Mike Shinoda has revealed that Linkin Park’s founding drummer Rob Bourdon “wanted to put some distance between himself and the band”.

In an interview with Billboard discussing the nu-metal heroes’ big return and their two new members – co-vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain – Mike confirms that, following a 20-plus-year stint that began all the way back in 1996, longtime sticksman Rob won’t be a part of things in LP going forwards.

“Rob had said to us at a point, I guess it was a few years ago now, that he wanted to put some distance between himself and the band,” Mike explains. “And we understood that – it was already apparent. He was starting to just show up less, be in less contact, and I know the fans noticed it too. The Hybrid Theory rerelease and Papercuts release, he didn’t show up for anything. So 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.”

Going into how Colin then joined, the singer says: “I had done sessions with Colin – I met him around 2021, when I got an invite to a session with a couple of different writers, and Colin was one of the guys in the room, and I immediately clicked with him. He’s playing drums in the live show, and drums are his first instrument, but he plays guitar and bass and keyboard, and he produces and mixes. We have a similar way of looking at music, of starting from scratch, and I really enjoyed working with him and bouncing ideas back-and-forth. I don’t know if any of these songs are going to be released, but we had done something with grandson, Bea Miller, Sueco – just getting in the room together to make stuff. And then when Linkin Park started making stuff, for whatever we were going to do, it was just like, ‘Oh, Colin. We’re making stuff. You should come over.’”