MIKE SHINODA On Why LINKIN PARK Didn’t Change Their Name “If We Call It Something Else, Then We Are Idiots”

Linkin Park‘s reunion has been a whirlwind over the past few days. The band announced Emily Armstrong as their new vocalist (which has caused quite a stir) alongside a new record and some tour dates, as well as addressed why original drummer Rob Bourdon isn’t a part of things. Linkin Park would then go on to reveal that original guitarist Brad Delson won’t tour with the band, but would remain active behind the scenes.

So new lineup, new music, tour dates, all that – but why come back as Linkin Park? Why not resurrect the old Xero name or come back as another band? According to Linkin Park‘s Mike Shinoda in an interview with Q101, it just felt right to come back as Linkin Park.

“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,” said Shinoda. “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.”

Linkin Park in 2025 is Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix, Joe Hahn, Armstrong, and Colin Brittain. Linkin Park will release their upcoming record From Zero on November 15 and will play a handful of shows starting this week in Los Angeles.

9/11 Kia Forum Los Angeles, CA
9/16 Barclays Center New York, NY
9/22 Barclays Arena Hamburg, Germany
9/24 The O2 London, UK
9/28 INSPIRE Arena Seoul, South Korea
11/11 Coliseo Medplus Bogota, Colombia