Mike Shinoda recently addressed criticism surrounding Linkin Park’s return and the band’s decision to continue making music. He shared his thoughts in an interview on the Broken Record Podcast.
When asked about the challenges of reinventing the band and working under pressure from doubters, Shinoda provided a candid response about the band’s motivations and the criticism they anticipated.
“I think that the thing that I one of the things that really drove us is the idea that if we had just like hung it up and said, ‘Okay, that was a good run,’ and call it quits,” Shinoda said. “That is such a like a shitty way to end for the a band to end or stop making new music. That is like an awful story. Like no one wants to read that book.”
He continued to explain the band’s perspective on taking risks and facing challenges head-on.
“And instead to be able to say like and then the guys dusted themselves up off and got up again,” he said. “Like that to me is the exactly the book I want to read. Like that’s the thing that’s the hardest to do and the most intimidating, the most challenging, the most that could go wrong.”
Shinoda emphasized that the band was fully aware of potential criticism before making their comeback.
“For ourselves and for our like our kids, for our fans, like to do it to do it and say, ‘Yeah, we took huge risks on this,'” he said. “I mean, before we even like put out, before anybody knew anything we were like okay the here’s a laundry list of the things that people are not going to like. All of the things that they ended up all of the things that they ended up not liking.”
The Linkin Park co-founder then directly addressed a specific type of critic.
“Like all the things that anybody in the internet argued about and continues to argue about our band, if anyone thinks that we didn’t think of those things, they’re crazy,” he said. “We live and breathe this band. We thought of all those things. We were like, ‘Okay, is that okay? That’s going to be okay, right?’ Like the open mouth breather neck beard misogynist metal fan who loved our band who loved our first two records and hasn’t listened to the band since but like thinks he’s a Linkin Park fan. He’s going to hate this band and like be vocal about it. So that’s okay.”
Shinoda concluded by expressing his enthusiasm for the band’s new direction and potential new audience.
“Because that person’s going to get replaced by ostensibly like a 15-year-old girl who’s like, ‘I’ve never been into like loud music before and I want to learn to play guitar now,'” he said. “And I love that.”
The comments reflect the band’s conscious decision to evolve despite anticipated backlash from certain segments of their fanbase.
Shinoda’s candid remarks come at a pivotal moment in Linkin Park’s history. The band navigates their return to the music scene with significant changes to their lineup and sound.
Wikipedia reported that the band’s comeback materialized with their new album “From Zero.” The album was released in November 2024 and marked their first studio album in seven years. The album represents a significant milestone as it is the first to feature new co-vocalist Emily Armstrong. She joined the band following the tragic death of Chester Bennington in 2017. The title “From Zero” holds special significance, as it references both the band’s original name “Xero” and symbolizes their new beginning.
The integration of Armstrong into the band brought both excitement and internal adjustments for the longtime members. Linkin Pedia noted that during live show rehearsals, Mike Shinoda admitted feeling strange performing with Emily Armstrong for the first time. He emphasized that the new dynamic eventually made sense and helped bring a fresh energy to the group. This transition period reflects the band’s commitment to honoring their past while embracing change.
The band’s return has been accompanied by ambitious touring plans that demonstrate their confidence in the new direction. Climate Pledge Arena revealed that Linkin Park is set to embark on a massive world tour featuring 50 new shows as part of their “From Zero World Tour.” However, the touring lineup will see another change. Original guitarist Brad Delson will not be joining them on the road despite contributing to the album.
These developments underscore the band’s determination to continue their musical journey while acknowledging the challenges and criticism that come with reinvention. Shinoda’s willingness to directly address detractors while embracing new audiences reflects the band’s evolved perspective on their legacy and future.
