There’s no replacing Chester Bennington.
His voice was like an open wound, inviting listeners to feel his pain in a throat-shredding Molotov cocktail of vulnerability and rage that clearly resonated with nu-metal fans of the early 2000s, when Linkin Park’s iconic breakthrough, “Hybrid Theory,” raised the stakes for a genre whose previous standard-bearers had hung their most popular chorus on “I did it all for the nookie.”
His singing went beyond intensely personal. It often felt more like an exorcism.
That all ended in 2017, when the Phoenix-born Bennington died by suicide at 41, a tragic ending to a brilliant career.
Linkin Park took 7 years to move on after losing Chester Bennington
It took his bandmates seven years to reach a point where they felt comfortable returning to that brilliant career they’d shared with Bennington, welcoming Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara in September 2024 to share the spotlight with the other voice that helped make Linkin Park the biggest-selling rock act of the century’s first decade: Mike Shinoda.
One could argue that it seems a fairly reasonable length of time to occupy the sidelines.
Others may insist they should’ve gone on as Led Zeppelin did after losing their drummer, John Bonham, and refrain from a return to active duty.
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Linkin Park fans gave Emily Armstrong a hero’s welcome
There was nothing to suggest that any of the fans who flocked to PHX Arena on Saturday, Sept. 6, for Linkin Park’s first concert in the Valley since 2015 had a problem with them moving on as Linkin Park.
And this is Bennington’s hometown, as Shinoda noted early in the set.
“We’re feeling very grateful to be here in the birthplace of Chester Bennington,” he said, “a year since the relaunch of the band.”
They were seven songs deep in the performance, having just played “Burn It Down,” when a random dude behind me shouted, “Emily (expletive) rocks.”
And to be fair, she does.
Fans listen as Linkin Park performs during their From Zero World Tour at the PHX Arena on Sept. 6, 2025, in Phoenix.
It wasn’t long after joining the fold that Armstrong was taken to task for alleged ties to the Church of Scientology and previous support for prominent Scientologist Danny Masterson of “That ‘70s Show,” who was accused and convicted of rape.
Armstrong responded to the controversy in an Instagram story, writing, “Several years ago, I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearance, and went to one early hearing as an observer. Soon after, I realized I shouldn’t have. I always try to see the good in people, and I misjudged him. I have never spoken with him since.”
As for her role in the band, she has the vocal range to do exactly what the job requires and the personality to make you want to see her prove the doubters wrong.
Members of Linkin Park did their legend proud
Shinoda more than rose to the occasion, as expected.
And the reconstituted touring lineup — with Colin Brittain replacing Rob Bourdon on drums and touring guitarist Alex Feder stepping in for Brad Delson, who hasn’t left the group but has stepped back from touring — did their legend proud.
Chester Bennington’s choir teacher was in the house
Midway through the set, Shinoda strolled through the audience and came across a fan in a graduation cap and gown.
It turned out that particular fan apparently had blown off graduation to attend the concert, a crowd-pleasing moment that couldn’t help but pale in comparison to what happened next when the errant graduate revealed that his mother, also in attendance, had been Bennington’s choir teacher in high school.
“I don’t know if I’d be over here if it wasn’t for you,” he told her.
Linkin Park’s Phoenix concert setlist sparked massive sing-alongs
Linkin Park performs during their From Zero World Tour at the PHX Arena on Sept. 6, 2025, in Phoenix.
The setlist included no fewer than eight songs from their first release with Armstrong in for Bennington, “From Zero,” from “The Emptiness Machine” to “Heavy is the Crown” and “Up from the Bottom.”
But that still left plenty of time to delve into the early singles that continue to define them, from “One Step Closer,” “Papercut” and “In the End” through such crowd-pleasing highlights as “Numb,” “What I’ve Done,” “Bleed It Out,” “New Divide” and “Burn It Down.”
Those songs inspired massive sing-alongs. But the fans seemed just as excited when they delved into the songs from their new album.
It isn’t often that a band survives the loss of a member as essential to their legacy as Bennington. And to be honest, there’s no reason to believe this version of the band will ever scale the heights they scaled with Bennington on board.
But they did send three singles from their latest album to the top of Billboard’s mainstream rock charts, aside from which they clearly gave those fans who flocked to PHX Arena every reason in the world to keep coming back for more.
Linkin Park setlist 2025: From Zero World Tour songs
These are the songs that made the setlist when Linkin Park brought the From Zero World Tour to PHX Arena in Chester Bennington’s hometown.
“Everywhere” (pre-show recording of Michelle Branch song with From Zero countdown)
Act I
Inception Intro A (recording with elements of “Castle of Glass”)
“The Emptiness Machine”
Act II
Creating Intro A (recording with elements of “Castle of Glass”)
“Where’d You Go” (Fort Minor cover)
“Waiting for the End”
“Castle of Glass” (with Jean Dawson)
“When They Come for Me” / “Remember the Name”
Fans listen as Linkin Park performs during their From Zero World Tour at the PHX Arena on Sept. 6, 2025, in Phoenix.
Act III
“Break”/ “Collapse” (recording)
Act IV
“Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson cover; instrumental jam)
“Numb” (with “Numb/Encore” disco intro)
Encore
“Resolution Intro A” (recording; with elements of “Castles of Glass”)
Ed has covered pop music for The Republic since 2007, reviewing festivals and concerts, interviewing legends, covering the local scene and more. He did the same in Pittsburgh for more than a decade. Follow him on X and Instagram @edmasley and on Facebook as Ed Masley. Email him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Linkin Park rocks Phoenix and honors Chester Bennington
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