Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson has confirmed that he will not be participating in the band’s upcoming world tour. This announcement comes shortly after the band’s recent livestream event, where they unveiled their comeback, including two new members: vocalist Emily Armstrong, formerly of Dead Sara, and drummer Colin Brittain.

During the event, Linkin Park performed a new track, “The Emptiness Machine,” alongside some of their classic hits. They also announced a new album titled From Zero and shared plans for a brief world tour consisting of six shows across various global locations. This marks their first release of new music since the tragic passing of lead singer Chester Bennington in 2017.

In a recent interview with Billboard about the band’s return, co-founder Mike Shinoda revealed that longtime drummer Rob Bourdon has decided to leave the group. Following this, Brad Delson also announced he would not be joining the tour, though he will remain involved with Linkin Park by contributing to the creation of new music and supporting the band behind the scenes.

In an Instagram post on September 6, Delson expressed gratitude to the fans for their “support and love” and praised new members Armstrong and Brittain, saying he was “in awe of their talent, passion, and partnership.”

“I’ve always felt deeply connected to and proud of our live performances. Over the years I’ve realized I thrive most when I’m actively working with my bandmates behind the scenes––in the studio, collaborating on our new music, and helping build our live show,” Delson explained.

He also introduced guitarist Alex Feder, who performed with Linkin Park during the livestream event and will be stepping into Delson’s role for future live performances.

“I am so proud of everything we continue to create together. While I will not be performing on tour in this new chapter, I am super excited to introduce Alex—my handsome deputy on the road. Alex is a world-class musician, a kind and thoughtful friend, and we are truly fortunate he’ll be contributing his unique talent to our LP universe,” Delson added.

Reflecting on Rob Bourdon’s departure, Shinoda mentioned that the drummer wanted to “put some distance” between himself and the band, noting, “For me, as a friend, that was sad, but at the same time, I want him to do whatever makes him happy, and obviously everybody wishes him the best.”

Meanwhile, the addition of Emily Armstrong to the band has stirred some controversy. Although initially well-received by fans and peers, a resurfaced message from The Mars Volta and former At The Drive-In frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala, which allegedly links her to Scientology and convicted rapist Danny Masterson, has sparked debate.

Linkin Park’s upcoming tour will include six arena shows from September to November, beginning at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on September 11, with stops in New York, Germany, London, South Korea, and Colombia. Tickets are available now via the official Linkin Park website.