LINKIN PARK guitarist Brad Delson has revealed why he will not be performing live with the band on their upcoming 2025 tour.
Delson, a key figure in the band’s history, contributed to iconic albums like Hybrid Theory, Meteora, and Minutes to Midnight, as well as later releases such as A Thousand Suns, Living Things, The Hunting Party, and One More Light.
In a new interview with Guitar World, Delson explained that he has chosen to step back from live performances. He shared that he found his greatest fulfillment in the studio environment, where he thrives creatively.
“For me, and, I guess, all the guys, the last however many years gave us the opportunity to really think qualitatively about the band – what energizes us, where we feel most fulfilled, and where we thrive,” Delson said.
“It wasn’t like, ‘Let’s go back to what we were doing.’ It was, ‘Let’s take what we’ve learned to approach our roles with greater self-awareness and insight.’ I really thrive in the studio. I love making new things. That’s why I decided to focus my energy on that area.”
Delson‘s replacement is his close friend, musician and producer Alex Feder.
“It’s just a great friendship, he said about Feder. “He’s an amazing musician and a strong live player. I think he brings a lot to the show – and I’m really proud of the show.”
Although he won’t be performing live, Delson remains actively involved in the band’s touring plans and creative endeavors.
“Even though I’m not onstage, I put a lot of my creative love into it,” he said. “I’ve always been obsessed with the setlist, the concept of the show, and how it flows. I worked really hard on it; that’s no different than the past.”
Regarding the band’s new co-singer, Armstrong, Delson stated: “There’s something about her voice and her energy that just feels like LINKIN PARK energy. The nice thing about our two vocalists [Armstrong and Mike Shinoda] is that they’re each really dynamic”.
LINKIN PARK released their latest studio album, From Zero, this past November. This is LINKIN PARK‘s first studio album since One More Light (2017), marking the longest gap between studio releases in the band’s history. It also marks the debut of vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, following the passing of vocalist Chester Bennington in 2017 and the departure of drummer Rob Bourdon in 2018.
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