Dave 'PHOENIX' Farrell Breaks Silence on CHESTER BENNINGTON’s Death: 'Is It Even Called LINKIN PARK Anymore?'

Summary

• Dave ‘Phoenix’ Farrell opens up about the band’s grief after Chester Bennington’s death and questions whether it’s still Linkin Park.
• From Zero, the band’s first album since 2017, introduces co-vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain.
• Farrell says the loss ‘doesn’t leave you’ but the band found a way to move forward, one step at a time.

Linkin Park bassist Dave “Phoenix” Farrell opened up about the band’s long road back to music after the loss of lead singer Chester Bennington.

In a new interview with Czech station Evropa 2 (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET), Farrell shared how deeply the tragedy affected the band and why it took years to even consider making music again.

Chester died by suicide in 2017. Since then, Linkin Park had been on hold, with no new releases and no clear future. According to Farrell, the loss hit so hard that the band couldn’t imagine continuing.

“The most tragic thing for sure was losing Chester,” Farrell said. “There’s nothing that would even come close. It took us years to even get back in a room and ask, do we want to try writing again? Do we want to be a band? Do we want to make music together? Is it even called Linkin Park anymore?”

Farrell said he needed time away. After Bennington’s death, he focused on family and stepped away from everything else.

“My brain shut off to all of that,” he said. “A bomb had just gone off. I needed to recover and figure things out.”

He also spoke about how grief changes over time. It doesn’t disappear, he explained, but it can shift.

“Time doesn’t heal the wound,” Farrell said. “It gives you a new way to look at things. You find a way to move. You ask, what is tomorrow? What are you going to do? You take it one step at a time.”

Linkin Park recently returned with a new album, From Zero, released in 2024. The record features new co-vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain.

The first single, The Emptiness Machine, marked a new beginning for the group. Farrell described the song as a kind of introduction to Armstrong, who joins Mike Shinoda on vocals.

“Mike starts the song. Then Emily comes in. It felt like the perfect way to bring her in,” Farrell said. “Like saying, ‘Have you met my friend Emily?’”

The band is currently touring across North and South America and Europe in support of the new album. It’s their first tour since 2017. Get Linkin Park Tickets Here.

Original drummer Rob Bourdon and guitarist Brad Delson have not joined the current tour. Delson contributed to the album, while Bourdon has stepped away from the group.

Despite lineup changes and time away, Farrell says Linkin Park is moving forward carefully, but with purpose.

“It stays with you,” he said of the loss. “But you figure out how to take a step.”

About Chester Bennington

Chester Bennington was the longtime lead vocalist of Linkin Park, known for his vocal range and emotionally charged performances. He joined the band in 1999 and played a major role in shaping its sound, blending elements of rock, metal, and hip-hop.

Linkin Park’s debut album, Hybrid Theory (2000), became a global success and remains one of the best-selling rock records of the 21st century. Bennington’s voice helped define hits like In the End, Numb, and Crawling, earning him widespread recognition in both mainstream and alternative music scenes.

Beyond Linkin Park, he was also the frontman for Dead by Sunrise and briefly sang with Stone Temple Pilots. Bennington was open about his struggles with mental health, which he addressed through both his music and interviews.

He died by suicide in July 2017 at the age of 41. His death deeply affected fans and the music industry, and led to an extended hiatus for Linkin Park.

Got a tip for us? Email: [email protected]