Linkin Park

            The band, Linkin Park, has been around for twelve consecutive years. In the first couple years this band was not known as Linkin Park, but Xero, and consisted only of drummer Rob Bourdon born January 20^th,1979 , guitarist Brad Delson born unknown date, 1983, and, at the time, lead singer Mike Shinoba born February 11^th, 1977, who now is emcee, vocals, rhythmic guitar, keyboard, and piano . These three men went to high school together and started the band in 1996 in Agoura Hills, California. Eventually this band had changed the name and added a few more talented artists to their group. In 1999 Chester Bennington born March 20^th, 1976, now lead vocals, Joseph Hahn born March 15^th, 1977, turntable, and Dave “Phoenix” Farrell born February 8^th, 1977, bass guitar and backing vocals were the talented few who helped no longer Xero, but Hybrid Theory, on their walk of fame. At the time they didn’t know this but later in the year, after being turned down by Warner Bros. three times, the group was not letting down their guard and after noticing the talent these young men had, Warner Bros. decided to give them a try at fame. Ecstatic about the offer, Hybrid Theory decided to change their name from Hybrid Theory to the all famous Linkin Park. After the quick name change, Linkin Park settled down and got to work on their debut album, named after a piece of their history, Hybrid Theory. A year later the album, Hybrid Theory, went out and later became an eight-time platinum debut. The songs “One step closer” and “Crawling” became smash hits and in February of 2002 “Crawling” received and Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. In 2003 Linkin Park was nominated for 2 more Grammy awards, Best Rock Performance and Best New Artist. Eventually the band decided to tour with a few different bands/artists such as Mudvayne, Xzibit, Blindside, Metallica, Limp Bizkit, The Deftones, and rapper Jay-Z.  The total albums sold by Linkin Park came up to more than fifty million albums in their twelve year careers.

Going for the Record   written by Julie A. Swanson    

Mrs. Moen I would like you to meet Leah Weiczynkowski. Leah was a 17 year-old soccer super-star. At school she was a hero, on the field she was a warrior, but at home she was daddy’s little girl. During the summer, she went to the under-18 national soccer team of the United States. Soccer was the main focus of hers and her family’s lives until her life crashed abruptly. She found out her father had been diagnosed with cancer. Soon after the heart-breaking news she quit soccer to be with her father. Her father said he wanted Leah to go back to being his soccer-star. Leah couldn’t just go back when her father needed her, so she gave up one thing she held dear for her father. Soon she took notice to the pain her father was feeling she asked him about trying chemotherapy or other cures. After about a month he took chemotherapy into recognition and went to a hospital in Arizona. After coming back home he was in worse shape than before. The only thing that would cure him would be a miracle. So as time went by, he got weaker and weaker until by the third month he died. But a new hope was found when her old colleague came and took her to a friendly soccer game with friends and went for the record.