Linkin Park, the Southern California rap-rock band that earned a Grammy in the hard-rock category for “Crawling,” has a double threat behind the turntables. In addition to DJ duties, Joe Hahn takes an active role in the band’s videos. “We’re very excited to have someone in the band who has a direct influence on what comes out of the band visually,” bassist Phoenix told The Associated Press.
Hahn co-directed the “In the End” video as well as the European release “Papercut,” and he had a hand in videos for “One Step Closer” and “Crawling.”
All of those songs appear on the Linkin Park album “Hybrid Theory.”
Recordings and videos have been an important part of Linkin Park’s success because, as Phoenix said, the band did not make its name through relentless touring.
“I think we were more interested in just enjoying ourselves and writing music,” he said.
Phoenix cited “timing and luck” as some of the reasons why the band has succeeded where others have failed. But not all of it was out of the band’s control.
“It’s been important to be able to have people in your group that can write songs, rather than just disjointed parts,” he said. “And to have things really hit you in a way that’s creative and hit you in a way that means something to you.”