[Linkin Park] 2 Articles from MTV

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Linkin Park Avoid Bodily Harm In New Video By Using Anime Stand-Ins
05.17.2004


Linkin Park are saving the best for last.

The final single from their 2003 album, Meteora, will be their favorite track, "Breaking the Habit." They dig the tune so much, in fact, that they're planning to use it as a model when they start working on their next album in October.

"Creatively, 'Breaking the Habit' is one of the songs we're most proud of," guitarist Brad Delson said. "It's so familiar, but at the same time it's so foreign to anything we've ever done. It really is just a unique animal, and when we approach making the next record, I definitely hope to build on some of [the techniques we used for 'Breaking the Habit']. Obviously, we'll retain some of the elements our fans know us and love us for, but we like to push the envelope and challenge ourselves creatively whenever we go and do something new."

The video for "Breaking the Habit" was directed by DJ Joseph Hahn and is composed exclusively of Japanese anime-style animation. To create the video, Hahn filmed the band playing live in Los Angeles, then hired established Japanese animators to re-create the footage frame by frame.

"It's definitely Mr. Hahn's most ambitious undertaking to date," Delson said. "He actually worked hand-in-hand with the animators who worked on 'Kill Bill.' It's all done in a style you've never seen before" (see "Linkin Park Caught Unprepared As Fans Flock To 'Lying' ").

In addition to featuring animated performance shots of the bandmembers, the "Breaking the Habit" video will include a story line based on the song's self-examining lyrics.

"It's really like watching a live-action movie," Delson said. "And everything happens in that specific disturbed world that Joe and his very highly skilled artists have been able to create. I don't want to go into the details, but if we had actually filmed some of these shots in real life, it would have been extremely costly, whereas when you're dealing with illustration and animation, you're able to accomplish things just through imagination. Plus, it was a lot safer to put the cartoon versions of ourselves through some of these scenarios than to actually risk bodily harm in the filming."

To accompany the video, Japanese comics company Tokyo Pop will release a manga book of the full story line of the clip, which will come out this summer. Hahn and singer Mike Shinoda are also considering releasing a DVD with the manga book, Delson said.

The manga release isn't the only Linkin Park book that'll come out this year. In the fall, the band's coffee-table book, "From the Inside: Linkin Park's Meteora," will hit shelves. The tome will feature exclusive photos by Greg Waterman, who traveled with the band over the last two years. "We wanted to give the fans a really intimate glimpse into what our world is like when we're on the road," Delson said. "So we brought Greg out with us and really allowed him full access behind the stage, in our dressing room, on our bus and on the stage. And he did an amazing job."

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Linkin Park's Summer Tour Now Twice As Big
05.19.2004


The Projekt Revolution Tour was launched by Linkin Park in 2002 to showcase a diverse range of acts and to turn the band's fans on to music they might not normally listen to. This year the Revolution will be even more diverse, thanks to the addition of a second stage.

Acts confirmed for the second stage so far include Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ghostface, Welsh emo-metal band Funeral for a Friend and rap-metal veterans Downset, with more to be announced.

"There might be a couple of up-and-comers, but I think the second stage will really be groups that are on the cutting edge of what they do," said Park guitarist Brad Delson. "Ghostface is obviously an amazing pioneer in hip-hop, and Funeral for a Friend are great. They're huge in England, but they're just starting to break in the states."

The Projekt Revolution main stage will feature Linkin Park, Korn, Snoop Dogg, the Used and Less Than Jake (see "Dates For Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution Announced; Used Join Trek"). Delson is thrilled and a little surprised that his band was able to cement such a solid lineup in a season when many top bands are vying for spots on tours like Ozzfest, Lollapalooza and the Vans Warped Tour. "The first two groups we wound up solidifying were Korn and Snoop Dogg," he said. "They're both legendary acts, and we were incredibly honored that they wanted to be a part of Projekt Revolution."

"This tour is great for selfish reasons because we get to play with some of our idols," Delson continued. "It's an amazing opportunity to bring together some of our favorite groups."

Delson said there will be a number of surprises in store for fans at this year's event — some of which will come from the headliners. While touring behind their latest album, Meteora, for well over a year, Linkin Park have drummed up some new ways to get their fans' attention.

"We're going to be taking our songs in different directions to challenge people," Delson said. "And we're going to bring back some older songs we haven't played in a while and be doing some versions of songs people haven't heard. We're also changing up some of the production elements of our actual stage set to give the show some new dynamics."

The Projekt Revolution Tour opens on July 23 in Cincinnati and finishes September 5 in Mountain View, California.