Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix discussed Linkin Park’s new singer Emily Armstrong in an interview with the Zach Sang Show.
“He was such an iconic [voice]. He was another one that took his pain and turned it into purpose through his music. To lose him is tough. You see them coming back now and they’ve got a new singer and I got to tell you, a couple of them new songs f*cking rip, they’re great. But there’s part of me that just totally loves it and then part of me is just like it just hurts my heart like, ‘Damn.’ The new singer, she’s killing it, but it’s like, ‘God I just want to hear Chester sing that sh*t.'”
Since Armstrong joined the band, she has faced backlash from some Linkin Park fans. Shaddix, however, doesn’t agree with the criticism.
“People wanna hear this [music].’ And so it’s awesome that their music can be celebrated. I know people are very polarized about this, but I look at it like when Stone Temple Pilots lost [singer] Scott Weiland. Who stepped in? Chester. Chester stepped in to carry that flag for rock and roll,” Shaddix said. “So it makes sense why somebody would step in in his place and in his absence to carry that flag and to bring that message to the people, because it’s a hopeful message.”
In early September, Linkin Park introduced Emily Armstrong as their new vocalist and released their single ‘The Emptiness Machine’ from the album ‘From Zero.’ Some fans criticized her addition due to her ties to Scientology and support for Danny Masterson.
Other rockers have shared their thoughts on the band’s decision.
“I listened. I saw some videos. The new female singer, great! She fits the band. She sounds great and good luck to them,” Gene Simmons told Forbes.
“Life is short. Go out there and live it up, enjoy it. Linkin Park got fans. They want to hear the songs and the music. Why not? There are bands that tour, Lynyrd Skynyrd, lots of bands that barely have any original members or no original members. People want to hear those songs,” the bassist added.
Brent Smith also shared his perspective: “The entire world knows [Chester is] irreplaceable because he was one of a kind. But with all that said, there’s an audience that misses this band, their presence, and what they represent. So I ask all of you… Give them the chance to not close their chapter. Let them celebrate their legacy and create a new one.”
Linkin Park’s new album will be released on November 15, 2024. The band’s six-show arena tour started on September 11 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, and will end on November 11 in Bogota, Colombia.
