Mark Hoppus Recorded Vocals for Linkin Park, So What Happened to Them?

Mark Hoppus recorded vocals with Linkin Park during the sessions that eventually became From Zero. There was just one problem: none of them ended up on the album.

The Blink-182 bassist finally got the chance to ask Mike Shinoda what happened after moderating a Q&A with Linkin Park at the Los Angeles premiere of their new documentary, Unshatter, on September 24th.

Hoppus didn’t exactly ease into it (per NME).

“What the f***? I’m not on the record. What the f*** happened with my vocal takes?”

He then wondered, jokingly, whether his repeated use of “God dammit” during the session might have killed his chances.

Shinoda had a better explanation.

“You were greater than the song.”

The exchange got a laugh from the band, with Hoppus and Shinoda also leaving open the possibility of actually releasing something together down the line.

Goosebumps, you can’t fake | UNSHATTER

Hoppus’ studio visit is captured in Unshatter, which documents Linkin Park’s gradual return and the making of From Zero. In a clip already released from the film, Hoppus hears “Unshatter” for the first time while sitting alongside Shinoda.

His response is immediate.

“F***ing hell, Mike,” he says, before asking whether Emily Armstrong’s voice is “made of f***ing steel”.

Hoppus then holds out his arm to show the goosebumps the song has given him.

“I was moved by that,” Shinoda says in the film. “Goosebumps, you can’t fake.”

There is plenty of history behind Hoppus being in the room in the first place.

Blink-182 and Linkin Park were due to play two ‘Welcome To Blinkin Park’ shows together in 2017 before both dates were cancelled following Chester Bennington’s death. Blink later appeared at Linkin Park’s Hollywood Bowl tribute concert that October, performing “I Miss You” before joining members of Linkin Park for “What I’ve Done”.

Directed by Joe Hahn and Mark Ritchie, Unshatter follows Linkin Park from private studio sessions in 2022 through the arrival of Armstrong and Colin Brittain, the recording of From Zero and the band’s public return in 2024.

The film begins its limited global cinema run on September 30th.

As for those lost Hoppus vocals? For now, they’re staying in the vault.