Brad Delson

Overview

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photograph of Brad Delson

Brad Delson is the lead guitarist for Linkin Park, he graduated from Agoura High School in 1995 and formed Xero with Mike Shinoda whom he knew since the seventh grade, which would later become Linkin Park. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in communications, but decided to forget law school to pursue a career with Linkin Park.

While in college, (he shared a college room with Dave Farrell) Delson had to intern with a member of the music industry as a part of his career. He ended up working for Jeff Blue, an A&R representative at Warner Bros. Records. He told Blue about his band and in return for giving him demos to listen to he was offered constructive criticism. Blue is the man who found Linkin Park's current lead vocalist, Chester Bennington.

He also used to work as a bouncer at the Roxy, as confirmed by the breakfast with Linkin Park hosted by Kevin and Bean, which can be heard KROQ.com.

Before forming Xero with Mark Wakefield, Delson's first instrument was the trumpet. His first band was called the Pricks, and he later played in a band called Relative Degree with his fellow Linkin Park bandmate Rob Bourdon. He met and roomed with bandmate Dave Farrell, better known as Phoenix, at UCLA.

Delson can usually be seen wearing a very large pair of headphones on stage. The headphones are designed by Shinoda and himself and change with every Linkin Park release. Delson has alluded to an exact reason for them, but he has admitted it channels him into his own personal "matrix" while performing. He won't divulge to what this "matrix" is in detail. Delson usually does not give a serious answer as to why he wears the headphones, with answers such as "If I tell you, I'll have to kill you." In a recent interview, Mike Shinoda said that Brad wears shooting range headphones for hearing protection. Then he gives them to Mike who then makes sticker designs which go on them.

Delson has been known for his anti-social behavior on occasions. In high school, he used to dye his hair a variety of colors and in earlier days of the band he generally kept it shaved. In recent years, Delson has been seen sporting an afro, which is also seen on the front cover for Minutes to Midnight.

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Gear used by Brad Delson

Brad Delson electric guitars

Brad Delson links

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