Linkin Park was formed in 1996 in Agoura Hills,
California. They rose to international
game after releasing their debut album in 2000, titled Hybrid Theory, which became certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of
America. Their second album, titled Meteora and released in 2003, continued the bands success, topping the Billboard 200. The album was followed by extensive touring and charity
work. Meteora and Hybrid Theory shared a
nu metal and rap metal sound, and that is the sound that Linkin Park became known for. However, when 2007 rolled around, the
band released Minutes to Midnight, which also topped the Billboard 200. Minutes to Midnight explored new sounds for the
band, from the swearing metal sound of Given Up, to the calmness of Leave Out All The Rest.
Linkin Park is one of the best selling bands of the 21st century and the world's best selling music artists, having sold over 70 million albums worldwide. They have won two Grammy Awards,
six American Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards and three World Music Awards. In 2003, MTV2 names Linkin Park the sixth greatest
band of the music video era and the third best of the new millennium. Billboard ranked Linkin Park No. 19 on the Best Artists of the Decade list. In
2012, Linkin Park was voted as the greatest artist of the 2000s on a Bracket Madness poll on VH1. In 2014 the band was declared as "The Biggest Rock Band in the World Right Now" by Kerrang!.
