In light of the announcement of the new Linkin Park singer Emily Armstrong, I thought I'd do this Three Tune Tuesday (founded by @ablaze) with some of my all time heroes. I've listened to her sing, and although she does have a powerful voice, she's well...she's not Chester.
Of course, these are quite big shoes to fill, and I think it's safe to say that they never will be.
I think Linkin Park will have to go into a different direction from now on, and not remain in the past. It'll be hard. Not only Chester has left the building, but also drummer Rob Bourdon has been replaced. I had the honor to meet the band in person about 24 years or so ago, in Vegas. They weren't really that big yet, but would soon be, and they were opening for the Deftones.
I managed to score tickets to that concert by making the whole call center where I worked call the radio station Xtreme radio, and eventually, one of us got through. But the concert wasn't even the best part. Before the concert, there was a Xtreme radio rooftop show, where only invited guests could go, and where Linkin Park would be playing a few of their songs. I was one of the lucky ones!
At the time (and sometimes I still do) I had a thing for drummers, so I couldn't believe my luck when Rob Bourdon and I ended up having a chat. But Chester...well, he always had a special place in my heart. I'm usually not starstruck, but there are a few artists who died, and every time I hear their music, there's just a little more emotion than with others. Chester is one of them.
So here it goes. My favorite Linkin Park song of all times. I chose this particular version because it's easy to see the man behind the legend.
Crawling by Linkin Park
Source: Linkin Park's You Tube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZU9T1ceaOgwfLRq7OKFU4Q
My second tune is another one where the singer has passed on, and eventually his shoes are filled.
This time, it's the lead singer's own son. Again, he has a great voice, but unfortunately, Jacob Nowell can't fill the shoes of his father Bradley either. Again, it's hard to do, and maybe these people shouldn't try to. In some of the tunes he actually comes close. I'm not trying to cut any of these new artists down. They all have their good things, and they all have talent, that's for sure. It's mostly about personal taste too! And personally, I think Bradley's voice was one of a kind.
Santeria by Sublime
Source: The Sublime YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEJ-A6sXsxg0PxdUjgrF2Jw
The third one is another one of my weak and sentimental spots. Around the same year (a little bit before this) when I saw Linkin Park, the same radio station organized a huge festival in Las Vegas called the Big concert. This was held quite a few years. Definitely while I was there, and probably for a few more years after I left. There were so many bands that would play, I couldn't tell ya how many. What I do know is that every year, like tradition, the band Kittie would play, as well as Cypress Hill. I saw Static X that day too, whose lead singer also tragically died a few years ago.
But I wasn't there for any of them. I was there mostly for Stone Temple Pilots, who were headlining.
Scott Weiland had just gotten out of prison after 2 years or so, so there hadn't been any live performances by them for at least that long.
The day was a little strange, because stupid little me decided to have no breakfast, smoke a joint and drink a Strongbow on our way to the concert. Then once we arrived we discovered we forgot the tickets...So we had to go all the way back home, to the other side of Vegas, which was a big deal with so many people coming and going. Luckily, my landlord was kind enough to give us a lift back to the place, so we didn't miss too much of it (not that I cared, as I was there for one of them only).
I remember seeing Kittie, Static-X, and Cypress Hill. And then all of a sudden I didn't feel so good! I remember taking two steps that were quite wobbly and next thing I knew, I open my eyes and I'm on the ground while this strange girl is pouring water in my mouth...
Hey, I was young. How could I have known that the combi of drinking, smoking, no breakfast, no water, and scorching heat could do this to a human being? 😆
Anyway, Jade, my ex was really worried. Not so much about me, but more because he thought that would be the end of our concert...(what a lovely guy, huh? In retrospect, I kinda understand though).
We went up to the stands, got some water and a hotdog, and I was ready to go...
The Stone Temple Pilots were a little delayed, so they came up really late. I think they played for at least 2.5 hours though, and we didn't leave the place until 2am. This trooper made it through the whole day! And when we'd left the house at 11am or so. Not bad huh?
Anyway, here it is. Another one that can never be replaced. And to be honest, I really don't like the new singer at all...
Source: The Stone Temple Pilots Official YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCocfdCiKujljqcGC-STMsCQ
And that was it for me for this week. I hope you liked my choices.
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