Linkin Park Meteora is 20 and I Have a Linkin Park Story to Tell

Linkin Park Meteora. Their second studio album, released on March 25, 2003. It's 20. But the story I have to tell is a bit older.

Linkin Park broke through in 2000 with their debut album Hybrid Theory. It was the right album from the right band at the right time. Y2K was ripe with rap, rock, rap-rock, metal, nu-metal and the like. Linkin Park combined all these sounds and got major airplay on their four singles across every rock-based radio format. Hell, we still play three of those singles on the regular on ROCK 92.9.

Back in 2000, I was playing the band on The Edge in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was the Music Director and Morning Host as Linkin Park was blowing up in late 2000 and early 2001. In early 2002, I welcomed a new cohost to my show. He went by the name of Dex. A great guy with a great personality. And he had big shoes to fill, as the cohost he was replacing, Jamie, was one of a kind.

Right off the bat, we had rapport and had a good time doing mornings together. Since he was new to the station and new to the city--he's a Bozeman, MT native who came to the Duke City via San Diego--I wanted the audience to get to know him. So I'd spend time every morning asking about his background, his likes and dislikes, you know, the usual. One morning, I asked  him who his favorite band was. Without a pause, he replied:

"Oh, it's Linkin Park. Definitely Linkin Park."

Again, this was 2002. Linkin Park hadn't even been a band for two years yet. I went OFF on poor, young Dex. I wish I still had a recording of the show, but it was probably along the lines of: "You can't have a favorite band that hasn't even existed for two years yet? What kind of answer is that? Get out and live your life more!" I was a different man back then.

Still, all these years later, I think it's quite silly to choose an all-time favorite band that has existed for a little over a year and only has one album to their name. Unless you're a small child. Which Dex was not. But he was still a young guy, so maybe I should've lightened up a bit. Dex, if you're reading this, I hope you're doing well. And now that they've been around for a respectable amount of time, you're allowed to call Linkin Park your favorite band.

Love the Mobile Suit Gundam cameo in the opening.

Maybe my favorite track on the album.

I always loved Chester as a blonde.

Totally forgot this one was a single and had a video made for it.

That opening still crushes.