Linkin Park co-lead vocalist Mike Shinoda and turntablist Joe Hahn recently discussed retiring the band’s name for its comeback with new singer Emily Armstrong. The talks followed the death of Chester Bennington, in an interview shared by People.
The remarks centered on whether the group should perform under a different name after returning without its longtime vocalist. Shinoda explained that the band ultimately decided against it.
“It occurred to us that we didn’t have to use the name Linkin Park,” Shinoda said. “It could be something else. I just felt like it would be silly, almost make no sense to call it something else.”
Hahn echoed that reasoning. He described why the members resisted the idea of constantly explaining a name change.
“Having to explain a name thing every day for eternity — I’m not signing up for that,” Hahn said. “We talked about — not names — but we just talked about different versions of what we would be doing. Maybe we just start a new band, and if people are showing up because of Linkin Park maybe we’ll play some songs.”
The conversation also touched on the grief the band continues to process after Bennington’s passing.
“We all have that sense of just being lost in the world when someone you care about so dearly isn’t there,” they said. “It’s like, OK, there’s a void, and it’s like, do you try to fill the void? You can’t really fill it. There’s a lot of loneliness in that. There’s a lot of sadness. That’s part of the healing process.”
Shinoda added that the return was as much about rebuilding the group as about performing again.
“I realized that it’s not about just going out and doing it; it’s about being a band again,” Shinoda said.
Those comments came as the band’s return moved quickly once the lineup was set.
Linkin Park announced its comeback on Sept. 5, 2024, seven years after Bennington’s death. The band introduced Armstrong, the lead vocalist of Dead Sara, as its new co-lead singer. Colin Brittain joined as drummer. He replaced founding member Rob Bourdon, who stepped away from the group.
Hahn later said the members never discussed any other potential names. Their conversations focused on how they could move forward as Linkin Park.
The band’s first show with the new lineup took place on Sept. 11, 2024, at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. Linkin Park played a 26-song setlist. The show marked the start of a global comeback tour.
The new music followed soon after. The comeback single “The Emptiness Machine” reached number four on the UK top 40. The band released its eighth studio album, From Zero, in November 2024. It was the first record with Armstrong and Brittain. The title points to the group’s decision to start over while keeping its name.
