Friendly Fire: A Tribute to the Late Singer
Linkin Park, the iconic rock band that has sold over 100 million records worldwide, has surprised their fans with a new song called Friendly Fire, featuring the vocals of their late singer Chester Bennington. The song was released on Friday, February 23, 2024, as the lead single of their upcoming greatest hits album Papercuts, which is set to come out on April 12, 2024.
Friendly Fire is a previously unreleased track that was recorded during the sessions for Linkin Park’s seventh and final studio album One More Light, which came out in 2017. The song showcases Bennington’s powerful and emotional voice, as he sings about the pain of hurting the ones he loves and the futility of fighting for no reason. The song also features the rap verses of Mike Shinoda, the co-vocalist and multi-instrumentalist of the band, and the guitar work of Brad Delson, the lead guitarist and co-producer of the band.
The song was accompanied by a music video, directed and edited by Mark Fiore, who has worked with Linkin Park since 2000. The video features unseen footage of the band in the studio and on stage, as well as clips of Bennington’s energetic and passionate performances. The video is a tribute to the singer, who died by suicide on July 20, 2017, at the age of 41.
Papercuts: A Career-Spanning Compilation
Papercuts is the title of Linkin Park’s forthcoming compilation album, which will celebrate their 24-year-long career and their legacy as one of the most influential and successful bands of the 21st century. The album will include 20 songs, spanning from their debut album Hybrid Theory (2000) to their last album One More Light (2017), as well as two new songs: Friendly Fire and Papercuts, the latter being the title track and the second single of the album.
The album’s title is a reference to the band’s original name, Xero, which means zero or nothing in Greek. The band changed their name to Linkin Park in 1999, after they failed to secure a record deal under the name Xero. The title also reflects the band’s humble beginnings, as they used to make demo tapes with cheap equipment and paper labels. The album’s cover art, designed by Joe Hahn, the band’s DJ and visual artist, features a collage of the band’s previous album covers, as well as a paper cutout of Bennington’s silhouette.
The album is a testament to the band’s evolution and diversity, as they experimented with different genres and styles throughout their career, from nu metal and rap rock to alternative rock and pop. The album is also a tribute to Bennington, who was the main vocalist and songwriter of the band, and whose voice and lyrics touched millions of fans around the world.
Linkin Park: A Legacy of Music and Activism
Linkin Park was formed in 1996 in Agoura Hills, California, by Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Rob Bourdon, Joe Hahn, and Dave Farrell. Chester Bennington joined the band in 1999, after auditioning for them over the phone. The band rose to fame with their debut album Hybrid Theory, which became the best-selling album of the 2000s in the US, and one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 50 million copies sold worldwide. The album spawned hit singles such as One Step Closer, Crawling, In the End, and Papercut, and earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for Crawling.
The band continued to release critically and commercially successful albums, such as Meteora (2003), Minutes to Midnight (2007), A Thousand Suns (2010), Living Things (2012), The Hunting Party (2014), and One More Light (2017), each showcasing the band’s musical growth and experimentation. The band also collaborated with other artists, such as Jay-Z, Steve Aoki, Stormzy, and Pusha T, and performed at various festivals and events, such as Live 8, Download Festival, Rock in Rio, and the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.
The band was also known for their activism and philanthropy, as they founded the non-profit organization Music for Relief in 2005, which aimed to provide aid and raise awareness for victims of natural disasters and environmental issues. The band also supported various causes and campaigns, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the Power the World initiative, the One More Light Fund, and the 320 Changes Direction movement.
The band’s future remains uncertain, as they have not released any new music or performed live since Bennington’s death, except for a tribute concert in October 2017, which featured guest appearances from other artists and friends of the band. The band has stated that they are open to continuing as Linkin Park, but they have not found a replacement for Bennington, nor have they decided on their next musical direction. The band has expressed their gratitude and love for their fans, who have supported them throughout their career and their loss.
Friendly Fire and Papercuts are available on all streaming platforms and digital stores. Papercuts will be released on April 12, 2024, and can be pre-ordered on the band’s official website. The band has also launched a new merchandise line, featuring t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and accessories, inspired by the album’s artwork and theme.