(Classic Rock) Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington has laughed off the perception from some metal purists that the band were nothing more than a boy band with guitars when starting their career.

They released their debut album Hybrid Theory in 2000, which went on to huge commercial success. But some questioned the integrity of their sound, which challenged the concept of what metal could be.

But reflecting on their first album and the reaction to it, Bennington says Linkin Park were partially responsible for bringing metal into the 21st century.

The singer tells Metal Hammer: "I think that's really funny - just those words, 'the integrity of metal.' In my opinion we actually kept metal alive. I met a kid a few days ago who said, 'You were the first rock band I ever listened to' and I hear that all the time. We played a surprise Vans Warped tour show in California in 2014 and had a whole bunch of singers from other bands come up and sing with us." Read more here.

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