Hybrid Theory was released in the United States on October 24, 2000 following the debut of "One Step Closer" on the radio.[12] It entered the U.S. Billboard 200 charts at #16 in late 2000,[13] and was certified gold by the RIAA five weeks after its release.[14] In 2001, Hybrid Theory sold 4.8 million copies in the United States, making it the best-selling album of the year,[15][16] and it was estimated that the album continued selling 100, 000 copies per week in early 2002.[9] Throughout the following years, the album continued to sell at a fast pace and was certified diamond by the RIAA in 2005 for selling 10 million copies in the U.S.[17] It has sold 16 million copies worldwide as of 2007,[18] including over 10 million in the U.S. which makes it the band's best-selling album and the best-selling debut album of the 21st century.[19]
Bennington appears on the band's behalf at MTV Asia AidThe follow up to Hybrid Theory would ultimately become Meteora. The band began to work on new material amidst their saturated schedule, spending a sliver of their free time in their tour bus' studio.[20] The band officially announced the production of a new studio album in December 2002, revealing their new work was inspired by the rocky region of Meteora in Greece, where numerous monasteries have been built on top of the rocks.[21] Meteora featured a mixture of the band's previous nu metal and rapcore styles with newer innovative effects, including the induction of a shakuhachi (a Japanese flute made of bamboo) and other instruments.[22] Linkin Park's second album debuted on March 25, 2003 and instantly earned worldwide recognition,[22] going to #1 in the US and UK, and #2 in Australia.[23]
Linkin Park returned to the recording studios in 2006 to work on new material. To produce the album, the band chose producer Rick Rubin. Despite initially stating the album would debut sometime in 2006, the album was delayed until 2007.[24] The band had recorded thirty to fifty songs in August 2006, when Shinoda stated the album was halfway completed.[25] Bennington later added that the new album would stray away from their previous nu metal sound.[26] Warner Bros. Records officially announced that the band's third studio album, entitled Minutes to Midnight, would be released on May 15, 2007 in the United States.[27] After spending fourteen months working on the album, the band opted to further refine their album by removing five of the original seventeen tracks. The album's title, a reference to the Doomsday Clock, foreshadowed the band's new lyrical themes.[28] Minutes to Midnight sold over 600,000 copies in its first week, making it one of the most successful debut week albums in recent years. The album also took the top spot on the Billboard Charts.[29]
In an interview with Q101's Kevin Manno at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, Bennington stated Linkin Park will be returning to the studio sometime in November to begin recording for their next album
Bennington appears on the band's behalf at MTV Asia AidThe follow up to Hybrid Theory would ultimately become Meteora. The band began to work on new material amidst their saturated schedule, spending a sliver of their free time in their tour bus' studio.[20] The band officially announced the production of a new studio album in December 2002, revealing their new work was inspired by the rocky region of Meteora in Greece, where numerous monasteries have been built on top of the rocks.[21] Meteora featured a mixture of the band's previous nu metal and rapcore styles with newer innovative effects, including the induction of a shakuhachi (a Japanese flute made of bamboo) and other instruments.[22] Linkin Park's second album debuted on March 25, 2003 and instantly earned worldwide recognition,[22] going to #1 in the US and UK, and #2 in Australia.[23]
Linkin Park returned to the recording studios in 2006 to work on new material. To produce the album, the band chose producer Rick Rubin. Despite initially stating the album would debut sometime in 2006, the album was delayed until 2007.[24] The band had recorded thirty to fifty songs in August 2006, when Shinoda stated the album was halfway completed.[25] Bennington later added that the new album would stray away from their previous nu metal sound.[26] Warner Bros. Records officially announced that the band's third studio album, entitled Minutes to Midnight, would be released on May 15, 2007 in the United States.[27] After spending fourteen months working on the album, the band opted to further refine their album by removing five of the original seventeen tracks. The album's title, a reference to the Doomsday Clock, foreshadowed the band's new lyrical themes.[28] Minutes to Midnight sold over 600,000 copies in its first week, making it one of the most successful debut week albums in recent years. The album also took the top spot on the Billboard Charts.[29]
In an interview with Q101's Kevin Manno at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, Bennington stated Linkin Park will be returning to the studio sometime in November to begin recording for their next album
