Mike Shinoda on Why Brad Delson Isn’t Touring With Linkin Park

Guitarist steps back from live performances, with Alex Feder stepping in for Linkin Park's 2025 tour as mental health takes priority.

By Levi Morel

Nov 17, 2024

Linkin Park | Mike Shinoda & Emily Armstrong, New Album 'From Zero', Chester Bennington

Brad Delson, Linkin Park’s longtime guitarist, is still part of the band but no longer tours due to mental health considerations.
Alex Feder now plays Delson’s live parts, chosen personally by Brad as his on-stage replacement.
Linkin Park is set for a massive 2025 world tour with a star-studded lineup, including Queens Of The Stone Age and Spiritbox.

The Gist

Brad Delson, the longtime six-string maestro of Linkin Park, is still very much part of the band. In the studio, behind the scenes—he’s there, making things happen. But if you were hoping to see him shred live, prepare for disappointment. Delson’s opted out of the touring grind, and guitarist Alex Feder has already stepped into those sizeable shoes on stage.

And the reason for this shake-up? Mike Shinoda broke it down during a chat on the Zach Sang Show, laying it out in terms that make perfect sense if you’ve ever spent more than five minutes on a cramped tour bus. Delson has simply had enough of the endless whirlwind of live performances. According to Shinoda, this is less about drama and more about sanity.

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+4 Photos

Brad Delson opts out of live shows while remaining with Linkin Park. Alex Feder takes the stage for the band’s global tour.

To quote Shinoda directly: “Brad is still our guitarist—he’s not going anywhere. But he’s realized that the touring lifestyle just doesn’t suit him anymore. It’s really about his mental health. He doesn’t love the chaos of the live show circuit, so while he’s very much part of the band, he’s not performing live.”

Instead of forcing himself back onto the road, Delson took a proactive approach. He picked Alex Feder, a guitarist who’s, in Shinoda’s words, “spectacular”—which, coming from Mike, is a big deal. The two apparently hit it off, and Delson was happy to hand over his live duties to someone who gets it.

But that’s not where the musical matchmaking stopped. Early on, before Alex became the go-to guy, Shinoda asked drummer/producer Colin Brittain to step in—well, sort of. As Shinoda put it: “We needed someone to cover Brad’s parts, and we also needed a drummer. I told Colin, ‘You’re amazing at both. Which would you rather do?’ And the guy looked like he’d won the lottery. He was so excited he could barely believe I was asking.”

Now if you’re wondering how this affects Linkin Park’s future, don’t. They’re gearing up for a massive 2025 world tour, proving they’ve still got plenty of fuel in the tank. Expect a lineup that’s as packed as your inbox on a Monday morning: Queens Of The Stone Age, Spiritbox, AFI, Architects, grandson, Jean Dawson, JPEGMAFIA, and PVRIS—all on select dates. It’s a bill that screams, “We’ve got something for everyone, but don’t blame us if you don’t know half the names.”

The takeaway? Delson stepping back isn’t a red flag; it’s just a sign of someone knowing their limits. Honestly, after decades in the game, who wouldn’t want to skip the bus bunks and arena soundchecks? If anything, Linkin Park’s handling of this is refreshingly practical—no drama, just a pivot to keep the machine running smoothly.