One Step Closer

About this song

"One Step Closer" was Linkin Park's debut single from Hybrid Theory, made during tense studio sessions with producer Don Gilmore, who asked for more than 75 lyric revisions. The song was originally titled "Plaster" in its demo stages and was reshaped under Gilmore's guidance toward a tighter structure and radio-friendly hooks. The single became the band's breakthrough, peaking at #4 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart and spending 17 weeks on the Hot 100, and it returned to the charts in March 2024 on Billboard's Hard Rock Streaming Songs chart.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 14 other songs, like “The Entire World by Renard”.
• Covered 10 times, including “One Step Closer by Main-de-Gloire (Ft. Eugene Zhuravlev)”.
• Written by Mr. Hahn, Brad Delson, Mike Shinoda, Chester Bennington and Rob Bourdon.
• Produced by Don Gilmore.
• Recorded at NRG Recording Studios (North Hollywood.