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 LP From Zero.
While they played to an invited audience on Sept. 5 in Burbank, California, Wednesday was the public debut of new singer Emily Armstrong, new drummer Colin Brittain, and new touring guitarist Alex Feder. It was also their first time playing a real show since the death of Chester Bennington. Near the end of the night, co-frontman Mike Shinoda addressed the audience.
“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 show was a success, but the reunion has not proceeded without controversy. Armstrong has taken heat 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.
“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.”
This wasn’t enough to appease Jamie Bennington, son of Chester Bennington. “[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 From Zero tour continues on Sept. 16 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, before heading overseas for shows in Germany, England, South Korea, and Colombia.
