Linkin Park’s Comeback Was Years in the Making, Says Mike Shinoda

Linkin Park’s long-awaited revival may now be thrilling fans across the globe, but according to co-founder Mike Shinoda, getting the band back together was anything but easy. During a recent appearance on the Broken Record Podcast, Shinoda opened up about the emotional and creative roadblocks the group faced following the 2017 death of frontman Chester Bennington — and how the spark finally returned.

A Band in Limbo

Shinoda revealed that Linkin Park’s 2025 comeback had quietly been in development for nearly five years. In the early days after Chester’s passing, communication among the band members was inconsistent.

“I had kept in touch with all the guys in the band,” he said, “and we had gotten together, and then… nothing was there. Like, we would get together for a little bit, and then people just wouldn’t show up or call back or whatever. And that happened maybe once a year, a couple times a year.”

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The loss of their friend and bandmate had left a void not just emotionally, but musically. The creative chemistry that had powered the band through decades of genre-defining music simply wasn’t there anymore — at least not yet.

A New Spark

While the band members drifted in and out of contact, Shinoda kept creating. During the pandemic, he turned to Twitch livestreams, collaborating with fans and experimenting with new sounds.

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“I was making my own stuff again, very quietly and not putting any names on it — just making the most random stuff,” he said. “Some of it sounded like Linkin Park. Some of it was more experimental. There were elements of Fort Minor, solo stuff, and everything in between.”

But it wasn’t until around 2023 that the pieces started falling into place. “I started really talking to Joe [Hahn] and Dave [Farrell],” Shinoda said. “I could tell that they were really ready to do something, and I was as well.”

From Grief to Growth

Fast forward to 2025, and Linkin Park is back in full force — with a new album, a new tour, and a new co-vocalist, Emily Armstrong. Their 2024 album From Zero marked a fresh chapter while honoring the band’s legacy, blending signature aggression and introspection with new perspectives and sounds.

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Armstrong’s addition to the band has brought renewed energy. While no one can replace Chester Bennington, fans and critics alike have praised her powerful vocals and chemistry with Shinoda.

North American Tour Dates

The From Zero tour is now making its way across North America, with an impressive lineup of supporting acts including Jean Dawson, JPEGMAFIA, and Queens of the Stone Age.

Here are the upcoming tour dates:

• 8/19 – PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA (+ Jean Dawson)
• 8/21 – Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN (+ Jean Dawson)
• 8/23 – Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO (+ Jean Dawson)
• 8/25 – Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI (+ Jean Dawson)
• 8/27 – Target Center, Minneapolis, MN (+ Jean Dawson)
• 8/29 – CHI Health Center, Omaha, NE (+ Jean Dawson)
• 8/31 – T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO (+ Jean Dawson)
• 9/3 – Ball Arena, Denver, CO (+ Jean Dawson)
• 9/6 – Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ (+ Jean Dawson)
• 9/13 – Intuit Dome, Los Angeles, CA (+ Queens of the Stone Age & JPEGMAFIA)
• 9/15 – SAP Center, San Jose, CA (+ JPEGMAFIA)
• 9/17 – Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA (+ JPEGMAFIA)
• 9/19 – Moda Center, Portland, OR (+ JPEGMAFIA)
• 9/21 – Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC (+ JPEGMAFIA)
• 9/24 – Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA (+ JPEGMAFIA)

A New Era Begins

Linkin Park’s comeback isn’t just a reunion — it’s a reinvention. After years of uncertainty, the band has found a way to move forward while staying true to their roots. And as fans fill arenas once again, it’s clear that the world is ready to hear what Linkin Park has to say — now and into the future.