For the past four years, Linkin Park has been one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Combining elements of hip-hop, electronica and rock, its 2000 debut “Hybrid Theory” was the best-selling record of 2001, and its latest release, “Meteora,” was the biggest rock album of 2003.
Vocalist/MC Mike Shinoda took a break from the band’s third Projekt Revolution Tour to talk about low ticket prices and why he and his Grammy-winning bandmates hate the “rap-rock” label.
This is the third year for the Projekt Revolution Tour. How has this tour evolved?
When we first started out, there were fewer acts on the bill. And with the support of the fans, the tour has been able to grow into something bigger and more exciting. There are more acts, more variety and more entertainment out in the festival area.
It’s been a slow summer tour season, and some tours, such as Lollapalooza, fell apart before they began. How have you guys managed to keep this tour viable?
It’s all in the support of the fans. This is a really diverse bill. It’s a well-rounded tour, and it’s a lot of fun for people. I think Snoop [Dogg], Korn and Linkin Park are kind of middle-of-the-road in that with these three acts, everybody knows some of our songs, so it’s a cool thing that the kids are there to help us sing along.
With most ticket prices spiraling upward, how have you managed to keep yours low?
The sponsors are a big help in doing that. All the bands on the bill do want to give the fans a good deal for their money, and they don’t want to overcharge the fans. We’re trying to do things so you can put 10 bands on a bill, and with the help of other people, hopefully give the kids a ticket price under $50.
When you released “Hybrid Theory” in 2000, it was right in the middle of this surge of “rap-metal” bands.
I hate that label.
Why?
It’s trivializing. I mean, it is an accurate description of a lot of things that were going on, a lot of types of music that people were making. There’s such capabilities and potential for doing really cool stuff in combining different types of music, and I think “rap-metal,” “nu-metal” or any of those labels just don’t cut it for me. If you come to our show, we’re playing everything from “One Step Closer” to “Crawling” to “Nobody’s Listening” to “Breaking the Habit.” Would you call “Breaking the Habit” a rap-rock song? I don’t think so. We’re just trying to make good music, stuff we think is cutting edge. All we’re trying to do is continue to surprise our fans in a good way.
Projekt Revolution Tour
With Linkin Park, Korn, Snoop Dogg, The Used, Less Than Jake
When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Tweeter Center, 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park
Tickets: $15-$46.50; 708-614-1616
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Edited by Curt Wagner (cwwagner@tribune.com) and Kris Karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com)
