AVENGED SEVENFOLD'S M. SHADOWS TALKS LINKIN PARK

By Michael Connelly

AVENGED SEVENFOLD's M. Shadows believes that the remaining members of  LINKIN PARK have the right to continue making music. This past July 20 Chester Bennington, the former frontman of LINKIN PARK,  committed suicide at 41. LINKIN PARK paid tribute to Bennington on October 27th in a 3 hour show that captivated audiences with numerous guest performers. Shadows was in attendance at the event. 

FLASH FORWARD TO NOW:
In an interview with Eddie Trunk, Shadows talks about LINKIN PARK'S future. He said: "I didn't know Chester very well; I knew him kind of fleetingly, I guess. But I'm really good friends with Mike Shinoda and Dave [Farrell]. Me and Mike hang out every summer when Coachella happens, and Desert Trip [last] year, when they had Roger Waters and Paul McCartney and all that. So he usually comes out to the house out there and we'll hang out all weekend. He actually played me this whole record [LINKIN PARK's latest album, 'One More Light'] before it came out, and it was pretty haunting at the time, even hearing Chester's demos on the record. And then for this all to happen is just heartbreaking."

Shadows told Trunk, "It's gonna be hard to lose Chester; he easily was one of the best vocalists of our time. From when I was growing up, just watching them live, he just was flawless for what he did. And it's gonna be tough, but at the same time, Mike is such a hard worker and he's so dedicated to that band and put so much time in that I can't just see him just being done with it."

Shadows knows all about loss from losing his band mate. In 2009 Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan died as a result of prescription drug overdose.  Recouping after a loss is the most important thing you can do. Losing anyone at a young age is truly a tragedy. Chester was also in mourning of his good friend Chris Cornell. Cornell also committed suicide this year. Many speculate this caused a reaction from Bennington. 

"It would just be a shame if they stopped making music altogether; I don't know if it's under a different name or if they'd keep the LINKIN PARK name. "-Shadows to Eddie Trunk