David Michael Farrell

Early Life

David Michael Farrell, known by his stage name Phoenix, was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and moved to Mission Viejo, California, at the age of five. His musical journey began in high school, where he learned to play guitar from his mother and also played the violin. After graduating from high school, he attended UCLA, where he became roommates with future Linkin Park bandmate Brad Delson, ultimately earning a degree in philosophy.

Career

Farrell's music career took off when he joined a Christian ska punk band called Tasty Snax during high school, which later rebranded as The Snax. Transitioning from electric guitar to bass, he recorded two studio albums with the band before leaving in 2000. Shortly after, he joined Xero, the precursor to Linkin Park, contributing to their early demo tape in 1997. After a brief hiatus to tour with Tasty Snax, he returned to Linkin Park in 2000, serving as the bassist for six of their seven studio albums. Notably, he played violin and cello on the 2002 remix of "Crawling" and was involved in the band's business operations alongside Delson and Rob Bourdon.

Following the tragic death of lead singer Chester Bennington in 2017, Linkin Park went on hiatus, during which Farrell chose to remain silent at the memorial service, feeling unable to articulate his grief. After a seven-year break, the band announced a new album, signaling their return to the music scene.

Personal Life

Outside of music, Farrell has expressed a diverse range of political views, aligning with both Democratic and Republican perspectives. He is an avid golfer and a fan of soccer, supporting the LA Galaxy. Additionally, he hosts a podcast with his best friend, professional golfer Brendan Steele, and Mark Fiore, Linkin Park's videographer, showcasing his multifaceted interests beyond music.