Linkin Park kicked off their reunion tour Wednesday night at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, with a set that mixed old hits like “In The End,” “Numb” and “What I've Done” with deep cuts like “My December” and “Given Up,” along with “The Emptiness Machine” from their upcoming album. From scratch.
While they performed to an invited audience on Sept. 5 in Burbank, California, Wednesday marked the first public appearances for new vocalist Emily Armstrong, new drummer Colin Brittan, and new guitarist Alex Vedder. It was also their first live show since the death of Chester Bennington. At the end of the night, co-singer Mike Shinoda addressed the crowd.
“We’re excited to be back here,” he said. “It’s not about erasing the past. It’s about starting this new chapter in the future and coming out here for each and every one of you. We loved writing this music. We’re so excited for the new record. So thank you all so much. We had a great night with you.”
The show was a success, but the reunion was not without controversy. Armstrong came under fire from fans for her long history in the Church of Scientology, and her apparent support for fellow Scientologist Danny Masterson when he was on trial for rape in 2021.
“A few years ago, I was asked to support someone I considered a friend in a court hearing, and I went to one of the early hearings as an observer,” she wrote in an Instagram post on September 6. “Shortly after, I realized I shouldn’t have. I always try to see the good in people, and I misjudged him. I haven’t spoken to him since. Unthinkable details emerged, and he was later convicted. Let me say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I sympathize with the victims of these crimes.”
But that wasn't enough to satisfy Jimmy Bennington, Chester Bennington's son.[You have] “You quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time… during International Suicide Prevention Month,” he wrote on Instagram. “You betrayed the trust placed in you by decades of fans and supportive human beings, including myself.”
the From scratch The tour continues on September 16 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, before heading overseas for shows in Germany, England, South Korea and Colombia.
