Linkin Park announces new singer taking on Chester Bennington's baton
Linkin Park has announced the new co-vocalist joining the band following former lead singer Chester Bennington's death.
On Thursday (September 5) during a live performance event, the group announced that Emily Armstrong of the band Dead Sara will be their new vocalist.
Colin Brittain, a songwriter and producer for G Flip, Illenium, and One OK Rock, will also be joining Linkin Park as a drummer.
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The big announcement came with the release of a new single, 'The Emptiness Machine', which is the first new music Linkin Park has released in seven years. The track also serves as the lead single for the bands's upcoming album, From Zero, which is slated to release on November 15.
This marks Linkin Park's first full-length project since 2017 following Bennington's death. He was found dead at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California in July 2017.
The group proceeded to go on hiatus, but on August 24, 2024 they updated their website with a mysterious countdown that has presumably led us to today's news.
The rock band will also be going on a world tour.
On their comeback and new era, Linkin Park's co-founder and co-lead vocalist Mike Shinoda said in a statement: "Before Linkin Park, our first band name was Xero. This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we’re currently undertaking.
"Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future - embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our friends, our family, and our fans.
"We are proud of what Linkin Park has become over the years, and excited about the journey ahead."
Fans online seem to be having mixed reactions over the news, but quite a few have defended Linkin Park's decision to have Armstrong join the group.
One user on Twitter wrote: "Emily Armstrong is actually a pretty great choice as a new vocalist for Linkin Park. I was a bit skeptical on Linkin Park adding a female vocalist but she sounds splendid live. Sounds close enough to Chester but different enough that it is not a shameless ripoff."
Another added: "People hated Adam Lambert when he first played with Queen; the exact same is gonna happen with Linkin Park. Overtime people are gonna come to realize that Emily is not taking over from Chester, she & the band are continuing the legacy. You're just unnecessarily mad from nostalgia."
Linkin Park is slated to kick off their world tour on September 11 in Los Angeles before heading to NYC, Germany, the UK, South Korea and Colombia.
General sale tickets will go live on September 7 on the band's official website.
Yasmeen Hamadeh