Okay, I had to think about this one for awhile. And after several vapor hits from my volcano, I can safely say that Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park qualifies as a rock star.
Although Linkin Park formed in 1996, the band's first album was released in 2000.
The multi-instrumentalist songwriter Shinoda had previously graduated with a degree in Illustration from the prestigious Art Center of Design in Pasadena (he has designed some of the band's artwork).
A string of hit records proves that the band was no fluke. However Shinoda has some interesting side projects too, including the hip hop band Fort Minor:
Rocks me anyway...
ADG