In a recent interview with the Zach Sang Show, LINKIN PARK‘s co-lead vocalist and primary producer, Mike Shinoda, discussed guitarist Brad Delson‘s absence from the band’s reunion tour and the inclusion of drummer and co-producer Colin Brittain.
During a September 5th global livestream concert in Los Angeles, LINKIN PARK introduced new members Emily Armstrong (vocals) and Colin Brittain (drums). They joined returning members Mike Shinoda, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, Joe Hahn, and Brad Delson (though Alex Feder filled in for Delson on guitar that night and will continue touring with the band in his place for the foreseeable future).
“Colin Brittain, he was part of the process [for the new LINKIN PARK album From Zero] just as a writer and a co-producer,” Shinoda said. “I just love working with Colin. I met him in sessions and then was bringing him in to help with writing and production. And then eventually we were, like, ‘Hey, dude, it turns out we need somebody to play drums.’ I know that’s his primary instrument. So I was, like, ‘Is that something you would wanna do? It would mean stepping away from your production career.'”
“In case anybody doesn’t understand the dynamic, our guitarist Brad is our guitarist — he’s in the band — but he’s realized that in terms of his… It’s kind of a mental health thing. He doesn’t love the touring and the live show lifestyle, and so he is our guitarist, but he’s not playing live. So he’s chosen, he found a guy named Alex who’s spectacular, a really good guitarist and they get along great, and Brad chose Alex to play his parts live. But at the time, we hadn’t met Alex, and so we asked Colin. I was, like, ‘Brad needs somebody to play guitar, and we need a drummer. You do both equally well. What would you wanna do?’ And he was just like a kid in a candy store. I think he said, ‘I can’t believe what you’re asking me right now.’ He was so excited.”
In an interview with Billboard discussing LINKIN PARK‘s comeback, Mike Shinoda revealed that drummer Rob Bourdon, who co-founded the band alongside him and Brad Delson, had decided to step away from the group.
Shinoda said: “Rob had said to us at a point, I guess it was a few years ago now, that he wanted to put some distance between himself and the band. And we understood that — it was already apparent. He was starting to just show up less, be in less contact, and I know the fans noticed it too. The Hybrid Theory re-release [in 2020] and Papercuts release [this April], he didn’t show up for anything. So for me, as a friend, that was sad, but at the same time, I want him to do whatever makes him happy, and obviously everybody wishes him the best.”
From Zero is LINKIN PARK‘s first full-length album since 2017’s One More Light, the final release before the passing of lead vocalist Chester Bennington.
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