Mike Shinoda Doesn't Want The Linkin Park Formation To Sound Like A Cover Band

Linkin Park Personnel, Mike Shinoda (Instagram @anendfor)

JAKARTA - Mike Shinoda as co-founder of Linkin Park has spoken openly again regarding the reunion decision by bringing in Emily Armstrong as a new vocalist.

The 47-year-old musician acknowledged the disappointment of some fans, who hoped Linkin Park would find a singer with a vocal character similar to the late Chester Bennington.

However, Shinode prefers Armstrong, who in fact is different from his predecessor. He didn't want the new Linkin Park to reunite to sound like a cover band.

"We just wanted Emily to be Emily," said Mike Shinoda during an interview with Los Angeles radio station Alt 98.7 recently.

"The songs are the songs, Emily is Emily," he continued.

Shinoda recalls that about four years before announcing the new formation, he saw a video of Linkin Park's cover band on social media, whose vocalist has a Bennington-like character. Many fans like him, but not with him.

Your brain is getting more and more fond of it and more real and closer to reality. And then shortly before it became real, your brain turned completely in the opposite direction, back to I hate that, because your brain knows that it's trying to be scammed. And the brain doesn't like that," he said.

"So, when I watch YouTube videos or Instagram videos from this cover band, I'm like, 'It's really cool, but it's scary because it sounds really like Chester.' I don't like it, it's strange to me. It made me immediately know that it wasn't the right move for us. I don't like it.'

Shinoda enjoyed the band cover performance, but he didn't want to bring the concept to the new Linkin Park.

"These bands are doing great work, but I'm not going to put that into our band," he said.