Linkin Park in How to Lose Fans in 10 Seconds

Words by Matthew Spence:

In case of an emergency, here’s Cherry-Tape Medical Guide: “What to do if you or someone is overdosing on culture”? Well, don’t worry, with 1 year and only 1 year of Allied Health/NA training and 15 years of being a nerd, I’m qualified enough to keep you out of the hospital, but not to work in one. For the situation, do the following:

Sit down, in case of dizziness
Get Away from All Tech
Play catch with yourself
Get Updates from the homies on what’s new
Get an adrenaline shot to the chest and drive silently home to Cat Powers or Men I Trust

Got it jotted down? Cool, cause right now, I think I may need to steal the page myself because, holy shit, the news cycle is constantly jammed-packed and overflowing with good and bad: I’m not sure if I’ll be on the ground like Jordan Belfort or Renton by the end of the month.

These days, in 2024, we need to expect the unexpected (Suga Free). “If you stay ready, you never have to get ready”), the League of Super Friends might not even know what the fuck may happen next, let alone us. Will Sonic Youth have a reunion tour with Modern Baseball? Will I ever finish a Men I Trust album without falling asleep (no shade, their music is so fucking cozy)? Will Kendrick drop again??!???! (As of writing this Sept. 11, he did drop… Jesus.) We’re the biggest losers in this bingo game. No one is getting that $100 Dunkin gift card. Case in Point: Linkin Park and their fans. Neither one expected their year to turn this way. Enter “Clusterfuck,” making an entrance James Bond style.

Reunions should be a lollapalooza and extravaganza; hell, Oasis is doing a reunion tour. At this rate, the devil has hypothermia as we speak. Anything is possible; however, regarding Linkin Park, this was a collision with the music world… and I’m not sure for better or worse. It’s been 7 years since we lost lead singer, Chester Bennington (seriously, mental health is just as important as physical), and up until now, the band has been what we assumed was disbanded. Understandable. They lost a friend to suicide as well as their lead vocalist; it’s with good reason everyone assumed the band would just let things rest and forge on with other projects.

Yet, the plot thickens like with everything in 2024 because, in a surprise return, Linkin Park is back. However, their welcome back party isn’t full of hugs and daps, more stares, and “What the fuck are you doing here?”. Polarizing and mixed feelings is an understatement. It’s like God was trying to flex his magic but overshot the mark with this miracle people wished for “wanting Linkin Park” back.

Many feel as if the band is replacing and disrespecting the fans, their late lead Chester, and shattering the legacy they’ve built over their 20-year career. Their new lineup includes a new drummer and, more notably, a new lead singer: Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara.

The immediate outrage, again, is understood. Everyone rallied up like South Park protestors. Adding to the fact, the new lead is, let’s just say, eyebrow-raising and problematic as fuck. [We’re not defending Danny Masterson over, I can say that much]. I bet this wasn’t how she expected her virtual meet-and-greet with fans would go with her new audience. It’s like the worst case: Meet the Parents. However, I’m not gonna dive into why we should be cautious of Emily; there are most likely articles on that already. Standing on the corner and eavesdropping, I couldn’t help but see a middle ground between why and why not.

This response would’ve happened no matter realistically. It could’ve been anyone, and many still would’ve felt this was a distasteful move on the part of the band. It’s like getting an unexpected stepparent. Unless you’re a Black Flag fan, you’re not used to getting new lead singers. Guitarists—maybe; drummers—yes; singers—no. The audience grew a connection with this person and his poetry, for someone to come in and try to fill those shoes with the home he built. Feels wrong to the audience whom you built it with. Sure, we can point to some bands that have changed singers post-fame.

Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Van Halen, Sublime, etc., and seemed to work in their favor. However, there’s a difference between these and Linkin Park. Sublime’s lead singer, Bradley James Nowell, who passed away in 1998, has a son, Jakob, who’s been filling in the shoes of his father’s band lately. David Gilmour studied with Syd Barrett before he took over as guitarist and vocalist. There’s a familiarity and connection with the replacements, so a lack of connection makes the new lead, feel super out of place in the eyes of the fans. It’s like when you’re partnered up with the dude in class you never really talk to for a project.

Rude and inconsiderate towards the fans and Chester…UNLESS he said otherwise before his death.

That’s one detail many have been missing regarding the new lineup ordeal. We don’t know what Chester’s wishes were; maybe he would’ve wanted the band to continue on in case something were to happen to him. We don’t know; we weren’t soaking up their convos outside and inside the studio, nor do we know what he wrote in his will or etc. Nor do I think the band is going out of their way to “replace” or try to recreate the magic they’ve made with Chester Bennington. This could be viewed as a new chapter for the band and their legacy. They’ve healed from losing a near and dear friend and wanna continue spreading the message of what they’ve started with their dear friend.

I don’t think that includes immediate misogyny (before the controversy of Scientology and Danny Masterson were revealed mind you) and bashing and harassing Chester’s son, Jamie Bennington (who has issues with the new lineup as well, understandable). I’m taking a shot in the dark, and I also guess they don’t want to rewrite and erase the history they’ve made previously with Chester. Of course, you don’t have to like the new music or the new lead… I don’t.

Will a middle ground be reached? As of now, it’s a Jubilee video waiting to happen. Who’s to say though? They’ve most definitely lost fans but are still ranking the fans for shows and support. Who knows where things will go for the band; anything can happen. Just ask the Clean.