Lead guitarist Brad Delson has been with Linkin Park since the beginning. His genre-bending guitar work is one of the cornerstones of the band’s sound. While he is still with the band and played on their most recent album From Zero, he will not join the band on their forthcoming world tour. Make no mistake, though, Delson isn’t stepping away from the band.
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Delson recently sat down with Guitar World to talk about Linkin Park’s first album with their late vocalist Chester Bennington. During the conversation, he also shared why he decided to stop touring with the band and shared his thoughts on their new vocalist Emily Armstrong.
[RELATED: Linkin Park Drops Highly Anticipated Album ‘From Zero,’ Fans Weigh In on Band’s New Era]
Brad Delson on Why He Won’t Be Touring with Linkin Park
Brad Delson is excited about the new music that Linkin Park is making. However, he chose to sit out the upcoming world tour. Instead, he brought in Alex Feder (XYZ Affair, Alex Friend) to fill his spot on the road.
“For me, and, I guess, all the guys, the last however many years gave us the opportunity to really think qualitatively about the band—what energizes us, where we feel most fulfilled, and where we thrive,” Delson explained. “It wasn’t like, ‘Let’s go back to what we were doing.’ It was, ‘Let’s take what we’ve learned to approach our roles with greater self-awareness and insight,’” he explained. “I really thrive in the studio. I love making new things. That’s why I decided to focus my energy on that area and bring Alex in,” he added.
Delson took time to teach Feder everything he needed to know to rock crowds around the world. “He and I went back and forth to make sure the feel was right. There are certain songs where, even if they’re not the most technical, there’s a feel that’s unique to my playing. I really wanted Alex to get that right,” he said.
Delson Shares His Thoughts on Emily Armstrong
While some fans weren’t sure about Emily Armstrong stepping into Chester Bennington’s role, Brad Delson and the rest of the band believe that she’s a perfect fit. “The chemistry. There’s something about her voice and her energy that just feel like Linkin Park energy,” Delson said when asked what makes Armstrong the right person for the job.
“The nice thing about our two vocalists is that they’re each really dynamic. Part of the band’s identity is exploring the space between genres and juxtaposition,” he explained. “If you don’t have vocalists who can cover every genre, the band’s raison d’etre would be stymied,” he added.
Featured Image by Francesco Castaldo/Archivio Francesco Castaldo/Mondadori via Getty Images
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