Robert Gregory Bourdon (born January 20, 1979)[1][2] is an American musician, best known as the drummer and co-founding member of the rock band Linkin Park.[3]
Rob Bourdon | |
|---|---|
 Bourdon with Linkin Park at Rock'n'Heim 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Gregory Bourdon |
| Born | January 20, 1979 Calabasas, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Member of | Linkin Park |
| Formerly of | Relative Degree |
| Website | linkinpark |
Early life
Bourdon was born in Calabasas, California.[1] He received classical piano lessons at a young age.[4] He was inspired to play the drums after attending an Aerosmith concert, where he was personally introduced to drummer Joey Kramer.[4][5] He also cites Tower of Power and Earth, Wind and Fire as his early influences.[5] 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.[5] Bourdon waited tables at a restaurant and worked as a party coordinator at a bowling alley prior to becoming a full-time musician.[6] He attended Santa Monica College where he studied accounting.[6]
Career
Bourdon and Brad Delson formed their own band, Relative Degree.[5] The band played a sell-out concert at the Roxy Theatre before breaking up.[5]
Bourdon later joined Delson and Mike Shinoda to form Linkin Park, then known as Xero, in 1996.[6] 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.[6] Bourdon served as Linkin Park's drummer for seven studio albums and many international tours.[6] Beyond drums and percussion, he also handled the band's business operations with Delson and Dave Farrell.[4] Bourdon injured his back during the production of the band's sixth studio album, The Hunting Party, after playing for 10 hours a day for 7 consecutive days but later recovered.[7] He remained with Linkin Park through 2017, when the band went on hiatus following the death of front man and vocalist Chester Bennington.[8]
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.[9]
Personal life
Bourdon resides in Los Angeles.[10] He is Jewish.[11]
Discography
With Linkin Park
- Hybrid Theory (2000)
- Meteora (2003)
- Minutes to Midnight (2007)
- A Thousand Suns (2010)
- Living Things (2012)
- The Hunting Party (2014)
- One More Light (2017)
References
External links
Media related to Rob Bourdon at Wikimedia Commons- Rob Bourdon at IMDb
