What did Michael Kenji Shinoda say about Emily Armstrong? Linkin Park’s co-lead addresses furious fans

Michael Kenji Shinoda and Emily Armstrong sat together for an interview with The Guardian post their performance at the Wembley stadium. The two talked about Linkin Park's history as a rock band, the songs they have in their discography, and the ability to say that the band has "heritage territory". After the passing of Chester Bennington in 2017, the American band took some time away from the stage.

Linkin Park reunited in late 2024 with a new lead singer, Emily Armstrong. However, not everyone is happy with the new addition to the band. This is what Shinoda had to say about the fans who were not happy with Armstrong. He said:

"There were people who lashed out at Emily, and it was really because she wasn't a guy," he added that fans were "used to Linkin Park being six guys... the voice of a guy leading this song... They were just so uncomfortable with what it was that they chose a ton of things to complain about. They're pointing in 10 different directions saying, 'This is why I'm mad, this is why the band sucks."

While the fans have slowly started to accept Emily Armstrong as the band's lead singer, Emily did have a few things to say about the initial outburst from fans. She said:

"I was a little bit naive about it, to be honest... If there was something really, really pressing, I think our PR would talk to us about it. But I'm old enough to know the difference between real life and the internet," Armstrong says, after mentioning how she keeps a safe distance from social media for "mental health purposes."

Who did Emily Armstrong play for before joining Linkin Park?

Emily Armstrong is not just a lead singer, but also a guitarist. She is the co-founder of Dead Sara, an American rock band. She joined the band in 2002 through a mutual friend. Dead Sara's style was heavily influenced by other rock bands such as Nirvana and L7. Armstrong was also a performer, and she mentioned that some of her inspirations are Janis Joplin and Iggy Pop.

Aside from singing and performing with Dead Sara, Emily Armstrong also played with a few other big names in the industry. These include Demi Lovato, the Offspring, Awolnation, Beck, and Robby Krieger of the Doors.

During the interview with The Guardian, Armstrong shared how she felt when she was offered to front Linkin Park. She said:

"I’ve been in a band for 20 years and I could only dream of this kind of success... That sounded lame."

She continued to explain that it was daunting for her to step into such big shoes and was worried she would "ruin" the band. She added:

"I'm like, you guys are a legacy band – you guys are so important."

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Despite the backlash, Emily Armstrong is slowly winning fans over with her talent and authenticity. As the band moves forward, Armstrong and Shinoda remain committed to honoring its legacy while enjoying this new chapter.

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