J.Dennis Online: Linkin Park Sydney Summit

A year ago today I was lucky enough to have attended the Linkin Park Underground summit event in Sydney. For those that have been following my painting project, you'll know that I am a big fan of their music. I've been a member of their fan club for a few years, and it's fair to say it was a bit trial and error for a while, but now they have the fan club so right. The band have found a way to connect with their fans on a deeper level, and if you are a member of the LPU, I'm telling you now you need to get yourselves to a summit event. It is an incredible experience.

First of all, it started off with meeting up with other LPU members, and buying raffle tickets (to benefit Music For Relief, of course). Next we walked the Linkin Park stage and had photos with all of their gear. I was even able to hold one of Mike's old guitars. That was pretty cool. After that, we did the raffle. I'd brought fifty tickets and my sister had brought five. We thought it would be cool to win the raffle prize of the backstage visit with one member of Linkin Park - and I kid you not, both my sister and I won. Yep, out of a hundred people in the room, just ten of us one, and two of those people happened to be my sister and I.

After the raffle we had a backstage tour of the Acer arena and then the group of ten were taken to hang out with one member of Linkin Park - Chester. It was an absolute highlight moment. Chester walked into the room, shook all of our hands and took a seat. He seemed like a really nice, down to earth guy. I had the opportunity to ask him what his favourite Linkin Park moment has been so far, and he said the song he did with Jay-Z and Paul McCartney was a very defining moment because it would never happen again. I thought that was a pretty cool answer.

After the hang out backstage, we had the meet and greet with the rest of the band. I had chosen to get my A Thousand Suns vinyl record signed, and as I handed it to Joe he said, "Do you know what this is?" and I said, "Yes, it's the A Thousand Suns vinyl." "No," he replied, "it's a boomerang" - and Joe drew a picture of a boomerang on my record. I thought that was awesome. Also, Mike asked me "Have you ever thrown one of these?" and I said, "No, I haven't actually." And Mike said, "You should. That's what their for. They make good Frisbees." The rest of the band seemed really nice and down to earth too. We had a Q & A with the band too, which was a lot of fun.

The final part of the summit was the acoustic set. For me, this was the highlight. Chester and Mike played "The Little Things Give You Away" - and that is my favourite song. To be sitting there and witnessing this moment in a room of just a hundred people, was amazing. I'll remember that moment for the rest of my life. Chester also sang "The Messenger" which was great.

I'm part of the best fan club in the world. Linkin Park are not only an amazing band, but they put on the best events for their fans. I love supporting this band, and when I write, a lot of inspiration comes from their songs. I thank them for it.

I took a lot of photos from the summit/concert, and I thought I would share them;