Name: Michael Kenji Shinoda
Instrument: Vocals, Beats + Samples, Keyboards, Guitar
Date of Birth: February 11, 1977
Marital Status: Married to Anna
Siblings: Brother Jason. Mike is half Japanese
Place of Birth: Originally from Agoura, CA, now lives in L.A.
Education: Agoura high school. Graduated from the Pasadena Art College of Design in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in illustration.
Some Interesting Facts about Mike
He majored in Illustration but studied graphic design heavily. Mike got a job as a graphic designer right out of college.Mike designed the soldier on the "Hybrid Theory" cover.
Mike & Brad met in 7th grade.
Mike had to do his eighth term finals (at Pasadena art school) the same weekend Linkin Park did a showcase for about six record labels (exams at the same time when things started happening for the band...talk about a nervous breakdown).
The first time Mike heard 'One Step Closer' on the radio was in Arizona.
Mike took classical piano lessons for 10 years. He got sick of playing classical music though and moved into jazz then hip hop.
Before Chester joined the band, Mike would do his parts and find friends to do the other vocals.
Famous Quotes
Writing songs and sharing them with people is a very rewarding experience...I can't think of anything more gratifying as seeing people from different backgrounds come together to enjoy music. Thanks.
We are renaming the band to Blink-Nsync 182.
We have people in the band who don't drink or do drugs.....some of us like to go sightseeing.
When I was little I was a brat.
Mr. Hahn is god.
A lot has been made of the contrast between me and Chester because we are totally different in a lot of ways. He's crazy for a start off. I'm sane. He used to run around at the age of two singing Foreigner songs. I certainly didn't. He'll show you his butt. I wouldn't inflict that on anybody. We learned pretty early on in this band that you can't have snobbery in music. Our guitarist is a huge Britney Spears fan.
Thank you, Brad. Brad is so kind. He's here for my moral support. Without Brad I think I'd be pretty bummed out on tour, because he's the only one who gives me any moral support. Everyone else makes fun of me -especially Mr. Hahn!
Mike: I'm not a very reading person, I like to look at pictures.
Chester: Mike likes porno.
Mike:I don't like porno. I like graphics...
Mike: The best thing I'd ever done is when my brother went to oversea and I came back home as a Christmas present.
Chester: In a box.
Mike: Yes, in a box.
Mike: Some kid told someone else they can get banned for calling us assholes.
Anna: Mike, you're an asshole.
Phoenix: Chester likes to grab his package like Michael Jackson.
Mike: I didn't know Chester had a package?
Joe: Yeah its somewhere down there.
MTV: Let's talk about your success. You've sold over a million records...
Mike: We've sold a million records?
Chester: We did?
MTV: Have you?
Mike: Whoa!"
Mike: We're not like other bands you know. We actually visit our website and care about our internet fans. We visit as many fansites as possible.
Joe: Yes and I like to send threatening emails to people.
Phoenix: No you don't.
Joe: Yes I do! Shh, it's supposed to be a secret!
Chester: Oh man...I think I disconnected or something.
Interviewer: What type of machine are you using?
Chester: It's called a computer."
So how important has the Internet been in your development.
MIKE: Well, www.linkinparkporn.com has been a very important part of our lives....
Mike: We're famous?
Chester: Are you sure?
Phoenix: Sub-famous!
Mike: That's craptacular!
Mike: Hey, Joe!
Joe: What?
Mike: Go away!
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