Linkin Park - From Then to Now Formed in 1996, Linkin Park broke into the music mainstream in a big way with their debut album, “Hybrid Theory” in October of 2000. Blending nu metal and rap, the band explored themes of paranoia, drugs and child abuse. The music video for the album's first single, “One Step Closer,” received extensive air time on MTV, further raising the band's exposure to the masses. Linkin Park made 320 concert appearances in the year following the album's release, all captured on the DVD, “Frat Party at the Pankake Festival.” Linkin Park overcame the sophomore jinx with their second studio album, “Meteora.” Released in 2003, it became the most successful album in the history of Billboard's “Modern Rock Tracks” chart, selling over 11 million copies worldwide in its first four years. The album's success prompted Metallica to invite the band to perform on the “Summer Sanitarium Tour” that same year. Beginning with their third studio effort, “Minutes to Midnight,” Linkin Park began to venture beyond their initial nu metal meets rap roots, producing a more mainstream alternative vibe with a touch of punk. The album went on to achieve double platinum status, selling 623,000 records in the first week alone. The band continued to explore different musical expression with the release of their fourth studio album, “A Thousand Suns,” in 2009. Their sound has matured since the days of “Hybrid Theory.” “When I was younger, I liked songs that got people wanting to punch others in the face. Now, I don't want to scream at people. I want to talk to people," said Chester Bennington, the band's lead vocalist.