It has come to my attention that there are people who call themselves Linkin Park fans harassing Mike Shinoda on his blog about the release date for the new album.
First of all, back off!
These guys have been super busy, between Chester’s DBS tour and the others busy with their families and other personal situations. Yet, they found time to throw together a new track for D2D (AND a video for said track) and make an appearance at the Grammy’s. They have lives outside of sitting in a studio, trying to rush around and get things finished because some people are upset that they have to wait a few years for a new record.
Honestly, it makes me wonder if these so called ‘fans’ get off on bullying their idols around. I follow Mike, Chester and Phoenix on Twitter and it seems that a lot of people who claim to be fans like to pick on or badmouth the guys. They seem to pick on Phoenix the most. Some of the things I’ve seen him re-Tweet make me sick to my stomach at the blatant lack of respect for him and the guys. It’s disgusting to see and I imagine it doesn’t make him or the others feel very good.
Seriously. Knock it the fuck off.
I’ve been a fan (a TRUE LP fan) since late 2000, after Hybrid Theory was released, and I am really starting to get pissed at the things these people are saying about my favorite band.
How can you call yourself a fan, and then turn around and tell Mike Shinoda that the new record had better come out earlier than December or LP’s gonna lose a lot of fans? Who said you could speak for ME?! If you think I’m gonna just drop Linkin Park like they’re nothing because the album may or may not be ‘delayed’ (it can’t be delayed without a previous release date, really), you’re dead wrong, buddy.
I’ll admit, I was a little impatient before Minutes to Midnight came out, but the thought to bully them into making a new record never crossed my mind. Ever. I take what I am given and I make few complaints, and if I do complain, I don’t throw it in their faces. I saw what I need to say in a private blog or something and move on.
It’s like what happened with the LPU 8 CD. People (‘fans’) were complaining that the guys only gave us live tracks on the special CDs we get in our Linkin Park Underground fan packs. They pushed and bullied and frankly, I think they pissed LP off because come December, when the packs usually come out, we were given a bit of a jolt to our systems with the ‘Mmm…Cookies’ ‘album’.
Personally, I think it was a smart move on LP’s part.
Make the ungrateful fans eat their words and it’ll make them shut up for a while. At least, you’d think so. Of course, someone found something to complain about, and they did. I think the CD is hilarious and the perfect prank for the ungrateful jerks. Good job, LP!
And you have to wonder what LP thinks about the fans that do and say the rude things they do. I can imagine that they’re hurt and upset. Here is this fanbase that has always appreciated what was given to them, who have always defended them vehemently, and all of a sudden they’ve turned into a bunch of spoiled brats. It sickens me. It really does.
I’ve toyed with the idea of creating a True LP Fans club on FaceBook or MySpace, but so far, it’s just a pipe dream. I’d love to make a place where those of us who have nothing but undying love for this band can gather and talk about them and their work. Obviously, there will be a difference in opinions and some people may butt heads a little bit, but at the end of the day, we’d all be there because we share the same love for them.
Maybe one day in the future, it will happen. For now, I’m content with bitching out ungrateful assholes who call themselves ‘real fans’. If you were a real fan, you’d appreciate anything they gave you. You wouldn’t bitch and complain or bully the guys into giving you more when they’ve given all they can for the time being.
Be patient. Really. And think about it this way, a few years between albums makes for better music and it’s not like they’re going to pull a Guns ‘n Roses on us and make us wait ten years for an album.
Of course, keep pushing, complaining, bullying and being rude, and they just might do that.
To Mike, Chester, Brad, Dave, Joe and Rob - Though you may never read this, please know that I am a True Linkin Park fan and I will be here for you forever. I will take what I am given with few complaints (they’re more like opinions anyway) and encourage others to do the same. I will defend and love you and your music until the day I die. Please don’t be discouraged by those out there who wear the LP Fan name and do nothing but bitch and moan. Your real fans will never turn our backs on you. One person does not speak for all of us. And they certainly don’t speak for me.
Much love.
Cali B. Diamond
