Huffington Post: Linkin Park One of 10 Bands shaping the Post-Nirvana Era

March 26, 2011

Thanks to everyone who has been supporting Download To Donate by donating and spreading the word.  I’ve been doing interviews this week; they’re starting to go live, like these: HERE and HERE.

Also in the news this week, the Huffington Post called Linkin Park one of the “10 bands shaping the Post-Nirvana Era.”  Also on the list: Arcade Fire, Coldplay, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, and The White Stripes among others.  See the list and article here:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-pollack/10-bands-shaping-the-post_b_838771.html

By the way…keep working on those “Issho Ni” tracks.  I want to hear some singing / rapping over it…

mike

“Issho Ni”

March 24, 2011

This is “Issho Ni,” the Linkin Park song we contributed to www.downloadtodonate.org.  There were a lot of positive comments (thanks), and I also saw some of you were saying: 1.) you thought it should have been arranged in a different way, because you wanted more “action” earlier in the song, and 2.) you thought there should have been vocals.

I’ll tell you what: you guys edit it, add vocals, sample it, do whatever you like–I’ll let you finish the song.  The vocals don’t have to be about Japan, they can be about whatever.  Sing, rap, rearrange, remix, write new material, whatever….and I’ll post the best versions I hear up here on http://www.mikeshinoda.com.

mike

Help Me Choose Which Tee We Should Make!

March 11, 2011

As I mentioned on Twitter today, I’m designing a tee for Music For Relief, to benefit relief efforts in Japan.  I want you guys to vote below, to tell me which one we should make.  We’re going into production ASAP, so vote right away.

 

An 8.9 magnitude earthquake rocked Japan on March 11th, 2011, causing massive destruction and an enormous tsunami that smashed into coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean. Thousands of buildings have been destroyed and the death toll is rising rapidly.  The National Weather Service has issued Tsunami Warnings to over 50 countries.

Come alongside Music for Relief in responding to this tragedy.

Text ‘MFR’ to 85944 to make a $10 donation to help those affected by this disaster or click here to donate online.

mike

Unlimited Justice; should U.S. teachers be allowed to hit students?

March 8, 2011
  • In all 50 states it is illegal to hit a prisoner
  • In all 50 states it is illegal to hit someone in the military
  • In all 50 states it is illegal to hit an animal

But in 20 states in America, it is still legal for educators to hit or paddle students in schools.  What do you think about this?  Visit
http://unlimitedjustice.com/
for more info.

 

mike

Slight Update: Tour, Haiti, The UN, and Download To Donate

February 23, 2011

Quick shout out to Ian Rogers for the great pic from last night’s show in San Jose. It feels good to be back on the road–Chester is feeling much better, and the shows have been going well.  Last night was an interesting one.  Two shows ago, I spilled a bit of water on my keyboard; last night, a few of the keys decided to stop working.  We have a backup keyboard, but it decided to be broken as well.  So, I was forced to play the keyboard with broken keys.  While I played, I found out that if I hit the busted keys, they made an obnoxious sound…so I played the entire night changing and transposing notes on the fly–as I played and sang–to avoid the low A and A#.  It kept things interesting…fun for one night, but not something I want to do all the time!

Speaking of yesterday, I want to say a big “thank you” to all the people we met and visited with, especially the folks from the UN, UN Foundation, and Facebook.

We had a busy day–4 of the guys were in LA meeting with the UN reps, and Phoenix and I were at Facebook HQ in the Bay.  It was my first time visiting their offices; I was pretty impressed by the unassuming nature of the place, and the earnest warmth of the staff.  There are a lot of LP fans at Facebook, and although there’s no way we could meet with everyone there, I wish we could have.  Thanks to Randi and the staff for your hospitality.

As some of you saw (the link is now updated in my post below), we participated in a “Facebook Town Hall” online discussion with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, plus members of the UN Foundation to talk about the situation in Haiti, and how you can help.

People often ask, “is there something (simple) I can I do?”  Two headlines stood out to me:

First, the UN Foundation is currently engaged in a campaign that delivers solar lights to the people in Haiti.  Many are still living in tent villages; darkness provides a cover for crime and accidents.  These lights turn the sunlight (which is in no short supply) into a form of protection for them.  It’s a great campaign, and we’re excited about it.

Second, since the UN Foundation is our partner on Download To Donate, all you need to do is visit the site in order to support the UN Foundation’s effort.  Click on the link, donate $10US, and you get tons of music (you get over 60 songs right now, with more to be added on a continual basis), plus 100% of the money flows through DTD to the effort in Haiti.

Or, if you want an even simpler solution, text “RELIEF” to 41010 to donate $10.

Thanks for your help.  See you at Staples Center tonight!

mike

Linkin Park + UN Secretary-General + Facebook

February 21, 2011

AP Photo | Lynne Sladky

Please tune in HERE today (Feb 22) at 3pm PST / 6pm EST. We will be chatting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and others; the focus of the talk is the ongoing effort in Haiti, one year after the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake killed over 300,000 people and displaced roughly 1.5 million. The people of Haiti still need your help. Tune in to find out more.

Reminder: we have over SIXTY tracks up at www.downloadtodonate.org. Head over there today to donate and get a ton of great music. 100% of proceeds go to the relief effort in Haiti.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

mike

Bidding Opens On Original Shinoda Painting: “Follow The Leader”

December 1, 2010

Happy Holidays.  I painted the piece above, entitled “Follow The Leader”, for Ron English’s “Family Tradition” art show early this year.  I decided that it would look better in one of your homes than in mine, so I’m auctioning it off. Go to the link below to bid on it.

Proceeds go to Music For Relief.  The auction is live until December 21, that way it will (hopefully) be able to arrive on your doorstep around the holidays.

BID HERE:


http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/250618197?preview=1

mike

Floods in Pakistan

September 17, 2010


Please go here to help:


http://www.musicforrelief.org/

mike

Turning Plastic Into Oil

August 26, 2010

Solving a problem by solving a second problem?  That’s good design.


http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/

mike

Relief Effort in Pakistan

August 17, 2010

I need to take a quick break from LP/ATS press / promo to give you guys a heads-up on a new Music For Relief effort.

Monsoon rains have caused the worst flooding in Pakistan in 80 years.  20 million people have been affected – more than the number of people affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake combined.
With their homes and livestock destroyed, millions of families have had their lives turned upside down.  Displaced families are camping on roadsides.  Many lack shelter, food, and clean water.

MFR is partnering with the UN Refugee Agency to help provide shelter and life-saving aid to millions of people in need. Our goal is to reach and serve 560,000 survivors, but we need your ongoing support.

Here are two ways you can help:
Make a donation to help victims of the Pakistan Floods today. Go to www.musicforrelief.org/donate to make a contribution.  100% of your donations will help survivors in Pakistan; MFR is matching individual donations up to $10,000 for this recovery effort.

Or support MFR’s Pakistan Flood Relief on Socialvibe.com.  Go to
http://www.socialvibe.com/musicforrelief
and complete the activities.  Even if you are unable to make a financial donation, you can help those affected by the Floods on Socialvibe.com.

Once you’ve taken action, please share your support of MFR for the Pakistan Floods on Facebook, Twitter or forward this email to friends and family and ask them to do the same.

(image credit: AP)

mike