Chester Bennington died of suicide by hanging, following a lifelong struggle with depression and substance abuse. At the time, he was the lead vocalist of Linkin Park, with the band having released their seventh studio album just two months prior. Bennington was 41 at the time of his death and is survived by his partner, Talinda Bentley, and his six children.
After his death, Linkin Park went on a hiatus, releasing only a greatest hits album, Papercuts, in 2021. However, Linkin Park is back after the 7-year hiatus, with Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara fame joining to fill the role of lead vocalist left empty after Chester Bennington's death.
Linkin Park embarks on post-Chester Bennington Era
With Emily Armstrong replacing the late Chester Bennington as lead vocalist and Colin Brittain replacing Rob Bourdon as the drummer and percussionist, Linkin Park is embarking on a new era. Mike Shinoda, one of the band's new founding members, elaborated on the new era. In a statement from Live Nation's announcement of Linkin Park's world tour, he said:
“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. Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future—embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life."
He continued:
"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.”
About working with Emily Armstrong and Colin, he added:
“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 is set to release its first-ever studio album since Chester Bennington died, titled From Zero. The album will be released on November 15, 2024, via Warner Records and Machine Shop. The album's first single, Empress Machine, was released on September 5, 2024.
In support of the upcoming album, Linkin Park is embarking on a world tour, whose dates and venues are given below:
- September 11, 2024 – Los Angeles, California, at Kia Forum
- September 16, 2024 – New York City, New York at Barclays Center
- September 22, 2024 – Hamburg, Germany, at Barclays Arena
- September 24, 2024 – London, UK at The O2
- September 28, 2024 – Seoul, South Korea, at Inspire Arena
- November 11, 2024 – Bogota, Columbia at Coliseo Medplus
A Brief Overview of Chester Bennington's career in Linkin Park
Chester Bennington joined Linkin Park after auditioning successfully for the lead vocalist role. The band, with Bennington as lead vocalist, released their debut studio album, Hybrid Theory, on October 24, 2000. The album is the band's most successful to date.
Bennington went on to lead the band through a successful series of albums subsequently. Meteora, the second studio album, became the band's first chart-topper.
Linkin Park started losing commercial popularity after that, with their third studio album, Minutes to Midnight, the last album to be certified as a global multi-platinum record.
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