Fani z pytaniami ... (Mike)
Katie Lewis of Ft. Lauderdale, FL asks: What is the
one thing you wish didn't change with your newfound fame and popularity? (e.g.
the way you're treated, being away from home all the time, etc.)
Mike: We're not at the point where we can't walk outside, but I
definitely appreciate my time at home alone with family and loved ones.
Jack Fonderwhite of Santa Cruz, USA asks: On the cover of "Hybrid Theory"
and on many other Linkin Park items a soldier hoisting a flag is pictured. I
always think of Linkin Park when I see similar images, making me realize what an
interesting choice for a symbol this was. What prompted the band's use of the
soldier hoisting the flag as its icon?
Mike: The soldier isn't the whole image, the dragonfly wings are just as
important. Together, they symbolize the way we made this album, by mixing
aggressive elements and softer, introverted elements.
Malu Faccio of Eagle Pass, TX asks: What was it that triggered/inspired
you to write the lyrics, "I tried so hard, and got so far, but in the end, it
doesn't even matter.." for the song "In The End"? What was the experience that
made you write them?
Mike: Those just popped out. I think I was reacting to the things we as a
band had gone through in the beginning. The song almost doesn't know if it wants
to be optimistic or pessimistic - the beginning is a little dark, but you can't
tell (lyrically) if it resolves or not. That's what I like about it.
Barry Porch of Salem, NJ asks: What made you go out and do it? I mean a
lot of people want to be in a band and want to get their music heard. But what
made you go out and say, "We can do this." Did you even think you would become a
big name?
Mike: We have worked really hard on our songwriting since day one. That
has always been the foundation: a drive to make something we can be proud of,
not a drive to be big popular rock stars.
Naomi Haworth of Toronoto, Canada asks: The first time I heard "By Myself"
I automatically cried, but fell in love... and I've listened to that song so
many times it hurts too much to count. Which one of your songs was able to
trigger the same kind of emotions, and if your songs weren't able to do that
which song that you've ever heard was able to hit you the same way?
Mike: There's a song by Onelinedrawing that I found on the Internet that
I love in that way. It's called "Pollyanna".
Nate Hicks of Chesapeake Bay, VA asks: I was just wondering how you guys
found that right musical chemistry and harmony that is so hard to find today.
I've been in a band for about two years and I've been experimenting with a sound
similar to your guys band, and no matter how many people we try with, I can
never seem to harmonize with our other lyricist, we either just can't blend the
parts or come up with those little sweet phrases you guys add to songs like in "Papercut"
where in the background you just repeat "The sun goes down, I feel the light
betrayed me", that's just beautiful, I'm just wondering if you can tell me when
you find that chemistry.
Mike: Chester and I started writing our best stuff when we talked about
the parts and their meanings without defensiveness or pride. The importance is
placed on the best part, not who is writing it.
Joe DePrince of Collingdale, PA asks: Can you describe the feeling you
got when you first saw your video for "One Step Closer" on TV and heard your
songs on the radio?
Mike: It's eerie; it felt natural even though we knew it wasn't. Like an
overwhelming of deja vu. After that, I remember feeling really grateful to our
fans. I still am... in fact sometimes I go to linkinpark.com's message board
just to give my thanks however I can.
Ross Smith of New York, NY asks: I have listened to "Esaul" which seems
pretty much like an unfinished version of "A Place For My Head". Just wondering
if you guys did a lot re-writes before going into the studio to get your songs
to be "perfect", because you essentially created one of the tightest albums I
have ever heard. The song structure is, well, perfect.
Mike: We have been re-writing the older songs, like that one, for a few
years before we even got signed. And some of the songs, like "Papercut", just
came together relatively quickly.
Jessica Ortiz of Coral Springs, FL asks: Do you believe touring with
Ozzfest will change the way your career is going up to this point? Follow up
question: Do you feel that it will expand your fan base? Do you think that the
hardcore kids that go to Ozzfest will like your band? How do you feel about
playing with the other artists on Ozzfest?
Mike: We are proud to be playing on Ozzfest, and hope that the people
attending enjoy our set. Our favorite types of music include hip-hop, electronic,
alternative and hardcore. I know some of our fans are also fans of some heavy
shit. Those fans are the ones probably most likely to come to Ozzfest -
hopefully we can introduce our other influences to some of the hardcore kids who
are less familiar with them.
Daniel Stridsberg of Täby, Sweden asks: In your video for "One Step
Closer", there are these flying guys in red coats with face paintings and stuff.
I have always wondered what they are supposed to symbolize or what they are
suppose to be. Are they something you just figured out yourself or is it
something else?
Mike: "One Step Closer" was just for fun. It was an escapist action movie
video. Our next one though (for "Crawling") is going to be a story - not one
that follows the song's story, but a story about the way a song can help you get
through problems.
Jesse Williamson of Chicago, IL asks: Who have been your favorite bands
to tour with?
Mike: We had a great time with (hed)pe, P.O.D., Papa Roach, Taproot,
Styles Of Beyond and Deftones. In fact, all of our tours have been really
positive. And we're excited to see who we can tour with in the future. Nine Inch
Nails? Tool? Depeche Mode? Jurassic 5? Prodigy? Who knows. Regardless, we'll be
there for our fans and playing our hardest for them