Linkin Park hasn’t toured since the tragic passing of Chester Bennington in July 2017; however, they’re still an active band, with bassist Dave Farrell revealing in April 2020 they were working on new music. Now, during an interview with the Tuna on Toast podcast Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda has been asked about the possibility of them returning to the road. He would answer by saying that while physically he could still tour, now is not the time, and they haven’t addressed the emotional and creative side. He would also shoot down the idea of a hologram tour, saying, “It’s awful.“
For me, I’m like, ok physically, I could still tour, that part’s good. Hopefully, that doesn’t change any time soon. But now is not the time. We don’t have the focus on it. We don’t have the math worked out. And I don’t mean that by financial math, I mean that like emotional and creative math.
Mike ShinodaNegative a million percent. I hate the idea of doing a Linkin Park hologram thing. It’s awful.
Mike ShinodaFor those unaware, hologram tours are a way for fans to see their favorite deceased artists perform in front of them. Perhaps the most famous hologram performance was by rapper Tupac Shakur who appeared at Coachella in 2012, alongside the real-life Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Since then, multiple other stars have appeared in this manner, including Ronnie James Dio, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Roy Orbison. Critics of the technology say it creates an inauthentic and possibly even eerie experience. While advocates believe it is a way for the star to live on and continue to share their music in a live setting.
