Linkin Park Unveils New Lineup, Music, Tour In Blistering Livestreamed Concert Event

Linkin Park hasn’t been heard from much in seven years since pushing pause on its career following the death of beloved singer Chester Bennington. That all changed Sept. 5 when the band bussed fans into a Los Angeles soundstage and made a livestreamed “announcement” of a new lineup, album and tour in the form of an hourlong concert that left no doubt that Linkin Park is back.

Guitarist and vocalist Mike Shinoda introduced two new members – singer Emily Armstrong (formerly of Dead Sara) and drummer/producer Colin Brittain (G Flip, Illenium, One OK Rock) – both of whom quickly established themselves as worthy of carrying on the Linkin Park oeuvre, despite the massive shoes that Bennington left behind to fill when he died by reported suicide July 27, 2017. 

In addition to the new members, the band announced its new album, From Zero (an homage to its original name of Xero), and a six-date global tour that will begin Sept. 11 – less than a week from the announcement – at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. Additional shows are to take place in New York City; Hamburg, Germany; London; Seoul, South Korea; and Bogota, Colombia. Though no further details were disclosed, a major 2025 tour including festival headlining appearances is reported to be forthcoming.

Members of the Linkin Park Underground fan club may register at the band’s website now for presales that begin Friday: LPU Legacy presale begins at 10 a.m. local time and LPU Passport Plus level begins at noon. Public onsale begins Saturday Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. local time. 

Armstrong, Brittain and Shinoda were joined by the rest of the classic Linkin Park lineup of Brad Delson, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell and Joe Hahn to perform “The Emptiness Machine,” the band’s first track to be released in seven years, as well as blistering renditions of many of its classics in its 13-song setlist, which will be available on YouTube for 24 hours.

In the meantime, the band’s media team was executing a blitz: The band’s website was updated, social media accounts blasting the livestream location and links to the new single and video, and press releases came flying out of the chute at 3 p.m. PT, as everything simultaneously went live. 

It’s a reformation a long time in coming. Shinoda, Delson, Farrell, and Hahn quietly began meeting up again in recent years, but “Rather than ‘trying to restart the band,’ their instinct was to simply spend more time together, and reconnect with the creativity and camaraderie that has been at the core of their friendship since college,” according to a statement from Live Nation, which is producing the six-date tour. 

They invited friends to join them in the studio and during this time they found a “special kinship” with Armstrong and Brittain. 

“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,” Shinoda stated. “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.”

 Shinoda elaborated, “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.”

Linkin Park last performed live at a tribute concert in honor of Bennington at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Oct. 27, 2017, which sold 16,713 tickets and grossed $1,682,220. Prior to that, the band’s last show with Bennington took place at Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, England, on July 6, 2017. That show sold 9,731 tickets and grossed $800,446.

Linkin Park is being managed by Bill Silva Management and Machine Stop Entertainment. WME’s agenting team consists of John Marx, Ron Opaleski, Kevin Shivers, Rob Markus, Josh Javor, Brian Cohen, Dvora Englefield, Claire Macleod and Jake Wilk.

FROM ZERO WORLD TOUR 2024

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