While You Were Away: Linkin Park’s Controversial New Singer, New Music From Knocked Loose, 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, And More
While you were catching up on sleep over the weekend, we gathered the music news you missed out on. Catch up on the latest stories with this week’s While You Were Away featuring new music from Knocked Loose and The Linda Lindas, plus details about next year’s Super Bowl halftime show, controversy with Linkin Park’s new singer, and more.
The Linda Lindas share new song ‘No Obligation’
The Linda Lindas have shared the title track from their upcoming second album, out October 11th via Epitaph.
“Eloise [Wong, bass] wrote this ripper because we won’t adhere to what anyone else thinks we should sound like or who they think we are,” the band says of the song. “We don’t make music out of obligation – we make music out of love. And we’re so grateful for all of the opportunities music has given us, like going to Japan and making this video with a team including Naoko from Shonen Knife! Enjoy.”
Listen to the song below.
Pre-order No Obligation here.
Kendrick Lamar to headline 2025 Super Bowl halftime show
The NFL has revealed that Kendrick Lamar will headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. The big event takes place at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9th.
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why,” Lamar said in a statement. “They got the right one.”
JAY-Z, whose Roc Nation curates and co-produces the halftime show, added: “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”
Lamar made his Super Bowl debut in 2022 as a special guest during Dr. Dre’s Super Bowl halftime show performing a medley of “m.A.A.d city” and “Alright.”
Knocked Loose unveil video for ‘Moss Covers All’ / ‘Take Me Home’
Knocked Loose have shared the new music video for the combined track “Moss Covers All” and “Take Me Home” from their latest album, You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To.
The black-and-white performance video, directed and edited by Eric Richter and Knocked Loose vocalist Bryan Garris, was filmed in the band’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Things turn sinister as Garris begins walking through a building encountering people in a trance-like state lurking in the corners.
“I’ve had the idea for these two videos since before the album was announced,” Garris says of the video. “They didn’t make the cut as the original singles, but I knew eventually I wanted to bring this idea to life. I knew I wanted to do it with Eric Richter. A one take / no cuts or edits video is something I’ve always wanted to do. A lot of moving parts and hard working extras on and off camera to make this work. I’m so happy with it.”
Watch the video below.
New Linkin Park singer comes under fire for Scientology and Danny Masterson ties
New Linkin Park singer Emily Armstrong is being called out for her ties with Scientology and past friendship with Danny Masterson. Both fans and The Mars Volta‘s Cedric Bixler-Zavala have criticized the band for “not thoroughly vetting” their new singer.
A day after Linkin Park’s big return, Armstrong addressed her friendship with Masterson in a statement saying she once considered him a friend and admitted to attending one of his court hearings as an “observer.”
“Soon after, I realized I shouldn’t have,” Armstrong said. “I always try to see the good in people, and I misjudged him. I have never spoken with him since. Unimaginable details emerged and he was later found guilty. To say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I empathize with the victims of these crimes.”
Bixler-Zavala and his wife Chrissie Carnell-Bixler (one of three women Masterson was charged with raping) criticized Armstrong for not mentioning Masterson by name or speaking out against Scientology.
“If you’re not going to speak out against the human and child trafficking cult in which you are apart [sic] of and in which you enable by remaining silent on the crimes you know about then you have no right to fill the shoes of Chester Bennington, a true advocate,” Carnell-Bixler wrote in her Instagram Story. “I don’t give a fuck that you are very close to the serial rapist. I don’t give a fuck that you lied in your ‘apology’ instagram story. I do care that you participated, after being asked, in the cruel intimidation of Jane Doe 1 with your cult pals at court.”
Linkin Park have yet to address the controversy. Read all the statements below.
Tours on sale this week
Silverstein will celebrate their 25th anniversary with a UK/European tour with Thursday, The Callous Daoboys, and BLOOM. The tour kicks off on February 28th in Manchester and runs through March 15th in Cologne. Tickets on sale here.
Soccer Mommy has announced her 2025 tour that will make stops across North America, Europe, and the UK. The North American leg starts on January 22nd in Atlanta and wraps up on March 21st in Nashville. The European/UK leg will kick off in Lisbon on April 26th and runs through May 22nd in Warsaw. See the full list of dates here.
Hot Milk recently announced a run of U.K. headline shows set for this year with support from unpeople. Shows start October 31st in Liverpool and wrap up November 4th in Bournemouth. See all the dates here.
The Sisters of Mercy will play two special headline dates in London next year. The band will perform across two nights at the Roundhouse in Camden on May 25th and 26th as part of the “All Wires Red” tour. Get tickets here.
