Not About Erasing The Past

Linkin Park Kicks Off Reunion Tour

Linkin Park started their reunion tour on Wednesday night at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, playing a mix of old hits and new songs from their upcoming album.

Though they performed for a private crowd in Burbank earlier, this was the first public show with new members: singer Emily Armstrong, drummer Colin Brittain, and guitarist Alex Feder. It was also their first major gig since Chester Bennington’s passing. Mike Shinoda spoke to the crowd near the end of the show.

“We are thrilled to be back out here,” he said. “It is not about erasing the past. It is about starting this new chapter into the future and coming out here for each and every one of you. We loved writing this music. We are very fuckin’ excited about the new record. So thank you guys very much. We had an incredible night with you.”

The concert went well, but there has been some drama. Armstrong has faced criticism due to her involvement with Scientology and her support for Danny Masterson during his rape trial in 2021.

“Several years ago, I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearance, and went to one early hearing as an observer,” she wrote in an Instagram post on Sept. 6. “Soon after, I realized I shouldn’t have. I always try to see the good in people, and I misjudged him. I have never spoken with him since. Unimaginable details emerged, and he was later found guilty. To say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I empathize with the victims of these crimes.”

Fans were disappointed that Jamie Bennington, Chester’s son, wasn’t happy with the band’s decisions. “[You have] quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time…during International Suicide Prevention Month,” he wrote on Instagram. “You have betrayed the trust loaned to you by decades of fans and supporting human beings including myself.”

The tour will continue on Sept. 16 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, before heading to Germany, England, South Korea, and Colombia.