Brad Delson Guitar World Full Interview

[LPLStaff]

The full interview Brad did with Guitar World has been posted, after a portion was released about a month ago.

 

Here are the big highlights of it:

 

What went into your decision to stop touring?
 

“For me, and, I guess, all the guys, the last however many years gave us the opportunity to really think qualitatively about the band – what energizes us, where we feel most fulfilled, and where we thrive.

It wasn’t like, ‘Let’s go back to what we were doing.’ It was, ‘Let’s take what we’ve learned to approach our roles with greater self-awareness and insight.’ I really thrive in the studio. I love making new things. That’s why I decided to focus my energy on that area and bring Alex in.”

 

What went into preparing Alex? Did you recommend any amps, pedals or guitars?

 

“Fortunately, my tech, Ben Young – who is super-smart and really helped me build out my whole rig – graciously rejoined our team. Ben has all the knowledge of everything that he and I built together. Alex had the luxury of stepping into that. There were a handful of shows in the past when I was sick or couldn’t make a show, and Ben played. He really knows the show well.

 

“In terms of getting Alex up to speed, he learned everything. He and I went back and forth to make sure the feel was right. There are certain songs where, even if they’re not the most technical, there’s a feel that’s unique to my playing. I really wanted Alex to get that right, especially on the iconic songs.”

 

On the studio side, what’s your tone recipe?

 

“Mike and I have been collecting gear like guitars, pedals, and amps. He’s got a great setup at his studio. We’ve worked with an engineer named Ethan Mates for a really long time; Ethan helped set us up to succeed longterm. We have a really great shorthand of going back and forth on tones."

 

Is there a guitar you lean on most?
 

“I have an orange Fender Strat that was made in the Custom Shop – it’s my favorite guitar, my go-to Strat. Then we have PRS, which we like to use in the studio. I would say that’s our classic, and the Fender is more of our Minutes to Midnight and beyond sound.
 

The PRS really defines Hybrid Theory and Meteora. With From Zero we gave ourselves permission to use iconic or identifiable elements of our sound that we loved from the past but that we’d moved away from to experiment.
 

In some ways, From Zero was a homecoming and a kind of unlocking of all the tools in our tool chest. Rather than trying to reinvent – though there are moments of reinvention – it was a chance to rediscover our favorite tones and guitars, and blend them all together.

 

Which From Zero track best represents where you’re currently at as a guitar player?
 

“I think Two Faced is really fun to play. It has the nuances of a classic Linkin Park or even before we were called Linkin Park – when we were called Hybrid Theory. I don’t know if Two Faced represents me in the present, the past, or all of the above.

 

I tried to play it at double-time speed when we made the video. That was a lot of fun. I love how the video turned out; it really captured the incredible energy. I felt like Emily just went off and was unbridled. Everyone's eclectic and dynamic, and they represent the different facets of where the band is at today.

 

Then, stylistically, Casualty feels like a bullseye to me in terms of energetically going hard and taking the training wheels off. It just feels full throttle – I love it.”

 

Do you ever see yourself getting back on the road?

 

“You never know… I don’t have a crystal ball – I can’t definitely say!”