New look Linkin Park rocks Korea for sole Asian date on world tour

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New look Linkin Park rocks Korea for sole Asian date on world tour

Published: 30 Sep. 2024, 15:50 Updated: 30 Sep. 2024, 16:43

YOON SO-YEON
yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr

Rock band Linkin Park's ″From Zero″ concert held on Sept. 28 at the Inspire Arena, Incheon [LIVE NATION KOREA]

Heavy is the crown for one of the most successful rock bands in the world. But rock royalty Linkin Park wore the crown well for its first Korean concert in 13 years — the only Asian stop in the band's “From Zero” world tour.

Linkin Park, one of the most esteemed alternative rock bands of the early 21st century, descended on Korea’s freshest concert venue, Inspire Arena, on Saturday. The concert was filled with some 14,000 fans eager to relive the legendary band’s songs revamped with new vocalist Emily Armstrong.

The audience was impatiently chanting the band’s name, “Linkin Park! Linkin Park!” in rhythm when the lights turned off and laser lights pierced through the darkness onto the stage. Eager roars tore the roof off when the members stepped onto the stage one by one and picked up their instruments.

“This is my first time here,” Armstrong said, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Linkin Park began the concert with one of its signature, dark and brooding hits, “Somewhere I Belong” (2003), followed by 26 songs from the band’s discography, including “Crawling” (2000), “One Step Closer” (2000) and “Papercut” (2000).

Rock band Linkin Park's ″From Zero″ concert held on Sept. 28 at the Inspire Arena, Incheon [LIVE NATION KOREA]

Some of the band’s best and biggest hits, “Numb” (2003), “In the End” (2000) and “Faint” (2003), were saved until the encore. The heat of the audience refused to die down with the crowd singing along at the top of their lungs.

“Wow, you sound amazing,” Armstrong said, looking around the arena. The stage was placed in the middle of the venue, allowing fans to see the band from every angle and make eye contact with the members while enjoying the show.

Linkin Park also performed its newest songs, “The Emptiness Machine” and “Heavy Is The Crown,” freshly added this year with Armstrong joining the band. “Heavy Is The Crown” is also the theme song of this year’s 2024 League of Legends World Championship, otherwise known as the LOL World Cup, that began on Sept. 25 and will finish with the final round on Nov. 2.

Armstrong was recruited as Linkin Park’s vocalist earlier this month, seven years after singer Chester Bennington died in 2017. The band had been on hiatus since then, until announcing on Sept. 5 that it would make a grand comeback with Armstrong. The singer claimed the band's vocalist spot, singing the band’s past songs in shows and creating new ones together with the other members.

Rock band Linkin Park's ″From Zero″ concert held on Sept. 28 at the Inspire Arena, Incheon [LIVE NATION KOREA]

“Every day has been an absolute blessing — I do not take it for granted, not one bit,” Armstrong told Asian reporters in a video conference held a day ahead of the Incheon concert.

“I’ve worked really hard, and to be in this position is something that’s still in adjustment,” she continued. “It’s only been 22 days since everybody else has known about it. But I think that last year, doing the album and rehearsing has been one of my favorite years in my life. And it keeps getting better. I think it’s going to be even better next year."

Linkin Park was formed in 1996 by Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon and Brad Delson under the name Xero. The name Linkin Park came in 2000, the year when its breakthrough album “Hybrid Theory” was released.

The current lineup of members includes Shinoda, Delson, Korean American turntablist Joe Hahn, bassist Dave Farrell and drummer Colin Brattain. Armstrong is a 38-year-old singer who began her singing career in the early 2000s and was best known as the vocal and guitarist of rock band Dead Sara.

Rock band Linkin Park's ″From Zero″ concert held on Sept. 28 at the Inspire Arena, Incheon [LIVE NATION KOREA]

Rock band Linkin Park [LIVE NATION KOREA]

“When you look at somebody who’s had a really lucky moment in their life, you think, ‘Oh my god, they've had their career take off in such a quick way,’” Armstrong said. “But I get to be that person now. How did this happen? I’m still kind of figuring it out as well, but it’s the chance of a lifetime really. It’s so much fun.”

Linkin Park is one of the best-selling bands in the 21st century and has sold over 100 million albums so far around the world. The band has won two Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, two Billboard Music Awards and many more.

“I think it represents a lot, obviously — the legacy that there is,” Armstrong said, when asked what Linkin Park means to the bandmates. “I truly think that this is a very important band for the world. And I'd love to be a part of something big, something to inspire, as much as I can.”

Linkin Park will release its new studio album, also titled “From Zero,” in November. It is also getting calls to headline major festivals around the world, according to Live Nation Korea.

Inspire Arena in Incheon [LIVE NATION KOREA]

Inspire Entertainment Resort in Incheon [LIVE NATION KOREA]

Linkin Park’s concert is the third of the Inspire Concert Series, through which Inspire Entertainment Resort has been inviting major artists from overseas to perform at the newly made venue. The concert space is filled with the latest technology to bring the best experience for both performers and the audience. Pop band Maroon 5 performed there in March and was set to be followed by Westlife in August, but the show was pushed to Nov. 23.

Artists One Republic and Kygo will perform next year as part of the Inspire Concert Series. J-pop bands Yoasobi and Naniwa Danshi are also scheduled to perform at the Inspire Arena.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]