A new chapter begins for the iconic rock band
In 2017, the music world was shaken by the sudden death of Chester Bennington. The Linkin Park frontman died by suicide on July 20, 2017. At the time, it seemed unlikely the band would ever fully emerge from that loss. But in 2024, Linkin Park is turning the page. Emily Armstrong, formerly of the grunge band Dead Sara, has stepped in as the band’s new vocalist. Colin Brittain, a songwriter and producer known for his work with G Flip, has also joined as the band’s new drummer.
“Chester had such a specific tone and range — an incredible range. He could sing in pretty much any style you threw at him. That made the conversation about what comes next really difficult. It became clear pretty fast that we couldn’t just bring in some generic singer, because they wouldn’t be able to pull off even half of what the songs demand,” a band representative explained. Emily Armstrong, it seems, is exactly the kind of vocalist with that range.
The reformed lineup kicks off a world tour this September, with the first show set for September 11 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles — the band’s first live performance since October 2017, when their last show served as a tribute to Bennington. Alongside the tour, the band is releasing a new album. The record, pointedly titled From Zero, drops November 15. The first single, “The Emptiness Machine,” has already premiered on radio.
The upcoming world tour will include stops in Los Angeles, New York, Hamburg, London, Seoul, and Bogotá.