Linkin Park’s Phoenix Remembers Chester Bennington, Meteora Twenty Years Later & More
Great to get the chance to talk with Linkin Park’s Dave “Phoenix” Farrell. We talked about the start of the band, and why he wasn’t in it for the first album. He told me he stepped out to play with another band, then came back into the fold just before the debut album dropped.
He tells me about the “latest” song “Lost”. It was recorded for the Meteora album, but didn’t make it. Phoenix explained why. “It sat too close to a couple other songs that were on the record”. He said they set it aside and found it on a hard drive and brought it back. As far as the fans, he said “People seem to be really enjoying it…it’s a huge win for us”.
We talked about the late Chester Bennington. He recalled loving hearing his voice again on the songs after 20 years. For those that never had a chance to meet Chester, he said “Chester was a very 3, if not 4 dimensional person”. He talked about how good he was with his kids, and what a warm caring guy he was.
Of course, I couldn’t not talk about Golf with Phoenix. He a big fan of the sport.
-Meltdown-
Linkin Park: Their 20 Best Songs, Ranked
Linkin Park’s debut full-length, Hybrid Theory arrived at a pivotal point in rock music’s sidewinding trajectory. In 2000, grunge had long worn out its welcome. Nu metal was having its moment. Indie rock had become diluted in the mainstream spotlight. Cue Linkin Park, who rewired the machine to build something completely new.
This album was the first to expertly balance the trifecta of hard rock, hip-hop and electronic music. It’s in the name: a hybrid of sounds. It could have easily dissolved into a pretentious, self-serving mess. However, the band used their collaborative chemistry and pop sensibilities to create huge, hooky songs. It became a gateway album for music lovers who were confined to one corner of the record store until this LP made it acceptable to examine other genres. The album has gone on to rack up 32 million units sold – huge for any album, especially a debut.
October 24th is the 20th anniversary of Hybrid Theory, but Linkin Park is so much more than their iconic debut. The introspective fury of vocalists Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda rejected the macho I-hate-my-ex narrative of much of late ‘90s rock, and provided space for self-examination. Along with bandmates Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell and Joe Hahn, they welcomed the weary, cultivating a massive fan community and prioritizing community outreach.
Linkin Park has aged gracefully over two decades. Far outpacing their nu metal contemporaries in album and ticket sales, their crossover appeal and wide influence make them deserving of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame status, (they won’t be eligible until 2025). They’ve made a conscious effort to avoid becoming sonically stagnant, and that’s especially clear on their latest release One More Light. (It was the last album they created before the passing of Chester by his own hand in 2017passing of Chester by his own hand in 2017. )
To celebrate Hybrid Theory and the music that followed, we’ve ranked 20 of Linkin Park’s best songs. We left remixes out of the running, but you can find plenty of those on the brand new Hybrid Theory box set.
Meltdown started on the mighty WRIF on the evening of Halloween, 1995. Technically, his first on-air shift was the morning of November 1st. Moving to the Motor City from Buffalo, N.Y., he has built a career and family. Over his almost three-decade stint at RIFF, he's had the privilege to work with some of the biggest personalities in Detroit radio history. He boasts of being just the second-afternoon drive jock in the station's illustrious 53-year history.
Along with his love for rock music and attending concerts, he's also an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast and hockey player. He plays year-round and manages to squeeze in a few charity games throughout the year. Meltdown writes about the Detroit Red Wings, rock music, and Detroit concert venues.
