Mike Shinoda responded to allegations at Linkin Park’s opening show. It’s “not about erasing the past.”
At the start of Linkin Park’s tour, Mike Shinoda (47) responded to the criticism that the comeback with singer Emily Armstrong (38) had triggered. “It’s not about erasing the past,” the musician emphasized at the show on September 11. At the concert in Los Angeles, he indirectly responded to the accusations made by Chester Bennington’s (1976-2017) son Jaime (28).
“We love playing for you”
The son of the late Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington addressed the musician on September 9. “You erased my father’s life and legacy in real time – and during International Suicide Prevention Month,” he wrote in a series of Instagram stories. However, that was not Shinoda’s intention.
As he said in his speech towards the end of the show, the band wanted to start a new chapter and play for the fans. He made the motivation behind the return clear when he asked who had already seen the band live. After he asked about the first-time Linkin Park concertgoers, the hall became loud. “Okay, that’s incredible. I mean, that’s one of the reasons we’re back here,” said Shinoda. “We love playing for you. We love writing this music,” he explained the reason for the comeback.
Support from fans on social media
After the band announced Armstrong as a new band member in a live concert, criticism rained down. Many people, including fans and Jaime Bennington, accused the band of supporting Scientology. They also pointed out Armstrong’s closeness to convicted sex offender Danny Masterson (48). On Instagram last week, the singer spoke of accompanying him to a court hearing a few years ago. Armstrong thought Masterson was “a friend” at the time.
Instead of further criticism, the band’s concert in Los Angeles received mostly positive feedback. “Like it if you like the new singer,” commented one person, receiving encouragement in the form of several thousand likes. “If you’re a real fan of Linkin Park, you’ll be glad they’re back,” another fan shared his support. Linkin Park are celebrating their comeback not only with a tour, but also with a new album. On “From Zero,” Armstrong can be heard for the first time on vocals and Colin Brittain (37) on drums. The nu-metal band’s eighth studio album will be released on November 15, 2024.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
