Linkin Park is slated to release their new album, “A Thousand Suns” (Machine Shop Recordings/Warner Bros.) on September 14th, 2010. The album is co-produced by Rick Rubin (U2, Johnny Cash) and Linkin Park vocalist Mike Shinoda, who last joined forces to produce Linkin Park’s 2007 release, Minutes To Midnight. Check out the tracklisting and art work below.
Linkin Park - 'A Thousand Suns'
“A Thousand Suns” tracklisting:
01. The Requiem
02. The Radiance
03. Burning In The Skies
04. Empty Spaces
05. When They Come For Me
06. Robot Boy
07. Jornada Del Muerto
08. Waiting For The End
09. Blackout
10. Wretches And Kings
11. Wisdom, Justice, And Love
12. Iridescent
13. Fallout
14. The Catalyst
15. The Messenger
Through their official website (www.linkinpark.com), LINKIN PARK has announced a September 14th release date for their new album A THOUSAND SUNS (Machine Shop Recordings/Warner Bros.). The album is co-produced by Rick Rubin (U2, Johnny Cash) and Linkin Park vocalist Mike Shinoda, who last joined forces to produce Linkin Park’s 2007 release, Minutes To Midnight.
The band also announced that the first single from the new album will be “The Catalyst,” which debuts on radio worldwide on August 2 and will also be featured on the band’s MySpace Music profile (http://www.myspace.com/linkinpark). Prior to the song’s release, the band and MySpace are teaming up for “Linkin Park, Featuring You,” a unique promotion that gives fans a first-of-its-kind opportunity to collaborate with Linkin Park to produce their own song based on some of the tracks from the forthcoming single.
A winner will be chosen by Linkin Park and their submission will either be included on the band’s new album or the winner will be invited to perform with the band on a song on the upcoming record.
Beginning tomorrow, July 9th, fans can go to myspace.com/linkinpark to download audio stems from “The Catalyst.” Fans will be encouraged to adjust the stems and also record and produce their own additional tracks. Fans can use their own music production software to create their song and then upload it to the band via their MySpace page. Once each new version is submitted, the track will be shared in an embeddable player, which anyone can access to rate and comment, as well as click through to record their own tracks. The contest is live as of tomorrow.
The “Linkin Park, Featuring You” promotion is the start of a multi-phase global partnership between the band and MySpace Music. Throughout the next four months, Linkin Park fans worldwide will have access to live shows, exclusive content and special chances to interact with the band like never before through the MySpace Music platform.
“Our albums are the foundation of who we are as a band, and reserving a spot for a fan to play on one of our songs felt like a way to show our dedication to them,” says Shinoda. “There are a lot of unknowns about what might get submitted for this contest, but that’s what makes it fun. Our fans continually energize us with their creativity and dedication, so I think they’re going to come up with something great.”
The band (Shinoda, vocalist Chester Bennington, drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, DJ Joe Hahn and bassist Dave “Phoenix” Farrell) also recently announced that they’ll be touring Europe this fall, beginning Wednesday, October 20th at the O2 World, Berlin and wrapping Wednesday, November 11th at the 02 Arena, London. Ticket info can be found at www.linkinpark.com.
A celebration of sound and vision, each of these live performances is designed to be a transformative multi-media experience, complete with a unique blending of music and art and featuring never-before-seen visual technology. In addition, this tour’s setlist, which will be packed with a plethora of the band’s biggest hits, will be the first to showcase material from A THOUSAND SUNS.
European tour dates for Linkin Park are as follows (additional shows to be announced):
DATE VENUE CITY/COUNTRY
9-Oct Maquinaria Festival Santiago, Chile
11-Oct SWY Music & Arts Festival Sao Paulo, Brazil
20-Oct O2 Arena Berlin, Germany
22-Oct Schleyerhalle Stuttgart, Germany
23-Oct Tips Arena Linz, Austria
25-Oct Bercy Paris, France
27-Oct Lanxess Arena Koln, Germany
29-Oct O2 Arena Hamburg, Germany
30-Oct MCH Arena Herning, Denmark
1-Nov Hallenstadion Zurich, Switzerland
2-Nov Festhalle Frankfurt, Germany
4-Nov MEN Arena Manchester, UK
9-Nov LG Arena Birmingham, UK
10-Nov O2 Arena London, UK
11-Nov O2 Arena London, UK
After releasing their latest studio album, Rise Up, just a few weeks ago, Cypress Hill is at it again with a brand new mixtape titled Uprising. The new record features all of your favorite Cypress Hill hits along with remixes and covers by some of hip-hops most notable players. Some of the hit makers include Yelawolf, Asher Roth, Jim Jones, Styles P, Sheek Louch, Noreaga, and more. Uprising is hosted by Peter Rosenberg of New York’s Hot97 and Noisemakers making this one mixtape you definitely want to check out.
Sen Dog of Cypress Hill has teamed up with RockMoto.com and the acclaimed motorcycle designer Roland Sands to give any Cypress fan or motorcycle enthusiast the chance of a lifetime. Sen and Roland put their creativety together and designed a one of a kind custom motorcycle helmet that you could win! Watch the short video on YouTube to find out how to enter for your chance to score a custom helmet designed in honor of Cypress Hill’s ninth studio album, Rise Up, now available for download oniTunes.
Head over to RockMoto.com and watch Sen Dog stop by Roland Sand’s custom design shop in Southern California to speak on motorcycles, hip-hop and Cypress Hill’s newly released album, Rise Up.
Two-time Grammy winning rock band LINKIN PARK, game developer Artificial Life, Inc. and Warner Bros. Records announced today the launch of the LINKIN PARK 8-BIT REBELLION! App for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
Created by Linkin Park and Artificial Life, Inc., the LINKIN PARK 8-BIT REBELLION! App is a heightened app experience for music fans and gamers alike with multiplayer features.
In the LINKIN PARK 8-BIT REBELLION! Appplayers embark on an epic adventure taking them through six unique districts in the game, each featuring the distinctive style of a band member. The master goal is to retrieve the band’s stolen music track – Blackbirds, a brand new, unreleased Linkin Park song made exclusively for the game. The song is unlocked upon completion of all missions inside the game.
Production on the LINKIN PARK 8-BIT REBELLION! App began more than a year ago, with the band (vocalists Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington, drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, DJ Joe Hahn and bassist Dave “Phoenix” Farrell) working closely with Artificial Life, Inc. on every aspect of the game: storylines, gameplay, character design and of course, music. Mike Shinoda designed the band members’ avatars and edited every line of dialogue, making this much more than just a simple rhythm game.
The iPad app renders the adventure with high-definition graphics, and a unique user interface that has been specially redesigned to utilize the iPad’s larger screen. Essential functions are now just a touch away, so players never need to pause the action to dig into menus. The iPad app also includes two control schemes, allowing players to choose the setting that best suits their gaming style.
Among the game’s endless highlights are original and 8-bit remixes of Linkin Park tracks including “New Divide,” “One Step Closer,” “In The End,” “Crawling,” “QWERTY,” “Hands Held High,” “Faint,”and “No More Sorrow.” This marks the first time that Linkin Park’s music has been reinterpreted using old-school video game sounds. The game, which also includes original artwork by the band, opens with “One Step Closer” sounding like it was coming out of a first-generation NES.
Additional game features include:
Personalization of players’ avatars and apartments provide a unique community experience
Non-player characters (NPCs) inhabit the world, adding drama to the gaming experience
Shopping for virtual items with coins awarded by winning fights and completing missions
Earning trophies for adding friends to the rebellion<
A news feed to stay up-to-date with Linkin Park<
Facebook and Twitter integration connecting millions of social network users worldwide
The iPad app features include:
Enhanced graphics to allow players to see their avatars and the six districts come to life in great detail
Optimized user interface for the larger screen and makes menu items easy to access at all times: equip weapons and change music tracks without ever leaving the main screen.
Multiple controls so gamers can choose between two control schemes to best fit their playing styles. The iPad-specific D-pad setup has been implemented for players more comfortable with button-oriented controls.
“As opposed to putting together an app featuring just our songs and name, we wanted to make this an exciting gaming and music experience and the folks at Artificial Life shared that vision,” says Shinoda. “They were able to turn my sketches and our creative ideas in to a living, breathing world that we think gamers and fans will thoroughly enjoy.”
Cypress Hill celebrated yesterday’s release of new album Rise Upwith a special performance in front of a packed-house crowd at The Warfield in San Francisco. Those that couldn’t make it in shouldn’t worry; the legendary hip hop group has announced a summer tour with Slightly Stoopid that begins July 16 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, CA and will take them nationwide. They’ll play a string of North American dates before that, then head overseas for a tour of Europe. For ticket information, please visit www.cypresshill.com.
In other news, Cypress Hill recently gave fans a chance to watch behind the scenes footage of their explosive single “Rise Up.” The title track off of the group’s brand new album features Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello. Click here to gain behind the scenes access to the making of “Rise Up” with Cypress Hill.
Rise Up is Cypress Hill’s first new album in six years and features an all-star guest lineup, including Linkin Park vocalist Mike Shinoda, System Of A Down guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian, Everlast, Young De, Evidence, The Alchemist and comic legends Cheech & Chong.
Cypress Hill is one of the most successful and influential hip-hop/rock groups in music history, with more than 20 million worldwide sales, an amazing string of chart-topping hits and an international fanbase whose members number in the millions. They’ve headlined Lollapalooza, been named “Best Rap Group” by Rolling Stone, collaborated with the likes of Pearl Jam and Sonic Youth, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and have had their music licensed for a plethora of TV shows, commercials and films.
Tour dates are as follows:
4/22 Scottsdale, AZ – Martini Ranch
5/11 Houston, TX – Warehouse
5/12 Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom
5/13 Austin, TX – Stubbs BBQ
5/15 San Antonio, TX – Scout Bar
5/16 Corpus Christi, TX – Brewster St. Ice House
5/18 Odessa, TX – Dos Amigos
5/19 El Paso, TX – Club 101
5/21 Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
5/22 Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay Beach Stage
6/01 Vienna, AUS – Gasometer
6/02 Prague, Czech Republic – O2 tomorrow
6/04 Neuchatel, SWI – Festi’neuch Festival
6/05 Nuremberg, GER – Rock Im Park Festival
6/06 Nurburg, GER – Rock Am Ring Festival
6/07 Berlin, GER – Columbiahalle
6/15 London, UK – Brixton Academy
6/16 Glasgow, UK – Academy
6/19 Seinajoki, FN – Provinssirock Festival
7/03 Zurich, SWI – Touch the Lake Festival
7/16 Irvine, CA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater *
7/17 Chula Vista, CA – Cricket Wireless Amphitheater *
7/21 Glen Allen, VA – Innsbrook Pavilion *
7/22 Boston, MA – Bank of America Pavilion *
7/23 Boston, MA – Bank of America Pavilion *
7/24 Danbury, CT - Ives Concert Park *
7/25 Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Outdoors *
7/28 Raleigh, NC – Boutique Amphitheater *
7/29 Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion *
7/30 Portsmouth, VA – nTelos Pavilion *
7/31 Philadelphia, PA – Penn’s Landing *
8/01 Buffalo, NY – Rocks the Harbor *
8/04 Detroit, MI – State Theater *
8/06 Columbus, OH – Promowest Pavilion *
8/08 Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
8/12 Kansas City, MO – Crossroads *
8/13 Omaha, NE – Anchor Inn *
8/14 Denver, CO – Mile High Music Fest
8/18 Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues *
8/19 Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle *
8/20 Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live *
8/21 W. Boca Raton, FL – Sunset Cove Amphitheater *
8/28 Leeds, UK – Leeds Festival
8/29 Reading, UK – Reading Festival
Since their formation in 1988, Cypress Hill – founders B-Real, DJ Muggs and Sen Dog, along with newest member Eric Bobo – have continued to break new musical boundaries and win over fans worldwide. With nearly 20 years in the game and their eighth studio album about to be unleashed, Cypress Hill shows no sign of slowing down. ‘Rise Up’ is Cypress Hill’s first new album in six years and features an all-star guest lineup, including Linkin Park vocalist Mike Shinoda, System Of A Down guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian, Everlast, Young De, Evidence, The Alchemist and even comedy legends Cheech & Chong. Jason Price of Icon Vs. Icon recently sat down with percussionist Eric Bobo to discuss the new album, his thoughts on the band’s longevity and evolving sound! Time to Rise Up!
Eric Bobo
Cypress Hill has outlasted many of their peers, to what do you attribute the longevity of the band?I think it is that there is still, definitely a love for the music and a love of making music. We are like brothers, ya know. We still really enjoy our camaraderie and our chemistry. Through the years, we have been able to do a lot of things together. A lot of groups haven’t been able to last as long as we have because of inner struggles. Our main focus has always been that the music is “together” and we have a mutual respect for each other, not only as band mates but as family and people. I think that is very, very important. That is how we have been able to keep it going and we are very lucky in that respect.
This will be Cypress Hill’s 8th studio release. Tell us a little about ‘Rise Up’ and what can we expect from it.
Definitely expect a more aggressive album, an album that isn’t necessarily as dark as some of our previous albums, aggressive but with a refreshed sound. I think the new things that we have done really show in this record. I think that it is a very mature record, in the sense that now we have been in the game for a long time, we were able to put a lot of thought into it, we didn’t have to rush or do the same things that were already out there. We were able to stay true to what we wanted to do musically. What we have in store for the fans is truly a bangin’ ass album.
Was there a different approach going into this new project, given that it’s been six years since the last Cypress Hill album?
With this album, we hadn’t been signed to a label in about seven years or so and we had taken some time to do solo projects. With ‘Rise Up’, we approached it as an open book. We didn’t have a particular concept, it was more about putting together good songs. We also wanted to explore and work with different producers because DJ Muggs had primarily always been the producer on all of the records. With those things in mind, we definitely wanted to evolve with our sound and I really think that we achieved that.
You have quite a few collaborations with guest appearances and producers on this record. Was there someone that you enjoyed working with the most?
Wow. I think that everyone that contributed to the album really brought their A-game. It was cool because everyone brought their own elements and qualified to be a highlight in making the record. I can’t pick a favorite but we respect all of them very highly and we are all friends. I think that the stars aligned on this record, from the release date (4.20.2010) all the way to having everyone being available to work on this project with us and get it out to the people.
What was the biggest challenge in making the album?
I think that the biggest challenge was being able to make such a cohesive album, despite having a lot of different producers and collaborators. Ya know, when you come out with an album with a lot of different producers, the album can really lose that cohesiveness and it’s not really a smooth ride. What we wanted to do on ‘Rise Up’ was to maintain that sound that we have and that we are known for but to also show it updated, refreshed and renewed and present it all in a cohesive and smooth way. That was the challenge and I think that we succeeded in doing so.
You guys will be headed out on tour to support to the album. What spots do you plan on hitting and what can we expect when Cypress Hill hits the stage?
Yeah! We plan on hitting everywhere, ya know what I mean!?! We are really excited about playing the new music and getting back out on the road. We plan on touring very heavily for the record, so we are planning on hitting anywhere and everywhere that wants Cypress Hill! As far as the live show, expect the classics, expect to hear a bunch of new stuff and expect a few surprises. You are definitely going to see a fully packed show, so we hope that everybody is ready.
‘Rise Up’ is set to hit stores on 4/20, do you have any special plans to celebrate the release?
We are performing at The Warfield in Francisco on 420 and we are also going to have an after-party, a record release party for it as well. I believe that the perfomance may be streamed on www.breal.tv, which is an outlet which we have been broadcasting on everyday Monday through Friday. I think that it is going to be a great show, so we are definitely going to party it up! That show at The Warfield will be a great way to bring the album in right!
You mentioned www.breal.tv, it’s a really interesting venture. You guys have been putting up some really interesting stuff there.
Yeah, it’s really good. I think it is a really good platform that is really taking off. Most importantly, it is another great way for us to connect with our fans and keep them informed about what is going on but give them something entertaining to check out at the same time.
Looking back, what do you feel is one of the defining moments for Cypress Hill, so far?
I think a big defining moment for us, in my opinion, was Woodstock ’94 and also the Lollapalooza years. I think that those really helped to cement Cypress Hill as a viable live act and we were able to share the stage with groups from any genre. I feel as if that was one of the main things that helped to catpult Cypress Hill into becoming the force it has become.
We’ve seen the music industry change so much over the past few years, what advice would you give someone who wants to get into music and make it a career, as you have?
There are good and bad points to it. I think a good point is that now there are so many outlets for people to get their music heard, especially via the internet and the different social networks. However, with that being said, you have a lot more people flooding in, so the competition is definitely going to be greater. I think that you have to follow your passion and be creative. It is really important to hone in on your craft. If you are songwriter, a guitar player or a drummer, just make sure that your the best that you can be. You always have to play and show your A-game, wether it is 300 people, 30 people or 3 people, because you never know who is going to be in that audience and is checking you out. That person could change your whole life.
Anything that you want to say to the fans out there before we let you go?
First and foremost, on behalf of B-Real, Sen Dog and the rest of the Cypress Hill camp, thank you for your years of support and for continuing to follow The Hill. Definitely get out their and get ‘Rise Up’ on 4.20! I hope that everyone enjoys it and we will see you on the road!
Thanks for your time and we will be spreading the word!
Thank you!
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Hip Hop legends Cypress Hill will be celebrating the release of their new album Rise Up with a special live concert on Tuesday night, April 20th (4/20), at 8 PM PST at San Franciso’s Warfield Theater. Fans will be able to watch the entire performance and join the chat live at http://stickam.com/breal.
Cypress Hill Tour dates are as follows:
4/19 – Los Angeles, CA – Jimmy Kimmel Live
4/20 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
4/22 – Scottsdale, AZ – Martini Ranch
5/11 – Houston, TX – Warehouse
5/12 – Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom
5/13 – Austin, TX – Stubbs BBQ
5/15 – San Antonio, TX – Scout Bar
5/16 – Corpus Christi, TX – Brewster St. Ice House
5/18 – Odessa, TX – Dos Amigos
5/19 – El Paso, TX – Club 101
5/21 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
5/22 – Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay Beach Stage
6/01 – Vienna, AUS – Gasometer
6/02 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2
6/04 – Neuchatel, SWI – Festi’neuch Festival
6/05 – Nuremberg, GER – Rock Im Park Festival
6/06 – Nurburg, GER – Rock Am Ring Festival
6/07 – Berlin, GER – Columbiahalle
6/11 – Madrid, SPA – Rock In Rio|
6/12 – Rodez, FRA- Skabazac Festival
6/15 – London, UK – Brixton Academy
6/16 – Glasgow, UK – Academy
6/19 – Seinajoki, FN – Provinssirock Festival
7/03 – Zurich, SWI – Touch the Lake Festival
8/08 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
8/14 – Commerce City, CO – Mile High Music Festival
8/28 – Leeds, UK – Leeds Festival
8/29 – Reading, UK – Reading Festival
Two-time Grammy winning rock band Linkin Park have announced the upcoming release of “LINKIN PARK 8-BIT REBELLION!,” a groundbreaking game app for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The trailer for the game can be viewed here: http://linkinpark.com/video/linkin-park-8bit-rebellion. For more information (screen shots, overview, etc), click here http://www.botme.com/ref/linkinpark.
Production on “LINKIN PARK 8-BIT REBELLION!” began more than a year ago, when Linkin Park (vocalists Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington, drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, DJ Joe Hahn and bassist Dave “Phoenix” Farrell) partnered with game developer Artificial Life, Inc. (OTCBB: ALIF) to create a heightened app experience for music fans and gamers alike. The result is the first-ever massively multi-player app to be designed around a music artist. The band (who appear as characters in the game) was intimately involved in every aspect of the game: storylines, gameplay, character design and music.
“It was a unique experience to work with Linkin Park to create one of the most innovative mobile gaming experiences to date,” says Artificial Life CEO, Eberhard Schoneburg. “Our close co-operation with the band has led to a cool and fun game play, a great design and a groundbreaking app that pushes the limits of the iPhone gaming experience and sets new standards for music-based games. Throughout production the band worked closely with our designers, intimately contributing to the creative process for character designs, in-game artwork, mission structure and, of course, the music in the game! 8-Bit Rebellion helps fans get closer to the band by drawing them into the virtual world that they have helped to create as well as providing their global fan base with an exciting community experience. It’s a must for all Linkin Park fans.”
“The collaborative process with Artificial Life was exceptional,” says Linkin Park vocalist Mike Shinoda, who worked with the game company to design the characters and score the game. “They were able to turn my sketches and our creative ideas into a living, breathing world that we think gamers will thoroughly enjoy. This game is not just made for Linkin Park fans — anyone will be able to play and enjoy 8-Bit Rebellion.’ My bandmates and I grew up playing games like ‘Metroid,’ ‘Donkey Kong,’ ‘Zelda,’ ‘Space Invaders,’ ‘Mega Man’ and ‘Rygar.’ We wanted this game to have the feel of a vintage game, and a big part of it was the music.”
Unlike other apps offering simple rhythm games, “LINKIN PARK 8-BIT REBELLION!” plays like a full-on action-adventure game. Players must free Linkin Park’s idyllic 8-bit world from the clutches of the evil PixxelKorp, whose corrupt agents have stolen the band’s music. As members of the rebellion, players will take on missions that lead them through several unique districts in the game — each district is themed after a different band member. During their missions they will fight off the PixxelKorp forces, hunt down the lost tracks and save the band from pending disaster to become an 8-bit hero! Among its many highlights, the app features “Blackbirds,” an exclusive Linkin Park song that’s unlocked upon completion of the game. This is the first time an artist has released a brand-new song through a mobile game app.
Says Shinoda, “We really liked the song and thought this would be a unique way to give it to our fans.”
The game also features original and 8-bit interpretations of some of Linkin Park’s greatest hits, including “New Divide,” “One Step Closer,” “In The End,” “Crawling,” “QWERTY,” “Hands Held High,” “Faint,” and “No More Sorrow.” This marks the first time that Linkin Park’s music has been reinterpreted using old-school video game sounds. The game, which also includes original artwork by the band, opens with “One Step Closer” sounding like it was coming out of a first-generation NES.
“LINKIN PARK 8-BIT REBELLION!” provides players with the ability to create and outfit avatars by choosing from hundreds of different combinations. The app’s seamless integration of online features allows for a unique game experience, in which players can embark on their own journey while meeting and chatting with friends. The online community features IM chats, in-app messaging, message boards, ranking other players and sending gifts. The game also has an offline mode in which players can still complete missions and buy new items in stores. This allows users without a stable internet connection to play the game wherever they are. Once back online, they can sync their scores, items and game progress onto the server and continue with the game. Simply put, “LINKIN PARK 8-BIT REBELLION!” is the only app to ever integrate gaming, social networking and news updates all in one.
Was there a different approach going into this new project, given that it’s been six years since the last Cypress Hill album?
You guys will be headed out on tour to support to the album. What spots do you plan on hitting and what can we expect when Cypress Hill hits the stage?
