By Therese McKeon

Shoutweb: What is the general theme of this record?

Rob: Lyrically?

Shoutweb: Yeah.

Rob: It's similar in theme to the first record. Definitely, there is a similarity that goes from the last record to this one. Mike and Chester are really honest about their lyrics and the way they write lyrics. It really talks about universal emotions. It's similar to the old record, it that it's dark and talks about all these different emotions from anger, frustration, paranoia, and these different things that people go through. They have really pulled from their own life experience to write these lyrics and I think that's something people can really relate to. I think that's something that a guy who is 40 year old and going to work who is really frustrated about something in his life can really relate to what Chester and Mike are saying without knowing what they were necessarily writing about when they wrote it. A 16-year-old guy who is in school that is frustrated by something could listen to the same song and they both can relate to the same song. They can relate it to their own lives and feel that someone else is going through it too.

Shoutweb: A lot of times, bands go to write their second record and it's all about life on the road and the music business and the pressure. For a while, there was time when I saw you guys and it was very much that "deer in the highlights" type of thing because you had blown up so huge and were still signing every autograph and committing to every event possible. I was so afraid you were going to burn out and change from the down-to-earth people that you are. How have to you been able to balance yourselves as a band and individually to handle the level that you have achieved?

Linkin Park signing autographs for fan club members after the LP Underground show. (March 12, 2003) Copyright (c) 2003 Therese McKeon/Shoutweb.com

Rob: As far as signing things and doing stuff for our fans, that's something that we've valued and it's such a huge part of what we do. We started out marketing ourselves and doing our own street team before a record label ever signed us. Finally, when we got on tour, we were able to meet a lot of these fans that we had met on the Internet and had given them songs to download. It's always been a huge part of what we do. It would feel totally weird to not have that element there anymore, so we do whatever we can. On Projekt Revolution, we started the LP Underground to keep that relationship going because we can't go to merch booth anymore to sign autographs. It was great to do that and I wish we could. So, during Projekt Revolution we actually signed stuff for every fan club member on the whole tour after every show. In some cities, it was crazy because in New York and L.A. it was something like 1600 people. Shoutweb: I know, I was there to say Hi! and couldn't wait around that many hours. Rob: We were sitting there for about two and a half hours. Definitely, after being on the road for two years and just the fact of being away from home and out on the road for two years it does get a little tiring. I'm glad we had a chance to come home. We've all had time to re-charge our batteries. We're ready to go out there and do it again. We're excited to get out there and do it again.

Shoutweb: Now, you're still calling your own shots but a much bigger level.

Rob: We definitely have a lot more freedom in that we can call our own shots with the people that we work with. Especially at the label, we have respect and a trust and we have a good relationship with them now where we can really give our input into a lot of the stuff that we want to do. They listen to us and respect us, which is a great thing. We want to make sure that everything we do comes from Linkin Park even if it's a merchandise item or a piece of art that goes on the record or a video. We want to always be involved in everything that everybody sees that has to do with us. We don't want to just farm something out to have someone put something together with for us.

Shoutweb: I read about the titling of the record.

Rob: Meteora is actually a rock formation in Greece. There is this monastery on top of it. Mike and Brad saw this place when we were touring in Europe. They saw it in a magazine that the bus driver had. It looks like a really cool, kind of epic, surreal, huge, timeless, place that represented almost like a goal of what we wanted the record to sound like. We wanted it to be a timeless record.

Shoutweb: Is that artwork going to make it into the record?

Rob: No, even though it was the inspiration for the title, there is not that much focus on the actual place. I didn't even know what they saw or where it was and neither did any of the other guys but we just thought it sounded cool. Just hearing it for the first time, it sounded like a cool name for the record. Then when we heard the explanation of what the actual place was, it sounded cool too. Hopefully, the music will describe the name more than the name describes the music.

Shoutweb: Good point.

Rob: That's kind of how it usually works I think.

Shoutweb: Do you guys have artwork ideas?

Rob: Mike is really heading that up.

Shoutweb: I will be talking to him on Thursday.

Rob: Okay, so I will let him cover that being that he is spear heading the art.

Shoutweb: I actually haven't heard the record at this point so it's tough to really get into questions about the music but it there anything you want to say about the songs?

Rob: We will be having listenings. Our manager is actually flying around the world right now with the CD.

Shoutweb: Wow.

Rob: That's really what the label required.

Shoutweb: He must be having the time of his life. He's probably like, "Damn, do I have to go to Paris?" (laughter)

Rob: (laughter) Exactly.

Shoutweb: So, do you have any comments on the individual tracks that you want to share?

Rob: There is a song on there called "Easier To Run" that is really exciting for me in terms of drums. I really worked really hard on that song and I think that I am really happy with the way it came out. I am really proud of the way it came out. I also think that a song called "Breaking The Habit" is a really different kind of sound for us. I think it's one of the best songs we've ever written. I think it stands on it's own level. We actually had a ten-piece orchestra come in and record strings on that. Shoutweb: Wow, did you guys play that live? Rob: No, we never played that song live. That was written during the process of recording "Meteora". All of the songs are brand new. They've never been heard or played live before. Shoutweb: Why is "Easier To Run" exciting for you as far as the drums go? Was it more difficult for you?

Rob Bourdon backstage at the LP Underground show in NYC. (March 12, 2003) Copyright (c) 2003 Therese McKeon/Shoutweb.com

Rob: In a way. It was more of taking a different approach then just going straightforward with it. It's different than what you'd expect to hear on that song. I kind of approached the drums in a different way on that song. I kind of thought out of the box on it, you know? It has a lot of intricate stuff and a lot of stuff going on in it but at the same time, it's not so technical that it grabs your ear and takes your attention away from the main aspects of the songs that are obviously the vocals and the melody. That's what we always try to achieve in all the songs. We want to find something that sounds interesting but that doesn't take away from where the focus is in the song. I think that's something that is important to do as a drummer.

Shoutweb: So, for touring, you guys are going to Europe and then doing these underground shows?

Rob: We're going to Europe to do a lot of press and four or five shows. When we come back here to the states and start touring here. Projekt Revolution will kick up at the end of March or beginning of April and possibly leading into May. That's going to be great and we're really excited for that tour.

Shoutweb: For release, are you going to do something special?

Rob: Everyone will have to check the web site. We're making plans now. We have a lot of people working on things to logistically make everything happen.

Shoutweb: Well, thanks Rob for talking to us and taking the time out of your busy schedule!

Rob: Thank you. It's been a pleasure talking to you.

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