Brad Delson

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Brad Delson co-founded Xero, the earliest incarnation of Linkin Park, in 1996 alongside Mike Shinoda and Rob Bourdon. After vocalist Mark Wakefield left, Delson turned to his former boss Jeff Blue to help find a replacement; Blue introduced the band to Chester Bennington, who successfully auditioned. Delson played guitar on all eight of Linkin Park's albums and also played bass on Hybrid Theory when bassist Dave Farrell temporarily left to tour with another band. After Hybrid Theory's release, Delson became closely involved with production and creative direction alongside Shinoda, co-producing The Hunting Party (2014) and One More Light (2017). While working on The Hunting Party, producer Rick Rubin encouraged Delson to showcase his guitar playing by including more solos. Delson commented, 'On the last few records I certainly played guitar in the studio, but I'd been focusing on other instruments… But these songs are all about rediscovering the guitar and having a lot of fun with it.' He also oversaw the band's business operations, including marketing and finance, alongside bandmates Farrell and Bourdon. Following Chester Bennington's death in 2017, Linkin Park entered a seven-year hiatus. The band announced their reunion with new members in September 2024, and their eighth album, From Zero, was released in November, co-produced by Delson. Delson later revealed he would not be joining the band on tour, preferring to work in the studio and behind the scenes; Alex Feder performs in his place, but Delson remains an official member and has not ruled out a return to touring.

In Their Own Story

In the studio for The Hunting Party, producer Rick Rubin pushed Delson to step out of his comfort zone. Delson, who had previously described himself as a 'fervent opponent of guitar leads,' began performing solos during the Minutes to Midnight era after bandmates encouraged him. For The Hunting Party, Rubin wanted even more. Delson responded by rediscovering his instrument, saying the songs were 'all about rediscovering the guitar and having a lot of fun with it.' He freely improvised riffs and noise, later sorting through recordings to find accidental sounds that became essential parts of the music. 'Something unintentional might be the coolest sound I make all day,' he explained, 'and knowing how to allow those mistakes to happen and to shape them potentially makes for some great music.'

Reader's Guide

Brad Delson is the lead guitarist and a founding member of Linkin Park, having co-founded the band as Xero in 1996. He played guitar on all eight of the band's studio albums: Hybrid Theory (2000), Meteora (2003), Minutes to Midnight (2007), A Thousand Suns (2010), Living Things (2012), The Hunting Party (2014), One More Light (2017), and From Zero (2024). He also played bass on Hybrid Theory when Dave Farrell temporarily left the band. Delson co-produced The Hunting Party and One More Light alongside Mike Shinoda. He oversaw the band's business operations, including marketing and finance, with Farrell and Bourdon. Delson's playing style is defined by his desire to make his guitar sound like keyboards or strings to fit with the band's hip-hop and electronica compositions. He typically performs wearing Shure headphones to protect his hearing. His creative process involves freely improvising guitar riffs and noise, then sorting through recordings later. Delson also co-founded Machine Shop Records with Shinoda in 2001, explaining that 'too many people in the music industry tried to preserve the status quo instead of embracing innovation.'

Did You Know?

• Brad Delson played trumpet before switching to guitar at age 12.
• He interned for Jeff Blue, then vice president of A&R for Zomba Music, while studying at UCLA.
• Delson played bass on Linkin Park's debut album Hybrid Theory when bassist Dave Farrell temporarily left to tour with another band.
• He co-founded the record label Machine Shop Records with Mike Shinoda in 2001.
• Delson typically performs wearing Shure headphones to protect his hearing.

Early Life and Musical Foundations

Bradford Philip Delson was born December 1, 1977, and raised in Agoura Hills, California. He attended Agoura High School with his friend Mike Shinoda. Delson initially played the trumpet, then began playing guitar at age 12. He enjoyed listening to Guns N' Roses and Metallica. He played in the rock band Relative Degree with drummer Rob Bourdon, but the group disbanded after their first live show. Delson attended UCLA, where he was roommates with bassist Dave Farrell for three years. He majored in communication studies and interned for Jeff Blue, then vice president of A&R for Zomba Music. Blue shared his insight and experience on the music industry with Delson and gave him constructive feedback on musical projects. Delson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication studies from UCLA in 1999. He considered attending law school after graduation but instead pursued a career as a professional musician.

Formation of Linkin Park and Career Trajectory

Delson, alongside Mike Shinoda and Rob Bourdon, founded Xero, the earliest incarnation of Linkin Park, in 1996. The band soon recruited vocalist Mark Wakefield, bassist Dave Farrell, and turntablist Joe Hahn. After Wakefield left Xero, Delson turned to his former boss Jeff Blue from Zomba Music to help find a replacement. Blue introduced the band to Chester Bennington, who successfully auditioned and became the band's full-time vocalist. Blue later became vice president of A&R for Warner Bros. Records and helped the band sign a record deal. Delson played guitar on all eight of Linkin Park's albums. He also played bass on Hybrid Theory when Farrell temporarily left to tour with another band. After Hybrid Theory's release, Delson was closely involved with production and creative direction alongside Shinoda. The two co-produced The Hunting Party (2014) and One More Light (2017). Delson and Linkin Park entered a seven-year hiatus following Chester Bennington's death in 2017. The band announced their reunion with new members in September 2024, and their eighth album, From Zero, was released in November, which Delson co-produced. Delson later revealed he would not be joining the band on tour, preferring to work in the studio and behind the scenes. Alex Feder performs in his place, but Delson remains an official member and has not ruled out a return to touring.

Artistic Philosophy and Playing Style

Delson has stated that he 'doesn't like to show off' and attempts to play his guitar so it sounds like a keyboard or strings to fit with the band's hip-hop and electronica compositions. He likes to produce a gritty, 'sampled' feel with his sound. Although a self-described 'fervent opponent of guitar leads,' he started performing solos in the Minutes to Midnight era after his bandmates encouraged him. Delson performs guitar solos on 'What I've Done,' 'In Pieces,' and 'The Little Things Give You Away,' and played many solos on The Hunting Party. While composing, he sometimes 'freely improvises' guitar riffs and noise, sorting through recordings later. He said: 'Something unintentional might be the coolest sound I make all day, and knowing how to allow those mistakes to happen and to shape them potentially makes for some great music. We're trying to approach things with openness and childlike wonder.' Delson typically performs wearing Shure headphones to protect his hearing.

Business Ventures and Instrumental Legacy

Delson and Shinoda founded their own record label, Machine Shop Records, in 2001. Delson explained his rationale: 'Too many people in the music industry tried to preserve the status quo instead of embracing innovation.' He also oversaw Linkin Park's business operations, including marketing and finance, alongside bandmates Farrell and Bourdon. Delson's equipment includes Paul Reed Smith Custom 24/Standard 24/CE 24 guitars—his favorite is a custom-made red PRS with the Hybrid Theory soldier on the body, tuned to Drop C#. He also uses PRS Custom 22/CE 22 guitars, Ibanez models including an RG470XL tuned to Drop B and an RG7620 7-string tuned to B, Fender Rory Gallagher Tribute Stratocaster, and various other guitars. For effects, he keeps his pedals in a rack controlled by a pedalboard onstage. For the first two albums, he used Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifiers and modified Marshall 1959SLP reissue heads. During recording of Minutes to Midnight, he used vintage amplifiers including Soldano SLOs, Marshall JCM 800, Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, a 1972 50-watt Hiwatt Custom, a Bogner Uberschall, and a rare Bo Diddley amplifier. In 2014, his Randall rig was phased out for a Fractal Axe-FX II setup run direct into the PA system and a Matrix GT1000FX power amp.