Linkin Park effectively ended when vocalist Chester Bennington died on July 20, 2017. Linkin Park played a tribute concert in Los Angeles on October 27 at the Hollywood Bowl that same year, released a tribute live album titled One More Light Live, and that was it outside some deluxe reissues of older albums.
During a 2022 Twitch livestream, Linkin Park multi-instrumentalist Mike Shinoda said he and the rest of the band talk, but that nothing else was in the works.
"The only Linkin Park news I have for you is that… Yeah, we talk every few weeks — I talk to the guys, or some of the guys. And there's no tours, there's no music, there's no albums in the pipeline. Okay, so let me just tell you that. So just keep in your minds that that is not happening.
Shinoda continued: "I'm just gonna say that much for now. I say that because anytime the band says anything or does anything, everyone tries to start up the hype train, and we're, like, 'No, no, no, no. Don't start up the hype train.' You're gonna disappoint yourself. Don't do that."
Now in 2024, it seems that something may very quietly be in the works. In an interview with Wired In The Empire, Orgy frontman Jay Gordon made a comment about Linkin Park having a new vocalist.
"Very, very cool guys and obviously a great band. They've been around a long time and they're still going for it," said Gordon as captured by Loudwire. "It’s going to be tough without Chester [Bennington], but we'll see. I hear they got a girl singer now. That's what I heard.”
Gordon then walked back his comment, saying: "Don't quote me on that. I'm not sure who the singer is going to be, but I heard it was gonna be female. They might just try to move on like that. That ought to be interesting."
Which is definitely a weird comment to make if there weren't rumblings of a Linkin Park return. Especially when Gordon was pressed by host RadioActive Mike Z. about his "I hear they got a girl singer now" – dude didn't just retract the whole thing and move on.
So I guess keep an eye out for a possible Linkin Park return in 2024?
