In the early stages of Linkin Park’s revival, longtime guitarist Brad Delson made the unexpected decision to step back from performing live. While Alex Feder has been brought in as his onstage replacement, Delson remains an integral part of the band, contributing to new music behind the scenes. However, his initial hesitation about rejoining the band has sparked discussion among fans.
During an appearance on the Zach Sang Show, Mike Shinoda shed light on Delson’s choice, emphasizing its personal nature:
“In case anybody doesn’t understand the dynamic, our guitarist Brad is our guitarist—he’s in the band—but he’s realized that in terms of his… It’s kind of a mental health thing,” Shinoda explained.
“He doesn’t love the touring and the live show lifestyle, and so he is our guitarist, but he’s not playing live. So he’s chosen… he found a guy named Alex who’s spectacular, a really good guitarist, and they get along great, and Brad chose Alex to play his parts live.”
Shinoda also discussed how the search for a live guitarist unfolded, revealing that Colin Brittain, the band’s new drummer, was initially considered for the role before Feder was selected:
“At the time, we hadn’t met Alex, and so we asked [Colin Brittain]. I was, like, ‘Brad needs somebody to play guitar, and we need a drummer. You do both equally well. What would you wanna do?’ And he was just like a kid in a candy store. I think he said, ‘I can’t believe what you’re asking me right now.’ He was so excited.”
While Delson has chosen to prioritize his well-being, Shinoda’s comments affirm that he remains a vital part of Linkin Park’s creative core. Meanwhile, Feder and Brittain bring fresh energy to the band’s live performances, bridging the gap as Linkin Park continues to evolve.
