Linkin Park Hires a New Co-Lead Singer, and I Have Thoughts…
In case you haven’t heard yet, Linkin Park has a new lead singer, or probably better explained as co-lead singer along with singer/rapper Mike Shinoda. They needed someone because their iconic lead singer Chester Bennington died seven years ago by his own hand, and most of Linkin Park wanted to play together again. (The exception was their original drummer, Rob Bourdon.) So they’ve hired a woman, Emily Armstrong, who fronted a group known as Dead Sara, to sing the parts that Chester would’ve sung had he still been alive.
Note that I did not say “to replace Chester,” as there’s no way to replace Chester Bennington. But Linkin Park wanted/needed someone to sing those parts, and Emily Armstrong can sing melodies and then scream in a heartfelt way. My guess is that Emily A. sings in a similar range to Chester, or at least is close enough that with some minor arrangements (perhaps changing the key signature and/or mode — as lots of groups use modes like Mixolydian, Lydian, Dorian, etc., in addition in order to better reflect a mood or feeling), Linkin Park’s songs can be rendered well enough for fans to appreciate them.
This is a big controversy because of two things. One, you can’t replace Chester; he had a unique set of skills, including an emotional awareness that was almost uncanny, that could never be reproduced by anyone else. Two, one of Chester’s sons, Jamie, is very unhappy about this. Jamie pointed out that September is International Suicide Awareness month, which seems disrespectful to him as his father Chester died by suicide.
That raises a good point: as Linkin Park had been working with Emily A., quietly, for months, why didn’t Linkin Park wait another month to drop this news? Or why not move it up into August? Why court this sort of drama when you don’t have to?
See, there was someone else, a musician — I can’t remember the guy’s name right now — who had reported about four, maybe five months ago that he’d heard that Linkin Park had hired a new female singer. Mike Shinoda and other Linkin Park members pooh-poohed this and said if there was any news to report, they’d report it themselves, thank you.
But the guy who reported this was a fellow musician. I knew at the time, being a musician myself, that something was undoubtedly going on even though the guy who’d said he’d heard Linkin Park had a new lead female singer backtracked pretty quickly once Mike Shinoda, et. al., basically said the man should mind his own business. Still, from that report, I figured Linkin Park was probably rehearsing, trying to lay tracks in the music studio, and figure out if a combo with some woman — who we know now to be Emily A. — was commercially viable.
That’s exactly what was going on, as we now know.
My thoughts on this are a bit mixed. First, it is hard for me to conceive of anyone singing the parts Chester sang so well and so distinctively. Chester Bennington was an integral part of Linkin Park, and as I said before, I do not believe he can ever be replaced. But second, as a musician, I know that the members of Linkin Park wanted to play again. It’s been seven years since they last played a concert in public, and most of them (Rob Bourdon, original drummer, aside) were itching to get out there and to perform.
I can’t blame any musician for wanting to perform, OK? That’s kind of what we do, providing we’re healthy enough to do it. Every performance, even of a well-known song like Linkin Park’s “In the End,” is a little different, because the energy of the crowd may be different. Or maybe one or more of the group members is feeling especially emotive. Or there’s some extra tenderness in a quiet musical interlude. Or the bombastic, up-tempo stuff seems to have extra fire one day, while the next, while still fun to listen to and hopefully fun for the group members to play, doesn’t quite meet that level of intensity.
This is true of any human music group anywhere in the history of time. Live music has variables to it, and can be extremely good one night, good the next, a bit off the third (though probably the audience won’t recognize it, the members of the group assuredly will know and feel like they let themselves down), and back to good the fourth night. It is just the nature of the beast.
As I’ve said before at my blog, there are such things as post-concert highs and post-concert lows. For example, I believe famous singer Chris Cornell may well have been dealing with a post-concert low before he called his wife and sounded so odd just a few hours before he took his own life. Audience members, from what I can recall at the time as he passed a couple of months before Chester did, said that Chris seemed frustrated, maybe a little unhappy, and his performance was not necessarily up to par. Again, some of this is the nature of the beast, and every musician worth his/her/their salt knows it. But it can be hard to remember, in the moment, that as wonderful as music is, and as wonderful as it is that some people get to live their dreams and make a living from music, that being a musical performer is not the sum total of everything we are.
I’ve had both post-concert highs and post-concert lows. They can be disconcerting, but the lows are worse by far than the highs. On those nights, I wonder why I even bothered to take up an instrument. (I don’t sing in public and am glad I don’t.) My hands felt a little off, maybe, or it was very hot outside and playing an outdoor concert was uncomfortable and unpleasant. Either way, it affected my performance for the worse. Because of that, I felt like I’d let down the audience, let down the group I was playing in, let down myself too, and just wished the ground would swallow me up, whole.
At any rate, getting back to Linkin Park and their new singer Emily A. — I think we should give the new-look and new-sound Linkin Park a bit of time to see how things go. I also think that as open-hearted as Chester B. often was, he’d not want to keep his bandmates from making music with someone else (even if it doesn’t feel easy for fans).
Finally, Shinedown’s lead singer Brent Smith posted on social media that he believes Linkin Park is doing what’s right for them. It sounded to me like Smith also believes fans should give the new version of Linkin Park time, and at least be open to listening to Emily A.’s vocals. (He spoke in a quite complimentary manner of Emily A., too.)
I think that’s a good position to take, and it’s one I can live with.
So, while I still wish that Chester was alive, singing his heart out, and playing/singing music to his heart’s content, I’m at least willing to listen to the new version. I make no promises yet as to what I think…but I will at least listen, and hope all goes well for them.
Barb Caffrey's Blog 
For those starting out on any Art. It carries an unseen health warning, which has its roots in any of the following: dissatisfaction with what has been produced; frustration either at getting it ‘right’ or it not being recognised, fear that the artist experiences at feeling their ‘losing it’, bad feedback and so on. Add to that the issues which can arise when there is more than one person in the mix and all sorts of problems can arise. Therefore when setting out expect to meet disappointment and for negativity.
I zoned out during the era which saw the rise of bands such as Linkin Park, so am not in a position to comment on the detail Barb. My era was mostly the 1960s and early 1970s when everyone tried to put on a veneer on being comrades together which never lasted. The stories which came out showed all manner of band politics, divergent drives and in many cases just a weariness. (From my time Jefferson Airplane and Buffalo Springfield would be classic cases of ‘why did you guys ever get together?’).
I think you have hit on a point there. Solid bands seem to have a dynamic which draws them back together to perform, and attempting that by some means. They can also develop a bit of a very tight self-protective mindset and will tend to keep things in the circle until they decide to let the world know; maybe rehearsing to see if ‘it’ works before going public. That’s another danger for bands and the members when you make it ‘big’ and are in the public eye, you lose privacy, you become public property; small wonder some develop quirks.
To illustrate this one day I noticed on my phone’s Wikipedia feed of the top stories a singer Emily Armstrong- not known to me….curiosity had me checking that out, and so became aware of this story. Of course there would be controversy amongst some die-hard ‘Girls Don’t Belong in Rock’ particularly one taking the place of a much revered male. Unfair pressure that. An extra one all women performers in rock and metal have to face- ask Joan Jett how long and hard it was to become an unassailable icon.
Finally I can relate to your own personal ups and down; from a writing perspective. Hard load to carry isn’t it?
Post good, thorough analysis, fair assessment of all points of view. You covered all the relevant points there. Hope it all works out for the band and the followers.
Best wishes
Roger
deteremineddespitewp
September 12, 2024 at 3:20 am
Thanks, Roger. 🙂 I appreciate your kind words, as always.
Yes, Emily A. has the right to do this job. No, it won’t be the same, but it could be very good anyway. It’s worth listening to, anyway, to see what happens.
And yes, it is a hard load to carry, sometimes.
Best wishes for you, Roger, and your lovely wife also. 😀
Barb Caffrey
September 12, 2024 at 8:50 pm
I wish them all well. Hope it works out.
Best wishes to you too Barb. Thank you so much for yours.🌸🪷🌼🌷
deteremineddespitewp
September 13, 2024 at 2:43 am
I’m like Roger – the 60s and 70s were my time growing up. But… I love 80s music as well. My favorite Linkin Park song is from the Transformers movie – What I’ve Done. I bought it then and still listen to it. The song fits Luc, one of my characters. I haven’t heard their new sound, but I applaud them for taking action to find a new singer after the loss of Chester. They are still alive and want to make beautiful music. More power to them. Sometimes the replacement in a band becomes just as iconic. I’m thinking of Brian Jones’ death in the Rolling Stones. Likewise, quite seriously, NO ONE can replace Freddie Mercury, but I love Adam Lambert’s performances with Queen.
Kayelle Allen
September 12, 2024 at 5:03 am
Those are also good examples (I gave the example of William DuVall with Alice in Chains). Yes, I love “What I’ve Done,” too! 😀 I can see Luc burdened down like that, too, as Luc has done terrible things in the past. But he’s learned better and he’s practicing what he preaches in a new and much improved life. 🙂
Those were good examples, Kayelle. 🙂
Barb Caffrey
September 12, 2024 at 8:36 pm
Everything about that song from the lyrics to the simple notes they picked represents him. When I wrote Wulf, I listened to What You Are by Audioslave thousands of times. It was Wulf’s song to Luc. I have playlists for everything I write, but entire sets of playlists for Pietas. 😉
Kayelle Allen
September 13, 2024 at 7:39 am
That makes perfect sense.
I like Audioslave a lot. Chris Cornell could sing anything, and I think that’s partly why he felt so bad that night. (Plus, the medicines he took were central nervous system depressants, and that probably didn’t help.) Men in particular have their ranges sometimes drastically shortened. For female singers, it happens as well — but usually only opera stars are so affected that they stop singing in public. (Why? I don’t know. They still have good voices, sometimes excellent voices, just not with the same range as before due to aging.) Cornell had a huge range, but what made him so special was the way he sang. Range or no range, he still had power and sometimes delicacy and sometimes whatever other emotion the song called for. This was a man at the height of his powers, but because he had passed fifty, and had had a bad night’s work (or at least he considered it so from what the patrons that night said after the fact), he forgot that.
Anyway, yes. 🙂 I like the idea of playlists for characters. I don’t know if I’ve ever thought something like, “Hey, that song reminds me of Bruno and Sarah!,” or Allen and Elaine for that matter from Changing Faces. But I do like the idea, and I easily see why What I’ve Done and What You Are apply to your characters. (I’d like to see an updated Wulf with his new husband talk to Luc as an adult, and be friendly. Is that ever going to happen? Time heals all wounds, and you’d think that both of these men — Luc and Wulf — finding other people to love at roughly the same time shows that their love affair had played out. Not that it was wrong, or that they did anything wrong. They needed each other badly at one time and without those experiences, they’d not be with their forever loves.)
Barb Caffrey
September 13, 2024 at 3:54 pm
I’ve been trying to keep the same rhythm in the title. Ring is a single syllable, but there’s not much that matches jewelry-wise. Thanks to this post, I’m now looking at Pendant, Amulet, Signet, Diadem, and Jewel. They’re all strong words and convey power. Who knew writing about a rock and roll singer would inspire the titles of a sci-fi fantasy? Thanks, Barb and Annabelle for the great ideas.
Kayelle Allen
September 15, 2024 at 5:17 am
I’m glad to be of any use. 😉
Barb Caffrey
September 22, 2024 at 6:29 am
With Luc and Wulf, I think the best we can hope for is surface civility on Wulf’s part. Luc is over it and has let Wulf go. Despite the fact that Wulf also found his forever love, there is a heart-wound tied up in Luc’s actions more than once. It’s going to take some work to overcome that. However, he respects Izzorah and does not see him as a rival. He’s more… jealous of what he has with Luc.
On the other hand, Alitus has no personal beef with Luc or Izzorah. And he loves Wulf enough for both Wulf and himself. As an immortal, he’s gaining a whole new perspective on loving a mortal.
Now… I plan to have Pietas use the rift with Wulf and Luc to serve a major purpose in an upcoming story. Batchelors will be the stage for some upcoming fireworks. I’ve had it planned for ages and ages. Just need to write it. For now, I’m swapping between Watch Your Six and Return of the Vhalgenn, plus working on names for two more books in Heart of the Immortal King. #1 was Ring of the Dragon. I like Armor of the Dragon, and Crown of the Dragon, but I’ve decided on other names and changed them, so I have no idea. I’d love something that fit with Ring – because the first book involved Pietas’s signet ring, a gift from Luc. But Necklace of the Dragon or Bracelet of the Dragon just doesn’t have the same punch.
Kayelle Allen
September 13, 2024 at 5:26 pm
Amulet of the Dragon? Pendant of the Dragon?
annabellefranklinauthor
September 14, 2024 at 10:09 am
Oh, I like those! Writing that down. Thank you. 🙂
Kayelle Allen
September 14, 2024 at 11:32 am
Diadem of the Dragon? (Men do wear diadems.)
Barb Caffrey
September 14, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Thank you for posting the names of the mixolydian and lydian modes – I’ve always loved the use of them in music but didn’t know what they were called!
I heard Linkin Park with Emily A on the radio last night. She’s really good, and should be given a chance.
annabellefranklinauthor
September 12, 2024 at 10:58 am
I’m glad you enjoyed the blog, Annabelle. 🙂 Yes, I think new singers should be given a chance (though she’s only new to Linkin Park). Other groups have eventually continued on with a new singer after the original, iconic singer passed on. Layne Staley in Alice in Chains is another singular talent that can’t be replaced, but AIC wanted to go on. They hired William DuVall to sing those parts, and from what I can tell, DuVall does a good job. No, he’s not Layne, can’t be Layne, but he still does a good job.
Barb Caffrey
September 12, 2024 at 8:35 pm