Linkin Park's Return Marred in Controversy

Fans will get a chance to see Linkin Park perform with their new lead singer Emily Armstrong this week, on Sept. 11, at the Forum , but many L.P. lovers won’t be there supporting  if comments on the band's and their new lead singer’s social media accounts are any indication.

The L.A.’s rap-rock group announced their return after a 7 year hiatus just last week, Sept. 5. and unveiled Armstrong would be taking over vocals for Chester Bennington, who died by suicide in 2017, after which the band went dormant. A live-streamed concert in L.A. followed the announcement, with reactions to the new material ranging from excitement to outrage. Bennington was a powerhouse singer whom many fans feel is irreplaceable, but the initial naysayers were the least of the band's concerns.

Mars Volta/At the Drive In's Cedric Bixler-Zavala and his wife Chrissie Carnell-Bixler spoke out against Armstrong soon after the announcement was made, re-sharing a post Zavala wrote last year on her previous band Dead Sara's Instagram page: "Do your fans know about your friend Danny Masterson? Your rapist friend."  They also alleged her familial ties to Scientology and that she was a supporter of Masterson who wrote letters to help him in court. Masterson was found guilty of sexual assault and is currently serving 30 years to life in state prison after being convicted.

Carnell-Bixler was not one of the women Masterson was convicted of raping, but she is one of several women who’ve also accused him of doing so, and the couple (both former Scientologists) were outspoken online during his trial and subsequent conviction. In response to the couple's call-outs, Armstrong posted the following on her IG Stories last week:

“Hi, I’m Emily. “I’m new to so many of you, and I wanted to clear the air about something that happened a while back. 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. 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."

Though Armstrong made no direct reference to Scientology in her statement, fans have referenced her queer identity as a sign she is no longer part of the religion. L Ron Hubbard once described homosexuality as a "perversion," though the church says it does not dictate sexual preferences. Hubbard also had controversial views about mental illness, and the religion is said to oppose psychiatry and psychology. LP fans have pointed out that this counters many of the themes in Linkin Park's music, and specifically something Bennington struggled with, sang about and advocated for.

Yesterday, Bixler-Zavala went a step further in his criticism of Armstrong, sharing a post from his wife that charged alleged intimidation of Masterson's victims and addressed Linkin Park directly, stating "fire your entire team for not thoroughly vetting your choice. You’re a Disney level brand trying to make a comeback and you didn’t think to spend a little money on looking into her? Stop playing At the Drive In’s music on your pre show playlist."

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The band has not addressed the Bixlers' allegations, but they are fully behind their choice of singer on their social media, sharing footage from the one-hour global livestream of their Thursday night L.A. concert with Armstrong and new drummer Colin Brittain. Original drummer Rob Bourdon is out and guitarist Brad Delson, while still involved will not be playing live shows, he announced on Thursday— much to the chagrin of fans online who were already not sure about the band's new line-up.

More critiques of the band's return come via Bennington's son, Jaime Bennington , also on Instagram, where he's shared thoughts about the band reboot "erasing" his :father's legacy," noting that September is Suicide Prevention Month.

“Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future—embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life,” Mike Shinoda, who shared vocals (on the rap side) and songwriting with Bennington, said of the return and new record called From Zero in press release materials when the comeback was first announced, before all the backlash. “Before Linkin Park, our first band name was Xero. This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we’re currently undertaking. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our friends, our family, and our fans. We are proud of what Linkin Park has become over the years, and excited about the journey ahead.”

It remains to be seen if the current controversy will affect the new project's chances or, to ref their biggest hit, "in the end it doesn't even matter," but local music fans know that Armstrong definitely has the chops vocally. Her rock group Dead Sara put out a couple of solid albums in the late aughts, and some great covers including an exemplary take on Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box,” and opened up for Demi Lovato on her last tour Highlighted by Armstrong's gritty vox, the group always shined live when we saw them on the club circuit all over L.A. in their heyday.