Linkin Park are rumoured to be reuniting for a tour in 2025, and have lined up a potential replacement for vocalist Chester Bennington.
Bennington died in 2017, aged just 41. The band has not toured since then, following an announcement of an ‘indefinite hiatus’.
The late-great Linkin Park singer died by suicide, having been outspoken in the past about his mental health struggles.
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Rumours have been flying for a while that the band would be bringing in a new vocalist, with most indicating it would be a female voice.
This has intensified however due to the band releasing a 100-hour announcement countdown.
At the time of writing, the band have placed a livestream on their YouTube channel, which also features on LinkinPark.com, set to run out in just over a day.
Taking over the role of Bennington in the band would be a heavy responsibility.
Beyond the obvious pressure of taking over from the late vocalist, his unique vocal range (which contributed to the band's genre-bending success) will be hard to replicate.
Mike Shinoda, another member of Linkin Park who would often rap on their records, spoke out following Bennington's death about the ongoing grief he felt.
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He claimed that he had even considered giving up on making music in the aftermath.
He spoke to Howard Stern saying: "For me, it just felt like too much. To get back on it and try to do some version of music and also be seen through the lens of what had happened… it was like being a member of a club that I didn’t want to join.”
The band released a song 'Lost' last year that featured the voice of Bennington.
Speaking about this song, Shinoda went on to tell Stern: "It’s like an old photo. It can be bittersweet but to have forgotten that it existed and then to hear it and be teleported back there, that’s a gift."
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When asked in the past about rumours surrounding a reunion, Shinoda told Revolver Magazine: "Rumors always go around. People always ask what’s next for the band, and the best answer I can ever give anybody is when there’s something to tell you, we will tell you.
"When there’s an announcement to be made, it will be on LinkinPark.com. If you’re hearing it from somebody else, you can trust that information as much as you want to trust it."
While we are still holding our breath, the announcement is being teased on LinkinPark.com.
Though some fans may find it bizarre to see a Linkin Park sans-Bennington, if the band are confident it's the right thing - fans will trust them and surely lose it.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
Topics: Linkin Park, Music, Mental Health
Michael Slavin