Linkin Park is a band that has had a massive impact on the music industry in the last two decades. Their unique blend of rock, alternative, and hip-hop has made them a household name, and their fans are some of the most passionate in the world. When the band’s lead singer, Chester Bennington, tragically passed away in 2017, fans were left devastated. Since then, there have been discussions about how the band will continue without Bennington, and if they will use holograms to honor him during their live shows. However, the band has made it clear that they will not be using holograms in any of their performances.
The use of holograms has become increasingly popular in the music industry, with deceased artists being brought back to life through the use of technology. However, Linkin Park has decided to take a different approach. In an interview, the band’s other singer and rapper, Mike Shinoda, stated that they will not be using holograms to honor Bennington because they want to keep his memory alive in a more personal way. Instead, the band has been performing tribute shows, where they play their songs and share personal stories about Bennington and what he meant to them. Check this out.
The rise of technology and artificial intelligence has allowed for things to happen that people never imagined.
One of those includes bringing back the dead… virtually.
Ever since the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival had a Tupac Shakur “hologram” wrapping his part of a song, the live entertainment industry has been wondering if this is something that could actually work.
Would it be possible to use AI to recreate someone and put them in a live performance setting? More importantly, would fans enjoy it?
The band’s singer Mike Shinoda said in a recent interview that he finds it “creepy,” if they were going to use a hologram version of their late singer Chester Bennington, who passed away in 2017.
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“Those are creepy. Even if we weren’t talking about Linkin Park, if we weren’t talking about Chester, which is a very sensitive subject, and we would have our feelings about how we would represent that. For me, that’s a clear no. I’m not into that,” Shinoda told 94.5 The Buzz.
Shinoda’s response came after one of the radio hosts said that they would pay “good money” to see a Chester hologram.
Mike Shinoda states that Linkin Park will never do a Chester Bennington hologram tour https://t.co/uuH9NqGW92
— Metal Hammer (@MetalHammer) March 14, 2023
This decision by Linkin Park to not use holograms is a testament to the band’s commitment to honoring Bennington in a way that is true to their relationship with him. They want to keep his memory alive in a way that feels genuine and personal. Furthermore, the band’s decision to perform tribute performances shows that they are committed to keeping the spirit of Linkin Park alive, even without their beloved lead singer.
As a fan that has sung twice with the band, any virtual version of Chester would amount to heresy and would alienate true fans. Chester would not have wanted to be remembered like that.
Although some fans may think it’d be cool to be able to experience an artist that may have passed or someone they never were able to see live, Shinoda is right that there is definitely an uneasiness and a downright weirdness when you’re seeing someone who isn’t really there, suddenly appearing.
And despite what fans may want, it’s ultimately up to and should be up to the band themselves and what they want first.
Linkin Park’s decision to not use holograms to honor Chester Bennington is a reflection of their dedication to keeping his memory alive in a personal and genuine way. The band’s tribute shows are a testament to their commitment to keeping the spirit of Linkin Park alive, even without their lead singer. While holograms have become a popular way to bring deceased artists back to life, Linkin Park has decided to honor Bennington in a way that is true to their relationship with him, and that is something that should be respected and admired.