Before they were a multi-platinum powerhouse, before Chester Bennington was the voice of a generation, there was Xero. If you're looking for the Xero album Linkin Park fans treat like a holy grail, you’re basically looking for a 1997 demo cassette tape that sounds like it was recorded in a bedroom. Because it was.
Honestly, calling it an "album" is a bit of a stretch. It’s a four-track sampler. But for anyone obsessed with how Hybrid Theory came to be, these four songs are the DNA of everything that followed. It’s raw. It’s gritty. And it features a singer named Mark Wakefield who definitely isn't Chester.
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What Really Happened With the Xero Demo?
In 1996, Mike Shinoda and his high school friend Mark Wakefield started a project called SuperXero. They eventually dropped the "Super" because, well, Xero just looked cooler with an X. This wasn't some corporate-backed venture. Mike was producing beats on a four-track recorder in his bedroom, leaning heavily into his love for the Anthrax and Public Enemy "Bring the Noise" collaboration he'd seen live years earlier.
The band eventually filled out with Brad Delson, Rob Bourdon, Joe Hahn, and Dave "Phoenix" Farrell. They were just kids from Agoura Hills trying to blend hip-hop and rock in a way that didn't sound like everyone else.
The Original 1997 Tracklist
If you managed to snag one of the few original tapes (which now sell for thousands on eBay), you’d find these four songs:
- Rhinestone – The early version of "Forgotten."
- Reading My Eyes – A track the band actually brought back to play live with Chester years later.
- Fuse – A heavy, bass-driven track that screams late-90s underground.
- Stick N’ Move – The original skeleton for what would eventually become "Runaway."
Why Mark Wakefield Left (And Why It Matters)
Most people think Mark just quit because the band wasn't getting signed. That's the "official" story often floated around. But if you dig into Jeff Blue’s book One Step Closer, the reality is a bit more complicated. Mark wasn't a natural performer. During a high-stakes showcase at the Whisky a Go Go, things didn't go great. The labels weren't biting, and the energy wasn't there yet.
Mark eventually transitioned out of the band and became the manager for Taproot. He actually stayed friends with Mike; he even co-wrote some of the biggest hits on Hybrid Theory, like "Runaway" and "A Place for My Head" (which was called "Esaul" back then).
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When Mark left, the band was at a total stalemate. They sent a demo tape to an unknown singer in Arizona named Chester Bennington. He reportedly missed his own birthday party to record vocals over their tracks. When the band heard his tapes, they knew the Xero era was over. They changed their name to Hybrid Theory, then eventually to Linkin Park, and the rest is history.
How to Actually Hear the Xero Album Today
You don't need to spend $5,000 on a rare cassette to hear this stuff anymore. Most of it has been officially released through the Linkin Park Underground (LPU) fan club CDs or the Hybrid Theory 20th Anniversary Edition.
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- Rhinestone/Forgotten: Compare the Xero version to the album version. You'll notice Mike's verses are almost identical, but the chorus hook is totally different.
- Reading My Eyes: Check out the version on LPU 6.0. Hearing Chester sing a Mark Wakefield song is a trip.
- The "Rapology" Tracks: Mike and Joe also contributed tracks like "Closing" and "Fiends" to various Urban Network compilations under the Xero name.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you want to dive deeper into the Xero era, start by listening to the Hybrid Theory 20th Anniversary "B-Side Rarities." It's the cleanest way to hear these tracks without the tape hiss of a 30-year-old cassette. Look for the track "Dialate"—it’s one of the earliest known Xero demos and shows exactly where Mike’s head was at with his rhymes before the "Nu-Metal" label even existed.
Check out the artwork too. Mike designed those early covers himself. One version features a baby, and another features a shopping cart. It's a glimpse into the art-school kid who was about to build a global brand from his bedroom.