Linkin Park announce new singer, new album & tour, release new song

Earlier this year, Billboard reported that Linkin Park were considering regrouping for a tour with a female vocalist in place of the late Chester Bennington, who took his own life in 2017. A couple of weeks ago, they launched a countdown clock that was set to end on August 28, and when it ended, it just started counting back up again. The next day, the band confirmed that news would finally be revealed on September 5, which is today, and this time they’ve made an announcement for real.

Linkin Park’s surviving members Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix, and Joe Hahn will reunite the band with Emily Armstrong of the LA alternative/hard rock band Dead Sara on lead vocals, plus new drummer Colin Brittain (who’s done production/co-writing for A Day To Remember, Papa Roach, All Time Low, and others) replacing co-founding drummer Rob Bourdon. The new lineup has announced a new album, FROM ZERO, due November 15 via Warner (pre-order), as well as tour dates happening in NYC, LA, London, Hamburg, and Seoul this month, followed by a show in Bogota this November. A fan club pre-sale starts Friday (9/6) and the general public on-sale begins Saturday (9/7).

The US shows happen on September 11 at Kia Forum in LA and September 16 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. All dates are listed below.

Along with the announcement, Linkin Park’s new lineup has released its first single, “The Emptiness Machine.” Mike Shinoda says:

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.

The more we worked with Emily and Colin, the more we enjoyed their world-class talents, their company, and the things we created. We feel really empowered with this new lineup and the vibrant and energized new music we’ve made together. We’re weaving together the sonic touchpoints we’ve been known for and still exploring new ones.

Mike Shinoda also spoke to Billboard about drummer Rob Bourdon not taking part in the new album and tour:

Rob had said to us at a point, I guess it was a few years ago now, that he wanted to put some distance between himself and the band. And we understood that — it was already apparent. He was starting to just show up less, be in less contact, and I know the fans noticed it too. The Hybrid Theory rerelease and Papercuts release, he didn’t show up for anything. So for me, as a friend, that was sad, but at the same time, I want him to do whatever makes him happy, and obviously everybody wishes him the best.

I had done sessions with Colin — I met him around 2021, when I got an invite to a session with a couple of different writers, and Colin was one of the guys in the room, and I immediately clicked with him. He’s playing drums in the live show, and drums are his first instrument, but he plays guitar and bass and keyboard, and he produces and mixes. We have a similar way of looking at music, of starting from scratch, and I really enjoyed working with him and bouncing ideas back-and-forth. I don’t know if any of these songs are going to be released, but we had done something with grandson, Bea Miller, Sueco — just getting in the room together to make stuff. And then when Linkin Park started making stuff, for whatever we were going to do, it was just like, “Oh, Colin. We’re making stuff. You should come over.”

Listen to the new song below and stay tuned for the video premiering today at 7 PM ET. They also have a livestream performance happening right now and available for only 24 hours. Watch below.

Tomorrow, the band will discuss the new album and their future on Apple Music with Zane Lowe.

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Tracklist
From Zero (Intro)
The Emptiness Machine
Cut The Bridge
Heavy Is The Crown
Over Each Other
Casualty
Overflow
Two Faced
Stained
IGYEIH
Good Things Go

Linkin Park — 2024 Tour Dates
September 11, 2024 | Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
September 16, 2024 | Barclays Center – New York, NY
September 22, 2024 | Barclays Arena – Hamburg, Germany
September 24, 2024 | The O2 – London, UK
September 28, 2024 | INSPIRE Arena – Seoul, South Korea
November 11, 2024 | Coliseo Medplus – Bogota, Colombia