Linkin Park Lawsuit Settled: Ex-Bassist Reach Agreement Over 'Hybrid Theory' Re-Release

Linkin Park and its ex-bassist, Kyle Christner, reached an "amicable solution" on the latter's lawsuit against the rock band.

Christner sued the band for not being paid for his contribution to the band after being fired from the band after striking a deal with Warner Records in 1999.

Linkin Park Settles Kyle Christner Lawsuit

According to Billboard, Linkin Park and its ex-bassist Kyle Christner filed a joint statement to formally end their lawsuit. The statement was signed by Christner's legal camp, Mike Shinoda, and the band's lawyers.

"Kyle is a very talented musician who made valuable contributions to Linkin Park at a pivotal time in 1999," Linkin Park wrote in a statement obtained by the publication. "He performed with the band in several shows and many record label showcases. Kyle helped write and performed on many songs from that era, including some of the songs on the Hybrid Theory EP."

Meanwhile, Christner's legal camp has not commented on the lawsuit's finality.

Why Did Kyle Christner Sued Linkin Park?

In November 2023, Kyle Christner sued Linkin Park, claiming he had been a member of the famous rock band in 1999. However, he was "abruptly informed" that he had been fired after the band had finally secured a deal with Warner Records. (via Rolling Stone)

He has since alleged that the band has been profiting from the songs he helped create at the time, even though they erased his involvement.

"Christner has never been paid a penny for his work with Linkin Park, nor has he been properly credited, even as defendants have benefitted from his creative efforts," the filing read. "Christner appears to have played on at least tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of Forgotten Demos, tracks 1, 2, 7, 13, 14, 16, 17 of LPU Rarities, and track 7 of B-Side Rarities, as well as the Hybrid Theory EP, [within the box set]."

Christner's lawsuit came after Linkin Park re-released their 2000 debut album, "Hybrid Theory" in 2020.

He claimed that the unreleased songs now released in the new box set were some of the songs he had helped create for the band.

Linkin Park has been trying hard to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Christner had filed it beyond the statute of limitations.

"Defendants repudiated plaintiff's purported ownership in any and all of the works mentioned in the [lawsuit] more than three years before plaintiff filed this lawsuit - and indeed for over two decades," Linkin Park's lawyer said then.

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