Linkin Park Underground

Linkin Park Underground (commonly abbreviated as LPU) is the official fan club of the alternative metal band Linkin Park. The fan club's website provides message boards where users can share information on Linkin Park's upcoming projects and album news. Members are also given access to a custom @linkinpark.com e-mail address and information about the band before it reaches the public. Other bonuses include access to pre-sales of new Linkin Park material such as albums, clothing, and items such as their book From the Inside: Linkin Park's Meteora.

Hybrid Theory EP re-issue Released on November 19, 2001, the Hybrid Theory EP re-issue was Linkin Park Underground's first exclusive EP release. It was recorded in 1999, after Xero disbanded and Chester Bennington joined the band, at this point called "Hybrid Theory", making the original EP a self-titled release. Despite being remastered, the band made several changes to the packaging and artwork of the LPU re-issue, making it noticeably less valuable. Because of this, Linkin Park individually hand-signed the first 500 copies of the re-release. The hidden track after "Part of Me" is credited to Mike Shinoda stating "Track 7 by Mike Shinoda" in the thank you letter.

Underground 2.0 On November 18, 2002, the second year of the Linkin Park Underground was launched. The second fan club package was shipped to members and included an exclusive, six-track EP entitled Linkin Park Underground V2.0. This EP cannot be purchased in stores. A popular bootleg entitled "2.5" has been widely available on websites such as eBay.

Underground 3.0 On November 17, 2003, the third fan club package was shipped to members and included an exclusive, five-track EP entitled Linkin Park Underground 3.0. The CD also contained enhanced content. This EP cannot be purchased in stores. These tracks are a compliment to the 2003 release of Live in Texas, and to these tracks (and the Live in Texas album tracks) are available on the Live in Texas DVD. It was issued one day before Live In Texas was released.

On November 22, 2004, the fourth fan club package was shipped to members and included an exclusive, six-track EP entitled Linkin Park Underground 4.0. The CD also contained enhanced content. This EP cannot be purchased in stores. It contains 2 studio tracks, 2 live tracks recorded on the 2004 "Projekt Revolution" tour (a Nine Inch Nails cover "Wish" and "One Step Closer") and 2 more live tracks recorded in the summer of 2004 ("Breaking the Habit" from their 'Rock am Ring' performance and "Step Up/Nobody's Listening/It's Goin' Down" from their set before the recorded 'Collision Course' concert).

Underground 4.0 Just like Linkin Park Underground V2.0, a fake version is commonly available on sites such as eBay. It contains 20 tracks including the 4.0 EP, Collision Course EP, and other Linkin Park live tracks.

Underground 5.0 On November 21, 2005, the fifth fan club package shipped to its members and included an exclusive EP entitled Linkin Park Underground 5.0. The EP features live tracks from the band's performance during Live 8 Philadelphia on July 2 2005 with Jay-Z, and it is not available for purchase in stores. The songs "In the End" and "Numb/Encore" were the only songs to be featured on the Live 8 DVD, the rest of the performances, except "Crawling", are available on this CD.

Underground 6 On December 5, 2006, the sixth year of the Linkin Park Underground was launched. The sixth fan club package was shipped to members and included an exclusive, six-track EP entitled Linkin Park Underground 6.Shortly after it was announced, the album was leaked onto the Internet. The CD includes a studio demo version of "QWERTY" (which may have been recorded to compromise for it not appearing on Minutes to Midnight). "QWERTY" contains a darker guitar riff than previous songs, and includes Chester screaming much harder than before. Also, a new song called "Announcement Service Public". The title is a play on words of Public Service Announcement, hinting that if reversed, there will be a subliminal message. Chester can be heard saying, "You should brush your teeth, and you should wash your hands" when the track is played in reverse. It is equal in length to Session from the studio album Meteora.For the first time, it was sold at Best Buy on December 5, 2006 while supplies lasted. Buyers still had the option of buying it online though. A different limited edition package was sold at every Projekt Revolution 2007 show and the cover was red as opposed to green. However, all the content is the same.

The LP Underground 7 On November 27, 2007, the LPU posted a notice that the upcoming version of the exclusive EP, 7.0, would be available on December 5, 2007. Linkin Park later announced on their official MySpace page that this package would also be available in Best Buy stores. On December 5, 2007, the seventh fan club package was shipped to members. It includes an exclusive EP entitled LP Underground 7. The CD contains 10 tracks recorded live during the 2007 Projekt Revolution Tour.The LP Underground 7 Limited Edition Best Buy Fan Pack has been available at select Best Buy stores since the end of December 2007. Since February 2008, there has been a tour edition of the package sold exclusively at merchandise booths of their shows. This edition has a teal colored cover and contains a bonus sticker.

LP Underground 8 Although the eighth year of the Linkin Park Underground has not officially been announced yet, Linkin Park Underground members (in the USA) have been given the opportunity to design the logo for the eighth EP. This is by means of an online contest. The contest began on April 9, 2008 and ended on April 23, 2008, the winning entry has now been decided upon. The final draft for the eighth EP, built around the winning entry, has not yet been released publicly.