Linkin Park songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and rapper Mike Shinoda says Dave Grohl's post-Nirvana story helped him see a light at the end of the tunnel after Chester Bennington's tragic death last summer.
Shinoda told Los Angeles's ALT 98.7 FM's Harms that he's been reaching out to people in his network over the past year who've dealt with major losses for support.
He says those conversations have led him to look at Grohl's career and how he persevered after Kurt Cobain's death.
"I see somebody doing well, for example, Dave Grohl after Nirvana," Shinoda explained. "Seeing him do the thing and get back up and create Foo Fighters out of nothing. That's a moment where you go, 'That can be done.' It feels heroic."
He added that Linkin Park's worldwide fanbase has been effusive in its support for the band. Shinoda said the band's fans helped him get through his grief and come out the other side.
"You lose a grandparent as a kid, but that's different than losing one of your peers, or somebody who is your age or younger," Shinoda told ALT 98.7. "That feels way different..."
He continued: "I realize that I'm definitely not invincible, and I'm definitely not going to make all the right decisions. I promise you I will make mistakes along the way, and that's fine with me."
Shinoda said earlier this year that he and his Linkin Park bandmates have "every intension of continuing" the band, but he seemed less certain in the new interview.
"We don't know," he said. "I feel like right now, everybody processes this stuff differently and this for me is a necessary part of processing it all. I needed to have a singular path where I kind of didn't have to check in with everybody else about what I wanted to do. For better or worse all of the answers have to come from me on this. And I really needed that responsibility and control of it."
Until Linkin Park decides when or how to proceed without their legendary frontman, Shinoda has been putting his energy into a new solo project.
In January, Shinoda released a three-song EP called Post Traumatic, the lyrics of which largely deal with the the anguish and confusion in his life after Bennington's death.
In March, Shinoda confirmed that he's writing a full-length solo album. He even has some solo shows planned for this year.
The songwriter/producer revealed news of the solo album via an Instagram post i which he asked fans to meet him to be part of a music video shoot.
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