Linkin Park Japan Shows Officially Canceled

Following the death of vocalist Chester Bennington on July 20, it was expected that Linkin Park‘s Japan tour, scheduled for Nov. 2, 4 and 5 in a suburb of Tokyo, would be canceled. The promoter has just made it official. 

John Davisson – Chester Bennington of Linkin Park
Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.

However, the shows continued to be publicized on local promoter H.I.P.’s website.

The company finally announced on Oct. 4 that the shows would, in fact, be canceled, and posted the band’s message in English and Japanese to their Japanese fans as well as to the scheduled opening act, “our brothers in One OK Rock.”

The message read, in part: “We have been looking forward to being with all of you, but unfortunately cannot play our previously scheduled performances in Tokyo.

“Until now, we have not communicated about our November shows because we sincerely wished to play, even in the wake of Chester’s passing. We are working each day to grieve, heal, and work towards stepping on stage together without our dear friend.”

The band’s last shows before Bennington’s unexpected passing were in England, at The O2 London and Barclaycard Arena in July. The band had been on the European festival circuit before that.