Linkin Park refuse to play one song live after Chester Bennington’s death

Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.

Linkin Park say they will never play a certain song live after Chester Bennington’s death.

The American alt rock and nu metal band, formed in 1996, departed for a lengthy seven year hiatus following the tragic passing of its frontman in 2017.

Bennington joined the band in 1999 and died by suicide at the age of 41 in his home in California, having struggled with addiction and his mental health for years.

Grieving, the band decided to cancel the rest of their 'One More Light World Tour' and take a break, up until September last year when Linkin Park reformed with the additions of the new lead singer, Emily Armstrong, and drummer, Colin Brittain.

The band reformed last year (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)

Now, the group have dropped a new album, 'From Zero', and are currently in the midst of their world tour.

However, co-founder and co-lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and producer, Mike Shinoda, has revealed a handful of songs have been axed from the setlist - and for a heartbreaking reason.

Speaking to The Guardian, Shinoda said the title track from their seventh album, 'One More Light', would never be played live as this was their last created with Bennington who died two months after the album dropped.

He said he would 'feel weird playing' the track, revealing that it was written 'for a woman at the label that we worked with who passed away'.

"Then after Chester passed, the world decided that it was about him. And so that’s just too sad to play."

The late frontman Chester Bennington died by suicide in 2017 (Francesco Castaldo/Archivio Francesco Castaldo/Mondadori via Getty Images)

Shinoda also turned to create his solo album, 'Post Traumatic', after the loss of his buddy, which he told the outlet was a way to process his grief and present 'a diary of how I felt for myself'.

However, he also said he released it to 'provide an area for fans to commune and go: 'Oh, Mike is still here. We didn't lose everybody.'

The revelation comes as Linkin Park's eighth album, 'From Zero' shot to number one in 13 countries last November. Its title pays homage to the band's original roots, their initial name Xero, while ushering in the new chapter with 39-year-old Armstrong at the helm.

Mike Shinoda (Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images)

Reflecting on the tour, which recently included their biggest headline gig at Wembley Stadium in London, UK, Shinoda said: "This tour and this album are one of our most successful of all time. That, for me, is insane.

"That is way beyond my hopes and dreams for what this whole thing could be.”

Armstrong added: "There’s so many fans that have been wanting to see Linkin Park for so long, you know?"

There was a mixed reaction when the former singer of rock band Dead Sara joined the band too, as Shinoda said people 'lashed out' at her 'because she wasn't a guy'.

The band had some flack when they announced Armstong as their new vocalist (Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images)

Though the criticism has since died down, he said he thought some fans were just 'used to Linkin Park being six guys and the voice of a guy leading this song'.

"They were just so uncomfortable with what it was that they chose a ton of things to complain about."