park topped them all.
Seems like our boys just had quite a smooth start so far. Congrats!
The very first show of the ATS tour has ended, and we got in your hands an awesome review from a slash fangirl (ha, we DO need that!). Here's arbiter from LPLive and her review!
That was so awesome! The freaking show was orgasmic and wayyyyyyyyyyyy too short! I forgive them because it is their first real show and they're probably using us for warm up and they debuted songs and the view was fantastic. But their future shows better not be so short or I will be super pissed and kill someone.
No matter what though, Linkin Park never fails to take me away some place wonderful and reduce me to a silly fangirl. They will always be my favourite band. I've never connected with any other artist the way I do with them.
Since I absolutely refused to listen to the leaked album and the song previews except for the one they sent us, I went in a virgin. I still refuse to listen to the new songs until I can play my own hard copy in a stereo and as loud as I can be.
But "Irridescent" and "Waiting for the End" was pure beauty. I have been waiting for these songs and I didn't even know it. Mike & Chester's voice were like having awesome sex with each other and my ears and heart welcomed it. They need to write more songs like that. I hope there are more songs on the album and future albums where that marriage continues blissfully.
Stand-out moments:
I like how Brad & Mike switched instruments. In fact, the band seem more involved and active than they usually are with their music and stage performance.
I loved Chester's guitar playing fake-out and pose. (it was adorable.)
Mike kissed Chester on the head when they met up across the crowd.(yes I squeed because it was cute and I am a slash fan-girl.)
Mike was looking really hot as always. (although, why the damn beanie? It wasn't that cold)
The way Mike and Chester played well off each other on Wretched & Kings. (magic.)
Mike & Chester coming down and shaking the fans hands was just so sweet. I appreciate that they took the time to do that.
Random: Chester has beautiful skin. Everytime I see this man up-close, I marvel at how this always seem to be true and wonder if he is born with it.
Brad on keyboard is awesome.
Nothing is like a slash fangirl's review, that's guaranteed ;) Mike kissed Chester on the head, again? Are they coming out this year? please do!
LPAssociation has a pretty neat cover on this show. You may want to check this post out. Thanks Teagan/tightrope_walk for the tip!
A Thousand Suns official release. NYC show tonight.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
14th Septermber 2010 - Linkin Park's lastest album "A Thousand Suns" is officially released worldwide today. Celebrate ATS day by buying the album and leaving some supportive reviews for the band! Mike has a letter sent to all the fans
A THOUSAND SUNS OUT NOW Today, our new album A Thousand Suns is out everywhere. We're thrilled for you to finally hear and see this ambitious project in its entirety. To those of you who pre-ordered it or have already gone out and purchased it, thank you. If you have not, we're offering a number of different bundle packages at LinkinPark.com. The album is also available on iTunes. Thanks for your continued support, and we're looking forward to seeing you on tour.
-Mike
Also, Linkin Park will be taking over the Best Buy Theater in NYC tonight - rocking their very first full show of the ATS tour route. Don't forget to check back for more news on this show!
Linkin Park's Surprise VMA Location: Story Behind Griffith Park Observatory
Monday, September 13, 2010
It's fair to say that Linkin Park's VMA performance of their hit "The Catalyst" at the Griffith Park Observatory was pretty epic. Naturally, the band's killer rock stylings were a major part of the effect, but the historic scenery definitely enhanced the experience. For astute pop culture fanatics out there, if you feel like you've seen the picturesque setting before, you have — especially if you've seen "Transformers" or Adam Lambert's music video for "If I Had You."
The Griffith Park Observatory is so named for Col. Griffith J. Griffith, an eccentric and generous early L.A. land baron, who bequeathed the land upon which the landmark now sits to the city of Los Angeles in 1896. The historic site is a popular tourist destination for its science- and space-related exhibits, but also because it has been featured in dozens of films, TV shows and music videos.
Old-school classics filmed here include "Rebel Without a Cause," "Back to the Future," "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "The Rocketeer" and Paula Abdul's video for "Rush Rush." More recently, "Transformers," "Yes Man," "Funny People," the TV series "24," "Beverly Hills 90210," "The Simpsons" and Lambert's "If I Had You" have included footage from the historic site. Versions of the GP Observatory are also featured in the video games "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines" and "Future Cop: LAPD."
In addition to the landmark's pop culture ties, the Griffith Park Observatory's planetarium was used to train pilots in celestial navigation during World War II, and again in the '60s to train Apollo program astronauts for the first lunar missions. The observatory underwent a major renovation from 2002 to 2006 and now features an expanded exhibit space, the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater and Wolfgang Puck's Café at the end of the Universe.
LOS ANGELES -- When Linkin Park signed on to perform at the Video Music Awards, they only had one request: They wanted it to be big.
It made sense. After all, this was going to be the first performance of "The Catalyst," the massive, sweeping debut single off their upcoming A Thousand Suns album (in stores Tuesday), and they needed an equally massive -- and sweeping -- stage from which to launch the next chapter in their career.
And though we're not allowed to say just where they'll be performing, suffice it to say, they succeeded in finding the right spot.
"We're really excited about the new music, and this being the first performance, it's a big show for us," LP's Chester Bennington told MTV News. "So we're beyond thrilled that we were able to make it happen."
"It's an epic location and it does fit the tone of the song, and there are definitely themes about this location and the song that tie together," Mike Shinoda told MTV News. " 'The Catalyst' was one of the first demos on our record that really felt like the nucleus of what the record was going to be. ... There's a complexity to the ideas in the song. I think there are layers to the lyrics; there's obviously layers to the music."
And judging from what we saw in rehearsals Saturday night (September 11), the performance is definitely going to match the scope of the song. It's big, it's loud, and it reaches unabashedly for the stars. Which is fitting, because given where the performance is taking place, Linkin Park can practically touch them.
Infer from that what you will. Or not. Because Bennington and Shinoda aren't quite ready to make the big reveal just yet.
"It's going to be really beautiful looking. This is a very unique kind of opportunity for us to play this particular location," Bennington said. "It's not really a place where normally a band would be able to come perform at."
"Personally, I can't wait to meet Shamu," Shinoda added. "Oh sh--, did I say that out loud?"
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through Sunday.
We're less than 24 hours away from the 2010 MTV VMAs. Down to the wire. And while all VMA performances are created equally, Linkin Park's rehearsal was on a higher level. Literally, since there's a helicopter involved.
I just got back from Linkin Park's rehearsal at the remote location where they'll perform tomorrow night. It'a famous Los Angeles location, and it was absolutely freezing during their run-through of "The Catalyst."
While the whereabouts of Linkin Park's VMA performance is a surprise, I can tell you that it's an iconic location known for its role in movies but not in music. In fact, this will be the first time a musical performance has been staged there. And believe me, it's a place that matches the intensity and dramatics of "The Catalyst," as it pretty much looks and feels like the end of the world.
If you're familiar with Los Angeles, you know it gets cold here at night. Just ask the Linkin Park fans on who'll be featured in the crowd shots. One fan (also a member of the Echelon!) drove up from Arizona. Huddled next to her was another Linkin Park fan in a tank top who contemplated whether she'd rather have a jacket or meet Chester Bennington. "Right now I'd probably say a jacket, but otherwise, yeah. I'd rather meet Chester!" Point is, she was willing to sacrifice warmth to take in Linkin Park's colossal performance.
And colossal only skims the surface. Against a backdrop of fog, shockingly dramatic lighting, the moon and the night sky, and, of course, an iconic landmark that will finally be revealed tomorrow night, Linkin Park looked, well, rock as f---.
After more than a decade in the business and too many platinum albums to count without a calculator (admittedly, I'm bad at math) Linkin Park's probably not too worried about whether they've "made it." But just in case they weren't sure, watching them chant "God bless us everyone" against a night sky that looked like heaven is proof that not only are the at the top of the game, they're on top of the world.
For international fans who haven't purchased the CD/DVD combo and cannot access Hulu to watch Linkin Park's documentary "Meeting of A Thousand Suns", now you can watch the whole thing on youtube in high quality. A big thanks to theroxasskater for ripping the video off Hulu and uploading them on youtube for everyone to see!
Enjoy the hard but beautiful musical and emotional journey of the band through making A Thousand Suns!
- If you've pre-ordered A Thousand Suns on LinkinPark.com, you probably received a little gift in your inbox last Thursday: Wretches And Kings. But don't worry, it's not too late to pre-order and automatically get the song! (Or you can be a pirate -arr arrr- and search for a download link somewhere)
We'd like to know what you think of the song, so drop by our MB to discuss!
- If you're interested in hearing a 30 second snippet from Waiting For the End, head over here.
(I am personally fighting the urge to listen to it. Must not give in to temptation.)
- A new LPTV has been uploaded on Linkin Park's Youtube channel. No, it doesn't feature our beloved Bennoda, but Mike and Brad are being adorkable (and we fully support their bromance. Wheee!)
Hey everyone! We're sorry for being quiet lately, I am very busy with school and Ann is on vacation (miss you!). But here's a couple things that's happened in the Linkin Park world recently
- This week's Kerrang features an interview with Linkin Park (again!). Here's a scan of the double page spread, brought to you by the LPA.
- Check out the trailer for the Meeting of A Thousand Suns DVD. You can also hear a little snippet from a song, Wretches & Kings. Excited yet? I AM!
- Don't miss the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday September 12th. Linkin Park will deliver the first ever live performance of The Catalyst. Gon be gud! (source)
- Talking about MTV, they have posted a very interesting article about A Thousand Suns, comparing it with Radiohead's Kid A. Read it right here.
I just realized that Linkin Park's youtube channel has the 1080p HD version of The Catalyst up. Finally! Enjoy every single splendiferous moments in HD quality, NOW!
You can watch the video HERE on Linkin Park's youtube channel or DOWNLOAD the video HERE (.mp4 file, 122 mb). The high quality video will reveal a lot of amazingness you haven't seen before.
Also, check out another exclusive behind-the-scene of The Catalyst on ARTISTdirect. Great stuff!
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