Linkin Park is back with their new album, From Zero, which dropped on November 15, 2024. Many fans were ecstatic that the rock band is back with new songs and a tour. However, not all fans felt that way. Some felt the band’s comeback with a new co-lead singer, Emily Armstrong (formerly of Dead Sara), insulted Chester Bennington’s memory. Bennington, of course, was Linkin Park’s vocalist who died in 2017.
Everything To Know About Emily Armstrong | Linkin Park’s Co-Lead Vocalist
Bennington’s son, Jaime Bennington, via his Instagram story, slammed Armstrong as his father’s replacement and posted that Mike Shinoda, Linkin Park’s co-founder has “quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time… during international suicide prevention month,” per Variety. Bennington also mentioned the band “betrayed the trust” of the fans who “trusted you to be the bigger better person. To be the change. Because you promised us that was your intention.”
Linkin Park is not the first band to replace their lead singer. The lead singer typically acts as the face of the group, and they connect the band with the audience through their performance, voice, and stage presence.
How Lead Singers Influence the Band’s Image
All band members are important for the band’s success. Sure, you might have a charismatic lead singer, but if the instrumentalists can’t jibe with the singer, the music will be forgettable. However, since it’s the lead singer who often engages the audience, their interviews and behavior influence the band’s image.
Lead Vocals’ Performances: More Than Just Singing
Lead singers aren’t just needed to sing the band’s songs, they play an important role during live performances. Their energy needs to infect and engage the crowd. If they’re singing an energetic song but only standing in the middle of the stage, no matter how much the musicians speed up the tempo, the crowd might still not be pumped since the lead singer looks like they’re about to fall asleep. Liam Gallagher of Oasis is an exception, of course. Lead singers are not just singing; they’re putting on a show that must entertain the audience.
Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne said in an interview with CNN Entertainment, “People are going to pay real money, people are going to give us a lot of their time, so we don’t want it to be just hype – it’s really got to be great,” before their attempt to break the Guinness World Records of most concerts played in different cities within 24 hours. They got the record and beat Jay-Z.
Challenges and Expectations of Being a Lead Singer
A lead singer’s role has a lot of challenges and expectations. Lead singers are the primary figures in the band and experience public scrutiny compared to other members. They need to be constantly ready to “perform” and not be involved in scandals since it affects the whole band. For example, Linkin Park’s Armstrong was not only disliked for replacing a beloved singer in Bennington but was also dragged for her ties with Scientology and association with convicted felon Danny Masterson via BBC.
Only time can tell if Armstrong will help the band maintain its legacy of being one of the best-selling artists in history. Aside from Linkin Park, here are six other bands who replaced their lead singers and how they did it.
