Over 200 used Linkin Park instruments to be sold for charity
Linkin Park is set to sell over 200 instruments used by the band to raise money for charity. The nu-metal band, which last played live in October 2017 at a tribute concert held for late frontman Chester Bennington (who tragically died by committing suicide on July 20, 2017, aged 41) will be auctioning off its used instruments, including guitars, keyboards, a megaphone, samplers and other music gear from the band's personal arsenal, to benefit the group's Music for Relief nonprofit, reports Rolling Stone. The charity gives aid to communities and individuals affected by natural disasters. Reverb.com will host the sale on April 4.
A highlight from the list of instruments being auctioned includes a Yamaha KX5 Keytar used by the band on tour and will be sold with a banner used for backstage signings and fan events. Other items up for sale include a Moog Etherwave Plus Theremin used by Mike Shinoda during 2010 concerts and at the MTV Music Awards that same year, Brad Delson’s Amplivox S602M Megaphone used on tour in 2011, and multiple models of the Linkin Park Special Edition of the Open Labs Neko XXL Gen5 DAW keyboard workstation, which was made exclusively for the band and has never been available to the public before.
EIF vice-president of operations and programs Whitney Showler said of the band’s work with the non-profit: “Throughout the last 13 years, Linkin Park fans have been incredibly generous supporters of Music For Relief, truly enabling our mission to help survivors and communities in the wake of natural disasters.” She added: "Music for Relief is honored to be the beneficiary of this rare opportunity Linkin Park is offering to own a piece of their history."
Meanwhile, Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda recently announced his first solo studio album, titled 'Post Traumatic,' clearly a reference to the passing of Chester Bennington, whose death has had a profound effect on Shinoda. Talking about the new album, Shinoda says in a press release, "It’s a journey out of grief and darkness, not into grief and darkness. If people have been through something similar, I hope they feel less alone. If they haven’t been through this, I hope they feel grateful."
Shinoda will perform a handful of solo shows this summer, including the Identity LA in Los Angeles on May 12, Reading and Leeds Festival, and the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan in August.