Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda Explains Why Band Didn’t Change Their Name

Linkin Park is back with a new vocalist, album and tour dates on the books. The band has tapped Dead Sara vocalist Emily Armstrong to replace the late Chester Bennington, but it hasn’t been without controversy. Armstrong reportedly has past ties to both Scientology and to disgraced “That ‘70s Show” actor Danny Masterson. She has since apologized for the situation but not after catching the ire of many fans, peers and even Bennington’s son, Jamie .

In a new interview with Chicago’s Q101 radio station, Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda talked about the decision to reform the band with a new lineup, and he also revealed why they didn’t release music under a new name.

“In the middle of the process, we were open to, like, maybe the lineup is like a moving lineup, maybe there’s multiple vocalists, maybe it’s a different name, stuff like that,” he said. “And then as the music came into focus, we were, like, ‘This is as Linkin Park an album as we could make. It’s so Linkin Park that if we call it something else, then we are idiots.’ Because it would be like misrepresentation. It’d be silly. And when people hear more of the album, they will understand that.”

Another big factor in keeping the name is likely money. Linkin Park as a brand is obviously worth more than a newly-named project.

Shinoda’s full interview can be heard below.