MIKE SHINODA Explains Why LINKIN PARK Kept Their Name: "Changing It Would Be Stupid"
He defends the decision as a commitment to the band’s identity.
- Linkin Park returns with a new lineup, including vocalist Emily Armstrong, and drops their upcoming album From Zero on November 15.
- Mike Shinoda explains why the band kept the name, saying calling it something else would be misleading and just plain stupid.
- Tour dates announced, kicking off in Los Angeles on September 11, with stops in New York, London, Seoul, and Bogotá.
Linkin Park is back, and the headlines are practically writing themselves. New vocalist? Emily Armstrong. New album? From Zero. New tour? It’s happening. But of course, with all this change, the question isn’t just what they’re doing—it’s why. Why keep the Linkin Park name when half the band isn’t the same anymore? Shouldn’t they have gone for something new?
Mike Shinoda has an answer, and honestly, it’s peak Shinoda. In a chat with Q101, he didn’t hold back. “At first, we thought about all kinds of ideas,” he explained. “A rotating lineup. Multiple vocalists. Even a different name. But once the music started coming together, it was obvious—this is as Linkin Park as it gets. Calling it something else would’ve been flat-out stupid. Like trying to convince people it’s not what it clearly is.”
— More LINKIN PARK News:
That’s the thing about this new Linkin Park—it’s unapologetic. The 2024 lineup includes Shinoda, Phoenix, Joe Hahn, Brad Delson (who’s staying off the road but still working in the studio), plus newcomers Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain. Sure, longtime fans might grumble, but Shinoda’s message is clear: this isn’t a reboot. It’s a continuation.
The new album, From Zero, drops on November 15. It’s their first in years, and Shinoda promises it’s unmistakably them. “Once people hear the record, they’ll get it,” he added. Whether fans will agree is another story, but Shinoda isn’t losing sleep over it.
As for the tour, it kicks off in Los Angeles this week. The dates are short and sweet, hitting a mix of major cities and international spots:
- 9/11 – Kia Forum, Los Angeles, CA
- 9/16 – Barclays Center, New York, NY
- 9/22 – Barclays Arena, Hamburg, Germany
- 9/24 – The O2, London, UK
- 9/28 – INSPIRE Arena, Seoul, South Korea
- 11/11 – Coliseo Medplus, Bogotá, Colombia
The big question? Are fans ready to embrace this revamped version of the band? It’s not the same Linkin Park that dropped Hybrid Theory or Meteora, but Mike isn’t pretending it is. Instead, he’s doubling down on what the band has always been about—adapting, evolving, and still doing it their way.
Got a tip for us? Email: [email protected]
Guitarist steps back from live performances, with Alex Feder stepping in for Linkin Park's 2025 tour as mental health takes priority.
