Linkin Park Breaks the Barrier between Hardcore Rock and Hardcore Health
I'm about to share some things that are taboo to discuss with rock stars. Sex, drugs and rock and roll are so passé – but eating clean, Cross Fit, solar suitcases and fresh herbs vs dried herbs are the new hot buzzwords while on tour. And the new drug of choice? Health and wellness.
Going on tour sounds like the agony and the ecstasy to me. I love loud music, traveling to foreign places, meeting new people, learning about new cultures – but the intensity of doing all these things at once with no reprieve, combined with the demands of travel and having to perform and keep your health intact is mental and physical overload. To counteract the stress of touring, musicians are spending more time finding healthy ways to maintain their stamina while sharing their music.
With my curiosity piqued, I wanted to learn exactly how and what healthy living practices these mega bands integrate into their "tour du jour" – and I found just the guys to help. I sat down with Chester Bennington and Dave "Phoenix" Farrell of Linkin Park while on tour in Arizona to find out their healthy secrets.
Linkin Park uses their fame for good, bringing attention to global energy needs and giving their time to help raise money for children's medical centers. They're also part of innovative collaborations such as the Facebook video game called Recharge, which helps raise awareness of energy solutions in developing nations through their Power the World campaign. One of those solutions is a We Care Solar suitcase – a portable energy system designed to fit in a carry-on size suitcase for easy transport and installation.
I had to know how these guys keep their health in tact while touring, maintaining families, and advocating for causes that are revolutionizing the world.
So, here we go. Sitting backstage next to Chester and Dave, hollering over Jared Leto and 30 Seconds to Mars (and trying not to lose my voice) I learned some interesting health facts from the lead singer, Chester:
•Chester doesn't like to listen to music when working out. I can't lie – I was totally blown away by this. How does a lead singer of a major rock band not get pumped up by the same kind of music that he provides his fans on a daily basis? He said his motivation is to stay focused and count reps vs counting beats.
•He loves the beach and exercising outside.
•His personal favorite health hotspot? His California home.
•His health wake-up call came after an injury that led him to needing a walker. Note: You can't rock out with a walker! This turning point in life helped lead to better choices with food, physical and mental strength.
Here are Dave's fun health facts:
•Physical activity is really important for him and CrossFit is his exercise of choice.
•Although the paleo diet is popular in the CrossFit world, Dave does NOT follow a paleo diet –he does try to eat clean, natural and locally grown, as it secures the quality of where the food comes from and contributes to a better eco-system.
•Dave's healthy hotspot? Mt. Fuji.
One of the best perks of being on tour (in my opinion): a personal chef! Linkin Park has one who finds local foods in each city to create amazing farm to table meals for them. This helps them maintain daily structure to stay fit and healthy.
So, let's get to the sexy part of touring – new places, food and fun. Travelling through strange lands with exotic foods sounds amazing right? I thought so too, until I watched Bizarre Foods with Andrews Zimmer and realized that our idea of "delicious" is nothing like other places! So, I asked Dave and Chester about their experiences – have they ever come across a place where they got sick trying a new, foreign delicacy?
•Dave said his worst health crisis on tour was when he drank some bottled water in Jakarta without realizing it wasn't sealed properly. This led to severe illness for 2 days and he thought he was going to end up like Jim Morrison in Paris… a dead musician in a foreign land. Thankfully, crisis averted! Lesson learned after this near death experience: travel with your own water!
Integrative medicine was an intriguing part of our conversation. Of course, I had to ask if Linkin Park incorporates integrative medicine while on tour. Sitting next to a Buddha statue and ear plugs in the room, I thought it was fitting to provide them with a Vertical Wellness healthy hot spot item – I told them how peppermint oil can help with headaches and migraines and minimize the need for medication. I cautioned them not to apply too close to the eyes and they made a note not to use it when sweating onstage. One small gesture and their tour became that much healthier!
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