Linkin Park co-vocalist and producer Mike Shinoda expressed his admiration for the band’s new singer, Emily Armstrong, saying she has “done such a great job” stepping into the massive role left behind by the late Chester Bennington.
More than seven years after Bennington’s tragic death in 2017, Linkin Park is entering a bold new chapter. Last September, the band unveiled its updated lineup during a livestream performance, introducing fans to Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain. They joined core members Shinoda, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, and DJ/visual artist Joe Hahn. Notably, guitarist Alex Feder has been filling in for Delson at all live shows.
In a candid conversation with Baltimore’s 98 Rock radio station, Shinoda opened up about how Armstrong came into the fold and how the band’s slow evolution led to their current resurgence.
“I think I met Em in 2019,” Shinoda recalled. “We did a writing session just to kind of… I was just curious about who she was and what she did, and I was so impressed. And at the time, our band wasn’t really ready to like do anything. Everybody was still just kind of… We’d do a session or we’d hang out and we wouldn’t talk for a while and we’d come back, we wouldn’t talk… And so we just weren’t ready, I think.”
That uncertainty eventually gave way to momentum. By 2022, the writing sessions became more consistent. “It was, like, it started. Something happened,” Shinoda said. “I don’t know what it was, but everybody was just ready to go.”
Talking about how Linkin Park‘s comeback album From Zero came together, Mike shared: “The album came together as the band came together. I don’t think you’ve ever — unless it’s a debut album by somebody, you would never have a situation where a band gets made while an album gets made. So it’s almost like a new band, a new start, a first album. But luckily, we’re also a new band that has 25 years of catalog people wanna see on stage and in concert.”
When asked about performing LINKIN PARK‘s new music alongside their classic songs with the current band members, Shinoda stated: “Emily has had the insane challenge of figuring out the way to sing these songs and how to present ’em with us. And she’s put in so much work. She’s done such a great job. I think the reason it all works is because the talent part is not — that’s the lowest bar to clear. The higher bars to clear, the more unusual or difficult or hard-to-find things are more, like, ‘Do we have similar goals? Do we get along on a day-to-day basis? Can we ride in a bus together in a van and on a flight and not kill each other?’ And it’s the furthest thing from that right now. We are just really enjoying it. Every show has been the best. She’s doing a great job. We actually also have a new drummer, Colin. And their energy — they’re a little younger than us, too, so they have that younger energy and it keeps our energy high. And the shows have been going great. I can’t wait for you guys to see it.”
Linkin Park‘s extensive tour includes dates across North America, Europe, and South America.
Rest of their announced dates are as follows:
May 06, 2025 – Raleigh, NC – Lenovo Center (feat. grandson)
May 08, 2025 – Greenville, SC – Bon Scours Wellness Arena (feat. grandson)
May 10, 2025 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival
May 17, 2025 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville
June 12, 2025 – Nickelsdorf, AUT – Nova Rock Festival
June 14, 2025 – Hradec Kralove, CZE – Rock For People Festival
June 16, 2025 – Hannover, GER – Heinz-Von-Heiden Arena (feat. Architects)
June 18, 2025 – Berlin, GER – Olympiastadion (feat. Architects)
June 20, 2025 – Bern, SWI – Bernexpo
June 22, 2025 – Clisson, FRA – Hellfest Open Air
June 24, 2025 – Milan, ITA – I-Days Festival
June 26, 2025 – Arnhem, NET – Gelredome (feat. Spiritbox)
June 28, 2025 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium (feat. Spiritbox & JPEGMAFIA)
July 01, 2025 – Dusseldorf, GER – Merkuer Spiel Arena (feat. Architects & JPEGMAFIA)
July 03, 2025 – Werchter, BEL – Rock Werchter Festival
July 05, 2025 – Gdynia, POL – Open’er Festival
July 08, 2025 – Frankfurt, GER – Deutsche Bank Park (feat. Architects & JPEGMAFIA)
July 09, 2025 – Frankfurt, GER – Deutsche Bank Park (feat. Architects & JPEGMAFIA)
July 11, 2025 – Paris, FRA – Stade de France
July 29, 2025 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center (feat. Pvris)
August 01, 2025 – Boston, MA – TD Garden (feat. Pvris)
August 03, 2025 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center (feat. Pvris)
August 06, 2025 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre (feat. Pvris)
August 08, 2025 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Centre (feat. Pvris)
August 11, 2025 – Chicago, IL – United Center (feat. Pvris)
August 14, 2025 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena (feat. Pvris)
August 16, 2025 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center (feat. Jean Dawson)
August 19, 2025 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena (feat. Jean Dawson)
August 21, 2025 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena (feat. Jean Dawson)
August 23, 2025 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center (feat. Jean Dawson)
August 25, 2025 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum (feat. Jean Dawson)
August 27, 2025 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center (feat. Jean Dawson)
August 29, 2025 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center (feat. Jean Dawson)
August 31, 2025 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center (feat. Jean Dawson)
September 03, 2025 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena (feat. Jean Dawson)
September 06, 2025 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center (feat. Jean Dawson)
September 10, 2025 – Portland, OR – Moda Center (feat. JPEGMAFIA)
September 13, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome (feat. JPEGMAFIA)
September 15, 2025 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center (feat. JPEGMAFIA)
September 17, 2025 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center (feat. JPEGMAFIA)
September 21, 2025 – Vancouver, NC – Rogers Arena (feat. JPEGMAFIA)
September 24, 2025 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena (feat. JPEGMAFIA)
October 25, 2025 – Bogota, COL – Distrito Verde
October 28, 2025 – Lima, PER – Estadio San Marcos
October 31, 2025 – Buenos Aires, ARG – Parque de la Ciudad
November 02, 2025 – Santiago, CHL – Estadio Nacional
November 05, 2025 – Curitiba, BRA – Estadio Couto Pereira
November 10, 2025 – São Paulo, BRA – Estadio Morumbis
November 13, 2025 – Brasilia, BRA – Estadio Mane Garrincha
Writer and extreme metal devotee, Ialdagorth has spent over a decade covering the darkest corners of heavy music. A black metal lifer, he spends his free time wandering the Carpathian Mountains, likely humming blast beats to the trees.
