Linkin Park reinvented themselves after the loss of Chester Bennington , with a new lineup and the album From Zero .
In a recent interview on the Broken Record , Mike Shinoda shared details about the difficulties and reinvention process the band faced after the death of vocalist Chester Bennington , who committed suicide in 2017. Shinoda highlighted that, despite the challenges, the band decided to continue and not end its journey, stating that the band's end would represent a "horrible story" [transcription via Blabbermouth ].
“If we had just stopped and said, ‘Okay, that was a good phase,’ that would have been a terrible way for the band to end,” commented Shinoda, reinforcing the importance of rising above the tragedy. He further added that the risk of things going wrong was great, but continuing and moving forward was the most challenging choice, both for the band members and their fans.
The band's new phase featured the arrival of Emily Armstrong , co-founder of Dead Sara , who took over as lead vocalist. Shinoda acknowledged the criticism from older fans, but also stressed that the change could attract new listeners. "The metal fan who loved the first albums will hate the new phase. But they will be replaced by a new generation that can identify with the band's music," he stated.
The relationship between the members is characterized by a high level of emotional intelligence
When asked about the possibility of group therapy to deal with internal tensions, Shinoda explained that, although the band has faced emotional challenges, the biggest obstacle was not a lack of understanding, but rather the need to maintain mutual respect and gratitude. He highlighted the importance of taking care not to harm bandmates, emphasizing that the relationship between the members is marked by a high level of emotional intelligence.
Besides Shinoda and Armstrong, the current Linkin Park lineup includes musicians Dave “Phoenix” Farrell (bass), Brad Delson (guitar), Joe Hahn (DJ), and Colin Brittain (drums). In 2024, the band released their most recent album, From Zero , after seven years without releasing new material. The album was well-received by critics, with the single “The Emptiness Machine” reaching the top of the charts. The band also became the only rock band in 2024 to surpass two billion streams and is currently on a world tour.
Although Delson contributed to the album, he did not participate in the tour, with the live guitarist position being filled by Alex Feder.
Linkin Park returns to Brazil in November.
The band returns to Brazil in November, exactly one year after their last visit to the country, with the From Zero World Tour 2025 .
The band will be performing in stadiums in the cities of São Paulo, Brasília, and Curitiba. Tickets for some sections are still available for purchase on the Ticketmaster .
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