Rejoining a band is never easy, and for Brad Delson of Linkin Park, it wasn’t a decision he took lightly. Mike Shinoda recently revealed that Delson, the group’s longtime guitarist, was “hesitant” about rejoining the band after a series of lineup changes.
While Linkin Park had recently found a new groove with vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, the transition wasn’t without its challenges, particularly in getting Delson back on board.
During a podcast episode, Shinoda opened up about the band’s process of renewal. With Armstrong and Brittain stepping in to fill the roles left by the late Chester Bennington and longtime drummer Rob Bourdon, the band had started moving forward. However, the hesitation from Delson complicated things. According to Shinoda (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar), Delson was struggling with the emotional baggage tied to the band’s past.
Shinoda explained, “We didn’t want to burden Emily or Colin with what was happening on our side, but Brad was a little resistant. It was hard for him with all the baggage. We kept telling him, ‘The door is wide open. We’d love to have you back. Your perspective is invaluable.’”
Shinoda added that while Delson’s reluctance was understandable, the band encouraged him to simply give it a try. “Our dynamic with the three of us and Emily and Colin was great, and we were concerned that adding someone else might disrupt that. But we invited Brad to see how things felt, and he eventually came around.”
Once Delson returned, his initial hesitation seemed to fade, and he quickly began sharing his creative vision. As Shinoda recalled, “One of the first things Brad said was, ‘I think we could write something heavier, way heavier.’”
Delson’s return was a pivotal moment for the band as they continued to evolve, embracing both the old and new elements of Linkin Park.
