Music in 2024 has been a rocky road with new albums releasing, groups disbanding, fights breaking out on stage, and groups reforming, as well as older groups from the 70s! But the biggest news of 2024 is how Linkin Park has reformed. Let’s take a deeper dive into the ins and outs of the days leading up to their reformation, the controversy, and their new music.
2017:
The year is 2017, and Linkin Park just released their newest album, One More Light. They had previously shifted to a more pop tone from the heavier tone of Hybrid Theory and Meteora, and although they released pop albums before that, people still criticized them and bullied Chester Bennington, the lead singer. All this, mixed with depression from a friend’s passing, didn’t make things better. This resulted in Chester Bennington’s passing. His mental and physical health declined so quickly that it couldn’t be helped. He touched so many peoples’ hearts, and he was many people’s happy place. The public mourned for the loss of him, and the band stopped touring. Until 2024, that is.
DAYS LEADING UP TO REFORMATION:
A day which will be marked in music history is when all official Linkin Park platforms called for people to go to their website. If you were lucky enough to be able to go and see this event, you would notice that there was a 90-hour-long timer on their website counting down to zero. Whether feeling excited or concerned, everyone was waiting for the moment. However, as the clock reached 0, it started to count up again From Zero. Upon seeing this, people started to get angry at Linkin Park, calling Mike Shinoda a fool, or a jokester. Nevertheless, it was a teaser, as it announced their new album titled From Zero, which as of writing this, comes out in two days. People in Linkin Park Underground then got a private message from Linkin Park of what had appeared to be a concert, which later would be true.
THE DAY OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT
One thing I will remember for a long time was bringing my friends over on that day, waiting for a livestream to start. This livestream was on the official Linkin Park YouTube channel; this livestream was called the “From Zero” livestream, and aired from the same venue that the LPU had been escorted to by bus from a parking garage for reasons of secrecy. I remember watching and seeing Mike Shinoda (the rapper), Phoenix (the bassist), and Mr. Hahn (the DJ) get on stage, and two other unknown members, who had replaced Collin (the drummer) and Brad (the guitarist). They played a song that no one had recognized; a song later to become the biggest hit since “Faint” or “Crawling”. They then proceeded to bring the new singer, Emily Armstrong, on stage.
EMILY ARMSTRONG BACKGROUND:
And this is where the controversy starts. Emily Armstrong was born in 1986 in Los Angeles to two prominent members of the Church of Scientology, which is where the controversy begins. I won’t delve into that, but if you are curious, you can research it on your own. Armstrong began to fiddle around with music when she was 11. She even dropped out of high school to make it big. Another thing from her past that people criticized is the fact that she attended a trial for a certain scientologist. HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT IN SUPPORT. She later clarified that her friend pleaded with her to join her, and shortly after, realized that it was a mistake and has not talked to said friend since.
RETURN TO THE LA SHOW:
Linkin Park had a striking setlist, although the vocals were shaky. The band hadn’t toured since 2017, and Emily had first concert nerves, but the concert was still very good. Some would say differently as they don’t like the idea of a female vocalist, or they thought the voice didn’t fit. Many wanted Mike to change the name or form a separate band to respect the late Chester Bennington (original vocalist). I personally didn’t know Chester, but I’m almost certain that he would have wanted the band to continue and would appreciate their new singer.
THE AFTERMATH:
The aftermath of the concert left people to think and dwell on social media. A division among Linkin Park fans erupted and people argued a lot about what to think. After the concert, they released a single from their new album with a “Minutes to Midnight” esq. Sound. They named it, “The Emptiness Machine.” Later, they released another single with a “Meteora” sound titled, “Heavy is the Crown”. They also then released a “Living Things” sounding song named “Over Each Other”. They continue to tour and will plan on touring all next year. Personally, many may look at this new singer in disgust, and hopelessness, but I see it as a new beginning. Chester would have wanted the band to move on. Let’s allow them to have their freedom; let Chester rest.
SOURCES:
