In a new chat with The Bailey Show, Jacoby Shaddix talked about Linkin Park’s return with a new female singer, Emily Armstrong.
“It’s trippy ’cause one of our producers, Colin Brittain, who I’ve been working with now for probably the last six [to] eight years, he’s playing drums 1727125453 in Linkin Park,” the singer said. “He’s tripping. He’s just, like, ‘Dude, I got an opportunity that I can’t pass up.’”
He shared his response, “I’m, like, ‘Yeah, go do that, dude. People wanna hear this [music].’ And so it’s awesome that their music can be celebrated. I know people are very polarized about this, but I look at it like when Stone Temple Pilots lost [singer] Scott Weiland.”
“Who stepped in? [Linkin Park’s late singer] Chester [Bennington]. Chester stepped in to carry that flag for rock and roll,” Shaddix added. “So it makes sense why somebody would step in in his place and in his absence to carry that flag and to bring that message to the people, because it’s a hopeful message.”
In early September, Linkin Park announced their comeback with Armstrong. They performed and released their new song ‘The Emptiness Machine’ from the album ‘From Zero.’ Some criticized the choice of Armstrong because of her ties to Scientology and her support for Danny Masterson.
Besides Shaddix, other rockers also shared their thoughts on the band’s decision. “I listened. I saw some videos. The new female singer, great! She fits the band. She sounds great and good luck to them,” Gene Simmons recently told Derek Scancarelli of Forbes.
The bassist continued, “Life is short. Go out there and live it up, enjoy it. Linkin Park got fans. They want to hear the songs and the music. Why not? There are bands that tour, Lynyrd Skynyrd, lots of bands that barely have any original members or no original members. People want to hear those songs.”
“I know the Internet is a blaze with comments of criticism and also of praise from fans all over the world,” Brent Smith also shared. “Something to think about … Do you honestly believe that the members of this ICONIC Band truly think that of all people Chester Bennington is replaceable???”
The vocalist added, “The entire world knows he will never be replaceable because he was one of a kind. But with all that being said there is an audience that miss this band, and their presence, and what they represent. So I asked you, ALL of you… Give them the opportunity to not close their chapter. Allow them to celebrate their legacy, and also the opportunity to create a new one.”
Linkin Park’s new record will come out on November 15, 2024. The group started a six-show arena tour on September 11 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood. The tour will end in Bogota, Colombia, on November 11, 2024.