Linkin Park announce new co-vocalist for world tour seven years after death of Chester Bennington

Linkin Park have announced they're reforming with a new singer seven years after the death of Chester Bennington.

The nu metal band had been on a hiatus ever since Bennington died by suicide back in 2017, aged just 41.

In the years following his death it seemed like there would be very little chance of the band continuing their work, with co-vocalist and guitarist Mike Shinoda saying in 2022 that Linkin Park had no plans to tour of create a new album.

Chester Bennington passed away in 2017, aged 41 (Chiaki Nozu/WireImage)

However, this would change when the band shared a mysterious 100-hour countdown on their website last week, sparking rumours and excitement among fans worldwide.

For a moment it seemed like the countdown wouldn't end up going anywhere, with the timer going back up after it reached zero, until the announcement of a live event which asked fans to sign wavier beforehand.

The event would turn out to be a huge one for Linkin Park fans, as the band unveiled Dead Sara lead singer Emily Armstrong as their new co-vocalist as well as confirming new album From Zero and a world tour.

Songwriter and producer Colin Brittain will also join the band as their new drummer.

From Zero will be the first release since 2017's critically panned album One More Light, which came out two months before Bennington's death.

Meanwhile the six-date tour will see Linkin Park visit the cities of Los Angeles, New York, Hamburg, London, Seoul and Bogota.

Tickets for the tour will go on general sale from tomorrow (7 September) on the band's official website.

A livestream from the event included the release of the album's lead single 'The Emptiness Machine'.

The band have now announced a new album and world tour with Emily Armstrong as co-vocalist (Linkin Park)

Fans were of both emotional and delighted by the announcement, with many praising Armstrong's vocal talent.

"Emily Armstrong is actually a pretty great choice as a new vocalist for Linkin Park. I was a bit skeptical on Linkin Park adding a female vocalist but she sounds splendid live," one person wrote on X. "Sounds close enough to Chester but different enough that it is not a shameless ripoff."

"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," a second person added. "She is incredible!"

A third commented: "Overtime people are gonna come to realise that Emily is not taking over from Chester, she & the band are continuing the legacy. you’re just unnecessarily mad from nostalgia."

Fans watching along on the YouTube live-stream also shared the same views, with one fan commenting: "Nobody will ever replace Chester. Everyone knows that, but Emily really did give these songs the service they deserved. They all looked happy up there. Can't wait to see what's next."

From Zero will be released on 15 November, speaking about the album in a press release, Shinoda 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.

"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.”

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