7. Linkin Park
Linkin Park found success where other rap-rock outfits failed. Infusing metal, rock, and rap, this group rose to fame in 2000 with their hit critically acclaimed album Hybrid Theory.
The origins of the band go back to 1996 when high school friends Brad Delson, Rob Bourdon and Mike Shinoda started playing music out in Agoura Hills. Delson was at UCLA at the time and met future bandmate Dave Farrell who started the band Xero with Bourdon and Shinoda.
Though they went through a few setbacks with lineup changes, things fell in to place in 1999 when they recruited Chester Bennington on vocals. After a year of writing and recording songs, they released Hybrid Theory on Warner Bros. and was an instant hit.
"It’s so unreal Didn’t look out below Watch the time go right out the window Trying to hold on, but you didn’t even know Wasted it all just to watch you go I kept everything inside And even though I tried, it all fell apart What it meant to me Will eventually be a memory of a time when"
Excerpt from “In The End” from the album Hybrid Theory
Since then, they have released six albums, selling over 100 million records around the world. In that time, Linkin Park has evolved their sound, though staying true to the rap-rock origins that made them famous.
Unfortunately, things came to a halt when Bennington committed suicide by hanging in July 0f 2017. Despite the tragic event, Linkin Park has vowed to continue on and keep the spirit of Chester alive.