Brad Delson on Linkin Park’s No. 1 Debut, Despite Criticism of New Pop Sound
Despite outspoken ambivalence about the new One More Light, Linkin Park fans did rally behind the band enough to make the album the group’s sixth No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 after its release in mid-May.
Some fans have criticized the group for the album’s overt pop sound, but guitarist Brad Delson tells us that topping the charts again showed that most trust Linkin Park and are willing to follow the band on its musical adventures:
“Obviously there are always risks involved, and so for us the reward I the music itself, for sure. To have our sixth album hit No. 1, this one debuting at the top of the Billboard album chart, it’s really, really humbling, and we’re just super grateful for everyone that collaborated with us on this project, to our team and to our fans here in the States and really around the world, ’cause the album had a huge debut globally.”
Besides the U.S. One More Light also debuted at No. 1 in Canada and in the Top 5 in the U.K., Australia, France, New Zealand and Switzerland, among other countries. Linkin Park is currently on tour in Europe through July 7 and begins its North American tour on July 27 in Mansfield, Mass.
Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.
