Linkin Park
USA, 1996–now
American band formed in California in 1996, fronted by Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda. Blended nu-metal and rap-rock with electronic and melodic elements. Their debut Hybrid Theory (2000) was among the best-selling albums of the 2000s. Bennington died in 2017.
MusicRoots documents 5 artists who influenced Linkin Park and 1 artist Linkin Park influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Linkin Park?
- Rage Against the Machine — Rage Against the Machine's rap-metal fusion is a direct model for Linkin Park's blend of rap and riffs.
- Depeche Mode — Depeche Mode's dark synth-pop feeds the electronic, melodic side of Linkin Park's sound.
- Korn — Mike Shinoda credited Korn — and vocalist Jonathan Davis in particular — with pushing Linkin Park toward more emotional, vulnerable lyrics.
- Deftones — Alongside Korn, the Deftones' melodic, emotive take on nu-metal helped Linkin Park move past the genre's 'tough-guy' posture.
- Nine Inch Nails — Nine Inch Nails' dense, static-smeared industrial production and emotional complexity were a key inspiration for Linkin Park's sound.
Which artists did Linkin Park influence?
- Bring Me the Horizon — Chester Bennington and Linkin Park directly shaped Sykes's vocals — he has cited them as an influence on the singing on Sempiternal.