Rob Bourdon

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Rob Bourdon

| image = Bourdon-Rock'n'Heim 2015-zoom.png

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| caption = Bourdon with Linkin Park at Rock'n'Heim 2015

| birth_name = Robert Gregory Bourdon

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1979|1|20}}

| birth_place = Calabasas, California, U.S.

| origin =

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| instrument = {{flatlist|

Drums
percussion

}}

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 1996–2017

| past_member_of = {{flatlist|

Linkin Park
{{nowrap|Relative Degree}}

}}

| website = {{URL|linkinpark.com}}

| module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes

| signature = Rob Bourdon signature, Billboard Open Letter 2016.png

}}

Robert Gregory Bourdon (born January 20, 1979){{Cite news |last=Quirarte |first=Xavier |date=October 24, 2020 |title='Hybrid Theory': 20 años de un disco explosivo de Linkin Park |url=https://www.milenio.com/espectaculos/musica/linkin-park-celebra-20-anos-hybrid-theory-edicion-lujo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802221105/http://www.milenio.com/espectaculos/musica/linkin-park-celebra-20-anos-hybrid-theory-edicion-lujo |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |access-date=December 5, 2022 |work=Milenio |language=Spanish}}{{Cite web |last=Spatu |first=Madan Gupta |title=The year ahead |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/the-year-ahead-32031 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201211155225/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/the-year-ahead-32031 |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |website=The Tribune (Chandigarh)}} is an American musician, best known as a co-founding member and the former drummer of the rock band Linkin Park.{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2014 |title=Rob Bourdon Injured Back During Recording Marathon |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/linkin-park/news/rob-bourdon-injured-back-during-recording-marathon_4174596 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908204503/https://www.contactmusic.com/linkin-park/news/rob-bourdon-injured-back-during-recording-marathon_4174596 |archive-date=September 8, 2023 |access-date=January 26, 2018 |website=World Entertainment News Network |publisher=Contactmusic.com}} He remained in the band until their hiatus in 2017; when the band members began working together out of the public eye in 2019, he declined to rejoin the band and was succeeded by Colin Brittain.

Early life

Bourdon was born in Calabasas, California. He received classical piano lessons at a young age.{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Simon |date=October 23, 2015 |title=Linkin Park, you're a nu metal boy band. Discuss. |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/linkin-park-you-re-a-nu-metal-boy-band-discuss |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205152655/https://www.loudersound.com/features/linkin-park-you-re-a-nu-metal-boy-band-discuss |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |access-date=December 5, 2022 |work=Metal Hammer}} He was inspired to play the drums after attending an Aerosmith concert, where he was personally introduced to drummer Joey Kramer.{{Cite web |title=Rob Bourdon |url=http://remo.com/team/member/rob-bourdon/bio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127084411/http://remo.com/team/member/rob-bourdon/bio/ |archive-date=January 27, 2018 |access-date=January 26, 2018 |website=Remo.com}} He also cites Tower of Power and Earth, Wind and Fire as his early influences. Bourdon attended Agoura High School in Agoura Hills where he met future bandmates Brad Delson and Mike Shinoda, in the high school's jazz band. Bourdon waited tables at a restaurant and worked as a party coordinator at a bowling alley prior to becoming a full-time musician.{{Cite magazine |last=David |first=Fricke |date=March 14, 2002 |title=Linkin Park: David Fricke Talks to Chester Bennington About 'Hybrid Theory' Success |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/linkin-park-david-fricke-talks-to-chester-bennington-about-hybrid-theory-success-67820/2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205145108/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/linkin-park-david-fricke-talks-to-chester-bennington-about-hybrid-theory-success-67820/2/ |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |access-date=December 5, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} He attended Santa Monica College where he studied accounting.

Career

Bourdon and Brad Delson formed their own band, Relative Degree. The band played a sell-out concert at the Roxy Theatre before breaking up.

Bourdon later joined Delson and Mike Shinoda to form Linkin Park, then known as Xero, in 1996. The band enjoyed mainstream success with their debut album, Hybrid Theory (2000), which would later go on to become 12× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Bourdon served as Linkin Park's drummer for seven studio albums and many international tours. Beyond drums and percussion, he also handled the band's business operations with Delson and bassist Dave Farrell.

Bourdon played the drums for ten hours a day for seven consecutive days, mainly practicing "Keys to the Kingdom", during the production of the band's sixth studio album, The Hunting Party. He injured his back, but later recovered.{{Cite news |last=Keeble |first=Edward |date=May 1, 2014 |title=Rob Bourdan Injured After Rocking Too Hard |url=https://gigwise.com/news/90641/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205143828/https://gigwise.com/news/90641/ |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |access-date=December 5, 2022 |work=Gigwise}}

He remained with Linkin Park through 2017, when the band went on hiatus following the death of vocalist Chester Bennington.{{Cite web |last=Linzinmeir |first=Taylor |date=April 23, 2022 |title=Mike Shinoda — Linkin Park Have 'No Plans' for New Music |url=https://loudwire.com/mike-shinoda-linkin-park-no-plans-for-new-music-live-shows-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425021817/https://loudwire.com/mike-shinoda-linkin-park-no-plans-for-new-music-live-shows-video/ |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |access-date=December 5, 2022 |publisher=Loudwire |language=en}} Bourdon later informed the other members that he wished to distance himself from the band, and did not participate in re-release promotional activities or the 2024 compilation album Papercuts. Linkin Park announced their reformation on September 5, 2024, with new members, including Colin Brittain replacing Bourdon.{{Cite news |last=Sherman |first=Maria |date=September 5, 2024 |title=Linkin Park reunite 7 years after Chester Bennington's death, with new music |url=https://apnews.com/article/linkin-park-new-singer-album-9259986bd153e5b70202681dd06cb015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905235245/https://apnews.com/article/linkin-park-new-singer-album-9259986bd153e5b70202681dd06cb015 |archive-date=September 5, 2024 |access-date=September 5, 2024 |work=AP News}}{{Cite news |last=Garcia |first=Thania |date=September 5, 2024 |title=Linkin Park Selects Emily Armstrong From Rock Band Dead Sara as New Singer, Reveals Tour and Album 'From Zero' |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/linkin-park-emily-armstrong-new-singer-from-zero-album-tour-1236120238/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905221051/https://variety.com/2024/music/news/linkin-park-emily-armstrong-new-singer-from-zero-album-tour-1236120238/ |archive-date=September 5, 2024 |access-date=September 5, 2024 |work=Variety}}{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Surej |date=September 6, 2024 |title=Linkin Park address founding drummer Rob Bourdon's departure |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/linkin-park-address-founding-drummer-rob-bourdons-departure-3791129 |access-date=September 6, 2024 |work=NME}}

Musical influences

Bourdon's musical influences include Led Zeppelin, Tower of Power, Aerosmith, The Police, Bad Religion, Steely Dan, System of a Down, Incubus, and Dave Matthews Band.{{Cite magazine |last=Micallef |first=Ken |date=September 2014 |title=Rob Bourdon |url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/md418c.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127095539/https://www.moderndrummer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/md418c.pdf |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |magazine=Modern Drummer |page=48}}

Personal life

Bourdon resides in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |last=Micallef, Ken |date=May 18, 2007 |title=Rob Bourdon: Midnight Confessions |url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/2007/05/rob-bourdon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127143221/https://www.moderndrummer.com/2007/05/rob-bourdon/ |archive-date=January 27, 2018 |access-date=January 26, 2018 |website=ModernDrummer.com}} He is Jewish.{{Cite news |last=Chessler |first=Suzanne |date=June 18, 2009 |title=Rothbury Redux |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2009.06.18.001/48 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205211034/https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2009.06.18.001/48 |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |access-date=December 5, 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |publisher=University of Michigan}}