When Punjabi music collides with rock: AP Dhillon and Linkin Park | PHOTOS
Punjabi music sensation AP Dhillon recently had the opportunity to meet the iconic rock band, Linkin Park, marking the occasion as a significant milestone in his musical journey. Expressing his gratitude for the band’s influence on him, he shared three pictures with the band members on his Instagram account, accompanied by a caption that read, “Honoured to meet these legends, thank you for inspiring me @linkinpark,” along with a guitar emoji.
With their current lineup including members such as Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Dave Farrell, Emily Armstrong, and Colin Brittain, Linkin Park originally consisted of lead vocalist Chester Bennington and drummer Rob Bourdon. Following Bennington’s tragic passing in July 2017, the band took a seven-year hiatus, during which Bourdon also left. Their return was formally announced in 2024, introducing Armstrong and Brittain to the lineup.
Linkin Park rose to international fame with their debut album, “Hybrid Theory” in 2000, which saw the single “In the End” reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their subsequent album, “Meteora” (2003), further solidified their success, while “Minutes to Midnight” (2007) marked a noticeable evolution in their musical style. By the end of the decade, Linkin Park had cemented their status as one of the world’s most renowned rock acts.
Throughout their career, the band has achieved phenomenal success, having sold over 100 million records worldwide. They have also been honored with numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, ten MTV Europe Music Awards, and three World Music Awards.
AP Dhillon kickstarted his music career in 2019 with the release of the track “Fake,” a collaborative effort with Shinda Kahlon under their independent label, Run-Up Records. Subsequent releases like “Deadly,” produced with Gminxr, made waves in the UK Asian chart, peaking at number 11 in 2020 and securing a top five position in the UK Punjabi chart.
His collaborations with Gurinder Gill on tracks like “Droptop” and “Excuses” with Intense have further solidified his position as a rising star in the music industry. The global hit “Brown Munde,” featuring a collaboration with various artists including Nav and Sidhu Moose Wala, catapulted Dhillon to international recognition.
In 2021, AP Dhillon and his team embarked on the “Over The Top – The Takeover Tour,” entertaining audiences in six major cities across India. His performance at the 2023 Juno Awards in Edmonton, Canada, where he became the first Punjabi-language artist to showcase his hit track “Summer High,” further cemented his growing reputation as a talented and influential musician.