Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 Reveals the Story Behind His Unused Vocals for a Linkin Park Track

Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 disclosed that he laid down vocals for an unreleased Linkin Park track, later playfully questioning Mike Shinoda about why the recording was left off the final release.

He shared this detail while moderating a Q&A with Linkin Park after the Los Angeles premiere of their documentary Unshatter at AMC The Grove on Thursday, September 24.

In the documentary, Hoppus is featured after a studio visit with Linkin Park during the sessions that shaped their comeback album, From Zero.

During the discussion, he noted that Shinoda had initially invited him to the studio both to listen to the new material and to consider contributing vocals to a track.

Hoppus turned to Shinoda and exclaimed, “What the hell? I’m not on the record—what happened to my vocal takes?”

He also joked that his frequent use of “god dammit” during the session might have been the cause.

Shinoda responded with a compliment, saying, “You were greater than the song.”

The remark drew laughter from the other band members, and the two hinted at a possible future collaboration.

See the moment below.

In a previously released clip from the documentary, Hoppus is seen sitting with Shinoda as he listens to ‘Unshatter’—a song that later appeared on the deluxe version of From Zero—for the first time.

Hoppus reacts with astonishment, saying, “Fucking hell, Mike,” and later wonders if new vocalist Emily Armstrong’s voice is “made of fucking steel.” He even extends his arm to Shinoda to show the goosebumps the track provoked.

Shinoda comments in the film, “I was moved by that. Goosebumps can’t be faked.”

Hoppus then requests thirty seconds to speak to the musicians present, urging them to fully embrace the new direction of Linkin Park.

Unshatter documents Linkin Park’s return to music after the 2017 death of Chester Bennington and the ensuing seven‑year hiatus.

Directed by Joe Hahn of Linkin Park with Mark Ritchie, the film opens with intimate studio sessions from 2022 and tracks Shinoda, Hahn, Brad Delson, and Dave “Phoenix” Farrell as they slowly start making music together again.

It also covers the addition of Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain to the lineup, the confidential recording of From Zero, and the band’s public reveal of their comeback in 2024.

The documentary had its world premiere in Los Angeles last week and will launch a limited global theatrical run on September 30, featuring ScreenX, 4DX, and Ultra4DX formats at select theaters.

From Zero was released in November 2024, becoming Linkin Park’s first studio album since 2017’s One More Light. NME awarded it three stars, calling it “sensational, knockout stadium rock” with some less consistent tracks.

Hoppus and Linkin Park share a long‑standing friendship. Blink‑182 had been slated to perform two special “Welcome To Blinkin Park” shows with the band in 2017, but those dates were cancelled after Bennington’s passing.

Blink‑182 later took the stage at Linkin Park’s Hollywood Bowl tribute concert that October, playing “I Miss You” before joining Shinoda, Delson, and Hahn for “What I’ve Done’.”

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