How it began...

Xero was a band founded by emcee Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson in 1996, the year Delson and Shinoda graduated at Augora High. The original name they chose was SuperXero but it was revised to Xero. After graduating, Mike decided to attend Pasadena, California’s Art College of Design, where he met Joseph Hahn, an aspiring illustrator and practicing DJ. Mike asked Joe to sign on to join the band. Joe was considered a perfect fit for the band, someone who could add another dimension of sound to the band’s resume. Meanwhile, Brad was accepted into UCLA and roomed with a bass player by the name of Dave Farrell. Farrell was soon added to Xero’s line-up.

Xero recorded a four-track cassette sampler in 1997 with another Agoura High acquaintance, Mark Wakefield, as lead vocalist. The tape was released locally in 1997. After garnering attention doing minor shows for friends, the band hooked the opening slot for a System of a Down show at the Los Angeles club ‘The Whisky’. Executives from Zomba Music were at the concert and signed the band to a development deal directly after the concert. The guys realized they had something special on their hands and started to get more serious, sensing they had a future in the music business. Despite their efforts over the next three years, Xero were rejected by every major and independent label in the business. Mark Wakefield left the band to become the manager for "Taproot" and recorded one solo track called "Ground Xero". Chester Bennington took his place in the band and they changed their name into "Hybrid Theory" short after.

XERO was an American Nu-Metal/Hip-Hop band

formed in 1996 It included Mark Wakefield,

Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon, Joe Hahn, Brad Delson

and Dave Farrell . The original name they chose was

SuperXero but it was revised to Xero.

They made just one demo tape, which included

the songs "Fuse", "Reading My Eyes",

"Stick N' Move" and "Rhinestone".

The project floundered and they never achieved

much success. After Mark Wakefield left to

become the manager for Taproot

The guys played around for fun and started getting

attention from friends.

So they set up a show at LA's Whisky and

got signed to Zomba Music Publishing their 1st show.

They were with the bands: System of a Down and SX-10

Although there are very few recordings available online,

 there was a brief concert featuring Xero opening

for Cypress Hill.

Although the main concert hasn't been confirmed,

it is at least known that the concert did exist,

and with more songs than the original

Xero Demo Tape had on it.

The setlist is as follows:

Xero - 10-08-97: Lynus Brook club, L.A. Setlist:

01-Rhinestone

02-The Team 

03-Reading My Eyes

04-Untitled  [In The End DEMO]

05-Explode  

06-Rhinestone (part two) [Stick N Move DEMO]

07-Now I See

08-Fuse

Every once in a blue moon, the demo-sampler tape will show up on online auctions like eBay with prices usually well over $1,000.

"Rhinestone" is a prototype of Linkin Park's song "Forgotten".

Live performances:

Although there are very few recordings available online, there was a brief concert (10/08/1997 at the Lynus Brook club, L.A), featuring Xero opening for Cypress Hill. Although the main concert hasn't been confirmed, it is at least known that the concert did exist, and with more songs than the original Xero demo-sampler tape had on it.

Also, in the LPU image gallery, there is a picture of a flyer of a festival where Xero performed together with Cypress Hill and System Of A Down. We can't publish this picture because it's an LPU exclusive, if you want to check it out, log or sign in at the LPU and go to the image gallery there!

"The Team" and "Explode" cannot be found on the internet. Not even lyrics can be found for those 2 tracks. Other tracks of Xero are "Pictureboard", "Now I see", "Untitled", "Rhinestone Part 2", "Esaul". None of these where released or performed but some of them were taken further by Hybrid Theory as demos for their debut album as Linkin Park.

Members:

MIKE SHINODA (MC, LEAD VOCALS)