Linkin Park announce first music and tour in 7 years with new female member

After a (somewhat baffling) countdown, Linkin Park has finally announced their return with a brand new album and a world tour.

The 90s icons have been on formal hiatus since the death of frontman Chester Bennington in 2017, with mounting expectations around when they would return.

Now, the countdown is over and Linkin Park is officially releasing new music for the first time in seven years with a new singer taking the microphone.

Speculation had been growing about who could step into Bennington’s shoes and Emily Armstrong of band Dead Sara has answered the call.

She will be co-vocalist with existing band members, with the lineup now consisting of Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix, Joe Hahn, and Colin Brittain.

Linkin Park live-streamed a concert to debut Emily, who sang hits like In The End with Mike to huge applause.

Their brand new album, From Zero, will be accompanied by a tour — with a date announced for London, in two weeks time.

That’s right Linkin Park will be playing at the O2 Arena, London on September 24, 2024.

Other tour dates include US gigs in Los Angeles and New York, as well as Hamberg, Germany and Seoul, Korea — all in September.

Then they will head to Colombia for a show on November 11, before the new album drops on November 15 (available for pre-order now).

All rather overwhelming news for fans who have been waiting almost a decade for this moment.

Linkin Park explained they had been quietly meeting up again, just trying to spend more time together rather than ‘trying to restart the band’.

Mike shared: ‘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. 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.’

Before the announcement the band had come under fire for a severely underwhelming reveal when the first countdown came to an end just after 7pm on August 28.

A post shared by the band showed the completed countdown with the caption: ‘It’s only a matter of time…LinkinPark.com.’ Fans were quick to comment with their disappointment.

‘Okay, if you teased an announcement date… but it’s actually just revealing an actual announcement date… this is the dumbest, most unfriendly to fans reveal strategy of all time,’ said Jappleby on X.

‘This is shaping out to be one of the dumbest marketing moves of all time…’ said Kovesdijr.

‘And here we go for the hundredth time,’ said mackmurdoc on Instagram.

‘Grade A trolls. All of you. You win. 😂,’ said the_alternative_disney_mama.

Fans previously thought they had cracked the secret behind the countdown when rumours of Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley joining the group emerged.

The Fat Lip singer had instructed American fans to ‘tune in’ on Wednesday morning, coincidentally around the same time the countdown ends.

Speculation became so huge that the 44-year-old singer has been forced to address it and ‘dispel’ the rumours.

On Instagram, he wrote: ‘I feel the need to dispel some current rumours. It’s been brought to my attention that many people think I could be joining a reuniting band.

‘But I just want to say, despite popular belief, I am not joining Oasis… or Linkin Park. Or any other band for that matter.

‘I have my own “tour and book” announcement that I will now move to the end of the week, ahead of our US tour. I do look forward to seeing whatever both these amazing bands do in the future.’

Linkin Park has been on hiatus since 2017 when the music world was left devastated at the news that Bennington had taken his own life aged 41.

They have performed as cameo appearances with other bands since but not released new music.

Not long ago they also released a career-spanning greatest hits album titled Papercuts (Singles Collection 2000-2023), which featured classics such as In The End, Burn It Down, and Numb.

It also included a previously unreleased track Friendly Fire, featuring Bennington’s vocals in a touching tribute.

Deryck performed as part of Linkin Park’s tribute concert, along with members of Blink-182, Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, and Bring Me the Horizon.

The Linkin Park reveal remains unknown, although the festival Welcome to Rockville did share their teasing countdown post.

This has led fans to suggest that Linkin Park could reunite during the festival in 2025 – possibly with a female vocalist.

Evanescence star Amy Lee was rumoured as a potential new lead singer, which she addressed in an interview with iHeart Radio in Canada.

The Bring Me To Life singer said: ‘That is an incredible compliment, have not heard that. No, I have not been contacted by [Linkin Park] or anything like that.

‘But [I’m a] huge fan [and] feel like our worlds, our fanbases are a lot of the same people.’

While it might not have been Amy, fans weren’t wrong about a female vocalist joining the band — hopefully, Emily can impress on the new album.

Linkin Park’s new album From Zero is available to pre-order now and tickets for the tour go on sale soon.