Linkin Park is back with a new lineup and world tour, seven years after the death of lead singer Chester Bennington.
The California-based rock band is one of the most successful acts of the 2000s, releasing 11 number-one singles on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
Back in 2017, it was announced that the group's main vocalist, Bennington, tragically took his own life at the age of 41.
The group released an official tribute statement at the time, which read: "Dear Chester, Our hearts are broken. The shockwaves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened."
In the years since, Linkin Park has dropped several re-releases, including 20th-anniversary editions of Hybrid Theory, Meteora and, this year, their greatest hits collection, Papercuts.
On Thursday (September 5), the band held a livestream where they announced that they had recruited two new members: singer Emily Armstrong, a member of the alt-rock band Dead Sara, and drummer Colin Brittain, who replaced Rob Bourdon.
They will be joining the returning members: Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, and Phoenix, all of whom founded the group in Agoura Hills in 1996.
“This is a very special day for us,” Shinoda said as he led introductions. “In the role of Chester Bennington, this afternoon is each of you.”
Many excited fans have taken to social media to praise the band for their new direction.
"Chester is irreplaceable but Linkin Park needs to evolve and Emily sounds f***ing great. I also love seeing more bada** women kicking a** in the rock/metal scene," one user penned.
"I don't think there can ever be a true replacement for Chester but DAYUM Emily Armstrong really is doing him justice," a second shared.
A third shared a clip of Armstong's performance and wrote: "If you can sit down, watch this, and not think Emily Armstrong is the perfect fit for the new direction Linkin Park are headed then I can only assume you are deaf. She is incredible!"
The Grammy-winning act will release a new 11-track album titled From Zero on November 15, their first since 2017’s One More Light, which came out just two months before Bennington's death.
Shinoda opened up about the group's upcoming releases and new members, sharing: “The more we worked with Emily and Colin, the more we enjoyed their world-class talents, their company, and the things we created," per AP News.
“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," he added.
The band also announced that they will perform in many cities worldwide, starting with a show at Inglewood’s Kia Forum on Sept. 11.
Other tour dates are NYC; Hamburg, Germany; London, England; Seoul, South Korea; and, Bogota, Colombia.
