Linkin Park

Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Since their formation in 1996, the band has sold more than 50 million albums and won two Grammy Awards. They achieved mainstream success with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005. Their following studio album, Meteora, continued the band's success, topping the Billboard 200’s album charts in 2003, and was followed by extensive touring and charity work around the world.
Recognized for their adaptation of the nu metal and rap rock genre into a radio-friendly yet densely-layered style in Hybrid Theory and Meteora, the band moved away from this and explored a variety of other genres in their latest studio album, Minutes to Midnight. The album topped the Billboard charts and had the third best debut week of any album that year. They are also known for their several collaborations, most notably with rapper Jay-Z in their mash-up album Collision Course, and many other artists on Reanimation.

Style
Both Hybrid Theory and Meteora combined the nu metal and rap rock sound with influences and elements from hip-hop, alternative rock, and electronica, utilizing programming and synthesizers. William Ruhlmann from Allmusic regarded it as "a Johnny-come-lately to an already overdone musical style," whereas Rolling Stone called "Breaking the Habit" "risky, beautiful art".
In Minutes to Midnight the band experimented with their established sound and sees them drawing influences from a wider and more varied range of genres and styles, a process Los Angeles Times compares to a stage in U2's work. In it, only two of the songs feature rapping. It also is their first studio album to feature guitar solos.
Linkin Park's use of two separate vocalists has become a large part of their music. Chester Bennington is most known for using growling and screaming vocals common in various forms of metal, while also using more melodic singing, and has placed 46th in Hit Paraders list of "Heavy Metal's All-Time Top 100 Vocalists".
Mike Shinoda is the group's MC, and does all of the rapping. Mike has also done all of the backing vocals live, and in their latest album, Minutes to Midnight, he sings lead vocals on "In Between", "Hands Held High" and the B-side "No Roads Left". Shinoda has also been placed in Hit Parader's list of "Heavy Metal's All-Time Top 100 Vocalists" at number 72.

Band members
Current
Chester Bennington - vocals (1999–present)
Rob Bourdon - drums, percussion (1996–present)
Brad Delson - lead guitar (1996–present)
Dave "Phoenix" Farrell - bass guitar, backing vocals (1996–1999, 2001–present)
Joe Hahn - turntables, programming, samples (1996–present)
Mike Shinoda - emcee, vocals, guitar, keyboards (1996–present)

Former
Mark Wakefield – vocals (1996–1998)

Stand-in
Kyle Christener — Bass guitar (1998–1999); temporarily replaced Farrell
Scott Koziol — Bass guitar (1999–2001); stand-in bassist on Hybrid Theory

Discography
The discography of Linkin Park, a Agoura Hills, California-based rock band, consists of three studio albums, twenty-one singles, two live albums, two remix albums, four EPs, six video albums and twenty-four videos. This list does not include material recorded by Linkin Park band members with other sideprojects.
Linkin Park was formed in Agoura Hills, California in 1996 under the name Xero by vocalist Mike Shinoda and guitarist Brad Delson. Although widely associated with nu metal, the band's sound incorporates rap metal and alternative rock elements. The band is known for its distinct vocal style which often includes the aggressive vocals of Chester and Mike.
Linkin Park rose to international fame in 2000 with their debut album Hybrid Theory, which became a high commercial success and sold over 24 million copies worldwide. Linkin Park is one of the most successful acts of the 2000s and sold over 16 million albums in the United States alone. The band has achieved three number-one Billboard 200 albums (Meteora, Collision Course and Minutes to Midnight), seven number one singles on the Modern Rock Tracks charts, and has won two Grammy Awards and as well been nominated two times.