Keeping our reunion a secret was challenging, says US rock band Linkin Park

SINGAPORE – While there were some whispers, American rock band Linkin Park’s recent reunion announcement with new members, a new tour and a new album took many by surprise.

Keeping it a secret was not easy, they say in a virtual press conference from South Korea for Asian media held on Sept 27.

From Zero, the group’s first album in seven years, will be released on Nov 15. And the global tour to support their new material includes a stop in Incheon, South Korea, on Sept 28.

Original member and guitarist Brad Delson, who is not performing on the tour, joined the presser remotely from the United States.

“Keeping it under wraps was really hard,” singer, rapper, guitarist and co-founder Mike Shinoda, 47, says of Linkin Park’s reunion. “It was almost a miracle that it all stayed secret.”

Delson, 46, is thankful that all the people who had worked with the band were tight-lipped “for months”.

He says: “It was outrageously unrealistic that we were able to keep the thing a secret. And I think everyone was super respectful in keeping it with us.”

The band announced through a live-streamed concert on Sept 5

that they were back after a seven-year hiatus.

But controversy swiftly surrounded the recruiting of American singer Emily Armstrong, 38, to replace original vocalist Chester Bennington, who

took his life at the age of 41 in 2017.

Critics – including Bennington’s son and mother – slammed the reunion, as well as Armstrong’s alleged ties to Scientology and previous support for American actor and convicted rapist Danny Masterson.

Due to time constraints, only pre-selected questions from the media were asked during the press conference, which lasted around 45 minutes. The Straits Times sent in a question about how the band have been affected by the polarising reactions to their comeback, but it was not picked.

Shinoda says the return of Linkin Park was a gradual process, and was not a planned decision.

“We were setting up sessions and setting up times to meet up, but it wasn’t like, ‘Hey, let’s bring Linkin Park back’. It was kind of like, ‘Let’s make music we like’ – which is, in my opinion, the best way.”

Armstrong, who previously performed with alternative rock band Dead Sara and has been active in the music scene since 2005, says that being in Linkin Park is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a blessing.

She also acknowledges the “learning curve” that comes with the territory.

“For me, the integrity that they have as a band and what it means for the fans, and being a part of something that’s so massive, is just something that I’m learning too.

“I’ve been in music a very long time, so this is a change for me in the best way possible, and getting to play music with them just felt so easy and so fun.”

The other returning original members are DJ and turntablist Joe Hahn, and bassist Dave Farrell, both of whom are in their 40s.

The reunited line-up includes another new member, Colin Brittain, 37, who replaces previous drummer Rob Bourdon.

“These people have been hugely influential in my life, both creatively and personally,” Brittain says of the rest of the band. He adds that he has known the members of Linkin Park for many years, and that he and Armstrong have been performing for two decades.

“So it’s sort of like a continuation of a career, not like we just randomly stepped into (the band). We’ve each put a lot of time into our careers, in addition to these guys having their long career.”

Hahn adds that Linkin Park have been focused on revisiting their old dynamics as well as creating new music.

He says: “We did a lot of experimenting, writing a lot of different types of music that wasn’t even necessarily like Linkin Park stuff. But I think when the combination became complete with Colin and Emily, things just started fitting, and we’re able to draw back into some old things and some new things.”

To date, the band have released two singles off From Zero: The Emptiness Machine on Sept 5 and Heavy Is The Crown on Sept 24.

Shinoda describes the album as having elements of different Linkin Park eras. “There’s a lot of energy and big, guitar-driven songs. There are some melodic songs. There’s a lot of variety.”

Formed in 1996 by Shinoda, Bourdon and Delson, the Grammy-winning Californian outfit went on to become one of the most successful rock bands of the last two decades.

Their hit albums include Hybrid Theory (2000) and Meteora (2003), and they have sold, in total, over 100 million records worldwide.

Farrell says that as a musician, he adapts to what is current in the music landscape. But the priority has always been to make new music that the band are personally excited about.

“If it makes the hairs on our arms stand up, if we’re able to get excited about the music or be passionate about what’s going on, then I think that’s a good indication that other people might be able to get on board as well.”