Staggering Across the Finish Line.

The performance at the Griffith Park Observatory seems like forever ago. The show, and performance of The Catalyst for the MTV VMAs was the kickoff of our tour for A THOUSAND SUNS. Now, at the end of the tour and cycle, a moment of reflection is in order.

To be honest, we were really hurting at the end of it all. Earlier this week, I stumbled into the venue in Bangkok with my band mates, dumbfounded at our state: one man down from food poisoning, two arms in slings, a bruised hand, cuts all over, sleep deprivation, and motion sickness, on top of what would be another 7+ hour travel day.

A year before, at Griffith Park, this tour started with the release of an album that was challenging to make, and a challenge for fans to understand. We knew the road ahead was going to be difficult. There were exhausting tours, confused and angry fans, and bloodthirsty critics on the horizon. But that night in Thailand, before the show, those obstacles were in front of me in the realest way.

A year before, we knew what we were getting into. And we believed in our album, we were encouraged by the fans. As time went on, as some fans went away and others came along for the ride, I’m proud of the thing we all built together. The tour took us to amazing new places. The performances at Puerta De Alcala, Griffith Park, Red Square, Tel Aviv, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore (among others) were landmarks for the band.

And the fans in Bangkok helped us power through one of our most difficult shows, showing the love that Linkin Park fans all over the world are known for.

So at the end of it all, I just wanted to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank-you to my bandmates, our staff, road crew, and fans for making this tour and album cycle amazing. Thank you.

Now, time to go home and get back to work…

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Comment by Enigma Streetsoldier on September 28, 2011 at 8:16am: It went by so fast... from the day I bought A Thousand Suns, to the night I stayed up just to watch The Catalyst being played live at the VMAs, and then from the concert I was supposed to go to before it was cancelled, to when I was excited to hear that Iridescent would be in the film Dark of the Moon... A Thousand Suns is a great album, with songs I can enjoy, relate to, and analyze the deeper insight in, and while it's definitely different from previous styles Linkin Park (the best band ever) has done, it's still just as great as Hybrid Theory, Meteora, and Minutes to Midnight. Great work Linkin Park! Looking forward to seeing an equally awesome fifth album in the future!

Comment by Qin Mei on September 28, 2011 at 8:16am: Thank you, LP! Thank you for coming to Hongkong (which is right next to the city that I live), so that I could come and see you guys! Your show was amazing, and you guys helped me to get out from my hard-time. Thank you, LP! Thank you for all the time that we stay together! Now I start to prepare the SAT and TOEFL exam, I wish that I can get a brilliant score so that I can come to the US and being closer to you guys!!!

By the way, I've just built up a band in my school, we decided to do the song Iridescent!!!

Love Ya~~

Comment by Juan Antonio Aguilar Rodriguez on September 28, 2011 at 8:01am: yeaaa linkin park vamos wiiii

Comment by Pooja Shinoda LP on September 28, 2011 at 7:37am: Mike, we are the ones who should be thanking you..... I mean there are no such bands or artists in today's music world who actually care for their fans as much as you guys do..... Just NO BODY....... Your album "A Thousand Suns" was a great record..... Thanks a lot for making such great music..... And another big thanks for existing in our lives and making it special..... I must say, life without you guys is just impossible now........ Thank you for performing such great shows at different venues......

Best of luck for your upcoming album.... And remember that all of us are waiting eagerly for it...... Yes this is why I say that I'm PROUD TO BE AN LP SOLDIER!!!! <3 you LP!!! <3 you a lot.......

Comment by Piyanuch N on September 28, 2011 at 7:12am: Thank you Linkin Park.

..from Thai fans :)

Comment by Серёжа Ищенко on September 28, 2011 at 6:51am: Always been with you and watching all your performances! Thank you for coming to Red Square!

Comment by Roby Pecinta Waliyulloh on September 28, 2011 at 6:42am: aduhh ketinggalan nonnton di malaysia nyesel bngtttt.................

Comment by Florian Popp on September 28, 2011 at 6:19am: just one question
Mike will you do any live streams on "ustream" again?

Comment by Florian Popp on September 28, 2011 at 6:10am: for the music in ATS you need realy to love music whether when you make music like this or hear music like this; so I can say that we love music as much as you guys do and I think this is the magic between you from the band and us fans.

I'm now ca. 1 1/2 years member on LP.com and I can proudly say that we are the fans who loves music like no other fan group.

by the way I haven't been to a LP concert yet but I can honestly say that all your tracks are all I need and for me as instrumentalist and vocalist (so Mike when you read this send me an invitation... just joking;) ) it is so great to sing and scream to, playing an instument or just feel the music

and also from me a big thank you I love the album and the next one will be as perfect as A Thousand Suns, Minutes To Mitnight, Meteora ,Hybrid Theory, Reanamation and all the cool unreleased extra songs

Comment by Nihal Kaur on September 28, 2011 at 6:09am: we should be the one thanking LINKIN PARK for working hard for all of us.

take your time to rest. and when the time comes, present us a whole different new album :)