Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda on the LA tribute show, performing without Chester

September 19, 2017

[Photo by: Ricky Swift/WENN.com]

Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda made an appearance on KROQ radio show to talk more about the band's music video and inspiration behind “One More Light,” as well as their upcoming tribute show in LA.

“It’s been two months since Chester passed away. The fans have been incredible. I don’t think we could have ever expected such an outpouring of love and all these tributes,” Shinoda explains. “There have literally been tributes all around the world for two straight months.”

The band, having released a music video for “One More Light” yesterday, had experienced such an emotional connection to the track since the beginning, but its the fans that have truly latched on to the song as a response to Bennington’s sudden loss.

“The song 'One More Light', we wrote it in an effort to reach out to people,” Shinoda says. “It was written to say that in times like these, there’s often not a lot you can do for someone who’s hurting, but you can reach out and say, 'Hey, I’m thinking about you, I care.’ And sometimes that’s enough.”

He explains that they wrote this song in an intention to reach out to those who need it, and now they’re on the receiving end of the message. “Now we find ourselves on the receiving end of that, where the fans have taken our own song and played it back to us, and let us know that they’re there, they’re listening and they’re thinking about us. I can’t stress enough how special, and what an important role that has played in getting through this.”

Shinoda shares that Linkin Park had discussed what the best way to connect with their fans would be, knowing that it wouldn’t be easy, but deciding on their special show in Los Angeles was an important one.

“We’ve always been available on social media, and in some ways, we try to guide our Linkin Park community so that there’s some sense of the right way to do it,” Shinoda explains. “I’d gone to [producer] Rick Rubin as a source of guidance. He said, ‘I know you guys know this, it’s obvious because you’re looking at social media and stuff, but I think you guys need to get onstage.'”

“He said ‘The fans want to see you, but most importantly not because they want to see you play a show, there’s a cathartic experience that needs to happen.'”

At this point, the band have yet to perform together since Bennington's passing, and although they know it’ll be hard, it’s what they need to do for themselves and for the fans. As he explains, it’s a cathartic experience for all of those who lost a friend, an icon and a father.

“I thought it over, and I know for some of the guys in the band, getting onstage is more scary than for other guys in the band. But I will say for all of us, it’s definitely the thing we want to do. It feels like the right way to celebrate Chester.”

The show will take place in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, October 27. Pre-sale tickets for the show begins September 19, and general sale starts September 22. To find out more and pick up your tickets, visit Linkin Park's website.

“We’re inviting some other friends, that list of guests is still coming together,” Shinoda explains.

“I know that the circumstances of his passing were really dark, and as we said at the time, the darkness that he had was always there, it was kind of part of the package,” Shinoda says. “But what was so unique and special about this guy was that he used it as fuel to do so many positive things. He was such a happy guy, he was such a fun guy when he’d walk in the room. That’s what we want to get out of this show. I know it’s going to be a rollercoaster of emotions, but it’s really about celebrating life.”

You can hear the full interview here: