Linkin Park’s “Breaking the Habit”

As this classic’s title suggests, it is about the singer “breaking” a “habit”. In other words, he is making a resolution that today will be the day that he overcomes a self-destructive addiction.

Now the lead vocalist on the track is Chester Bennington (1976-2017). This was an artist who is known to have dealt with both alcohol and drug addiction during his lifetime. As such, many fans have presumed this song is about him. In fact as the legend goes, Chester himself had a difficult time performing it at first and even shed tears when he first read the lyrics to “Breaking the Habit”, as the wording really hit home with him personally.

But it has been pointed out that it is not about Chester Bennington. In fact Mike Shinoda had begun writing it before the two of them even met. Moreover, the song is not about drug addiction per se. Rather it speaks to a number of different habits, including negative thinking, which an individual can develop. And as such, according to Mike Shinoda’s own description of the lyrics, it is centered on an individual who is trying to separate himself from the unspecified parts of his character which he disapproves of.

“I’m breaking the habit tonight”

Facts about “Breaking the Habit”

Linkin Park members R. Bourdon, B. Delson, D. Farrell, J. Hahn, M. Shinoda and C. Bennington are credited with writing this song. But it is Shinoda especially who is recognized as having conceptualized it.

Moreover it has been noted that Shinoda has been trying to pen a tune based on this subject matter for a number of years before it finally came out. That is because another friend of his from back in the day was addicted to drugs. And what in fact eventually caused him to finally have the creative outburst which resulted in “Breaking the Habit” was an instrumental the band put together called “Drawing”. In fact “Drawing” was originally intended to be released as an instrumental – a 10-minute one at that. However, at the urging of his bandmates, M. Shinoda was able to turn it into a conventional song.

“Breaking the Habit” was produced by Don Gilmore.

Linkin Park’s Hahn directed the official music video to this classic. It is a 100% animated affair – one that was created by a Japanese anime outfit called Studio Gonzo.

The track went on to win an MTV VMA in 2004 in the category of Viewer’s Choice Award, as well as being nominated for Best Rock Video.

“Breaking the Habit” scored a number one on Billboard’s Alternative Songs (aka Modern Rock) and Mainstream Rock charts. In terms of the former, it marked Linkin Park’s fifth-consecutive song from their album “Meteora” to do so. And it has been noted that even as of the year 2020, no other artist has been able to replicate that feat.

“Breaking the Habit” also reached number one on the Polish Singles Chart. It eventually charted in over a dozen countries. Moreover the track has been certified gold by the RIAA.

Warner Records officially released this song on March 25th, 2003. It is part of Linkin Park’s album entitled “Meteora”, also serving as the fifth single from that project. The band’s 2003 global hit “Numb” also appears on “Meteora”