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Rob Bourdon

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Rob Bourdon
Bourdon with Linkin Park at Rock'n'Heim 2015
Bourdon with Linkin Park at Rock'n'Heim 2015
Background information
Birth nameRobert Gregory Bourdon
Born (1979-01-20) January 20, 1979 (age 45)
Calabasas, California, U.S.
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Drums
  • percussion
Years active1996–2018
Formerly of
Websitelinkinpark.com
Signature

Robert Gregory Bourdon (born January 20, 1979)[1][2] is an American musician, best known as a co-founding member and the former drummer of the rock band Linkin Park.[3] He remained in the band until their hiatus in 2017; when the band members began working together out of the public eye in 2019, he declined to rejoin the band and was succeeded by Colin Brittain.

Early life

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Bourdon was born in Calabasas, California.[1] He received classical piano lessons at a young age.[4] He was inspired to play the drums after attending an Aerosmith concert, where he was personally introduced to drummer Joey Kramer.[4][5] He also cites Tower of Power and Earth, Wind and Fire as his early influences.[5] Bourdon attended Agoura High School in Agoura Hills where he met future bandmates Brad Delson and Mike Shinoda, in the high school's jazz band.[5] Bourdon waited tables at a restaurant and worked as a party coordinator at a bowling alley prior to becoming a full-time musician.[6] He attended Santa Monica College where he studied accounting.[6]

Career

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Bourdon and Brad Delson formed their own band, Relative Degree.[5] The band played a sell-out concert at the Roxy Theatre before breaking up.[5]

Bourdon later joined Delson and Mike Shinoda to form Linkin Park, then known as Xero, in 1996.[6] The band enjoyed mainstream success with their debut album, Hybrid Theory (2000), which would later go on to become 12× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[6] Bourdon served as Linkin Park's drummer for seven studio albums and many international tours.[6] Beyond drums and percussion, he also handled the band's business operations with Delson and bassist Dave Farrell.[4]

Bourdon played the drums for ten hours a day for seven consecutive days, mainly practicing "Keys to the Kingdom", during the production of the band's sixth studio album, The Hunting Party. He injured his back, but later recovered.[7]

He remained with Linkin Park through 2017, when the band went on hiatus following the death of vocalist Chester Bennington.[8] Bourdon later informed the other members that he wished to distance himself from the band, and did not participate in re-release promotional activities or the 2024 compilation album Papercuts. Linkin Park announced their reformation on September 5, 2024, with new members, including Colin Brittain replacing Bourdon.[9][10][11]

Musical influences

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Bourdon's musical influences include Led Zeppelin, Tower of Power, Aerosmith, The Police, Bad Religion, Steely Dan, System of a Down, Incubus, and Dave Matthews Band.[12]

Personal life

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Bourdon resides in Los Angeles.[13] He is Jewish.[14]

Discography

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With Linkin Park

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Main article: Linkin Park discography

References

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  1. ^ a b Quirarte, Xavier (October 24, 2020). "'Hybrid Theory': 20 años de un disco explosivo de Linkin Park". Milenio (in Spanish). Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  2. ^ Spatu, Madan Gupta. "The year ahead". The Tribune (Chandigarh). Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "Rob Bourdon Injured Back During Recording Marathon". World Entertainment News Network. Contactmusic.com. April 30, 2014. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Young, Simon (October 23, 2015). "Linkin Park, you're a nu metal boy band. Discuss". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Rob Bourdon". Remo.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e David, Fricke (March 14, 2002). "Linkin Park: David Fricke Talks to Chester Bennington About 'Hybrid Theory' Success". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  7. ^ Keeble, Edward (May 1, 2014). "Rob Bourdan Injured After Rocking Too Hard". Gigwise. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  8. ^ Linzinmeir, Taylor (April 23, 2022). "Mike Shinoda — Linkin Park Have 'No Plans' for New Music". Loudwire. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  9. ^ Sherman, Maria (September 5, 2024). "Linkin Park reunite 7 years after Chester Bennington's death, with new music". AP News. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  10. ^ Garcia, Thania (September 5, 2024). "Linkin Park Selects Emily Armstrong From Rock Band Dead Sara as New Singer, Reveals Tour and Album 'From Zero'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  11. ^ Singh, Surej (September 6, 2024). "Linkin Park address founding drummer Rob Bourdon's departure". NME. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Micallef, Ken (September 2014). "Rob Bourdon" (PDF). Modern Drummer. p. 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  13. ^ Micallef, Ken (May 18, 2007). "Rob Bourdon: Midnight Confessions". ModernDrummer.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  14. ^ Chessler, Suzanne (June 18, 2009). "Rothbury Redux". The Detroit Jewish News. University of Michigan. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
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