It’s been long enough since Linkin Park last toured that Mike Shinoda’s children don’t fully grasp their dad’s rock star status.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show, Shinoda shared a funny moment when he tried giving his daughter guitar tips for a school performance. Her reaction? A classic “Cool Dad” dismissal. “She basically told me to leave her alone,” Shinoda said, laughing as he recounted how she brushed off his advice.
Later, when his daughter finally asked for his help with her chords, Shinoda proudly told his wife about it, only to be met with laughter. His wife recalled, “That’s not how it happened. She actually told me, ‘What does he know about performing?'” Shinoda laughed, realizing his daughter didn’t recognize his decades of experience with Linkin Park.
Shinoda admitted that his kids don’t have strong memories of the band. “We haven’t toured for seven years, and they were so young back then,” he explained to Jimmy Fallon. His eldest child, Otis, was only eight when the band played their last show before going on hiatus after the tragic passing of lead singer Chester Bennington in 2017.
Despite this, his kids have naturally gravitated toward music. Shinoda shared that a couple of them play drums and piano, and he tries to offer musical advice when he can, though it’s sometimes met with reluctance. “I was like, ‘Hey, just so you know, that one chord goes like this,'” he said, only to be politely brushed off. “‘Okay, sorry! You got it,'” he recalled with a smile.
Shinoda has maintained a humble attitude, which has endeared him to fans. In 2022, a viral moment occurred when a red carpet reporter had to be reminded mid-interview who he was. “My name is Mike Shinoda. I play in a band called Linkin Park,” he said, much to the reporter’s surprise.
Earlier this month, Linkin Park reunited for the first time in years, debuting a new lineup with vocalist Emily Armstrong and a new album titled From Zero. Their performance on The Tonight Show featured the lead single, “The Emptiness Machine,” and has already sparked some controversy among fans as they adjust to the new direction.
