The rock community is alive with speculation that Deryck Whibley, the lead singer of Sum 41, may be stepping into one of the most iconic roles in modern rock as the new lead singer of Linkin Park.
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The rumor has gained a lot of traction this week after cryptic social media posts from both bands put fans on alert.
Sum 41 lit the fuse on August 25, teasing a “Deryck Whibley announcement” scheduled for Wednesday morning (August 28) PST.
Oddly enough, Linkin Park had started a 100-hour countdown on their website just a day earlier, set to end at the same time as the Sum 41 reveal. The highly coincidental timing has, of course, fueled intense speculation about a possible connection.
However, since Chester Bennington's tragic death in 2017, the band has been without a full-time lead singer.
Earlier this year, Bulletin board reported that the band are eyeing a reunion tour in 2025, with sources hinting at the possibility of a female singer taking the helm.
Orgy's Jay Gordon sparked the whispers earlier this year when he said he heard the band might be bringing in a female singer. However, Gordon later clarified that his comments had been taken out of context, saying, “Regarding this thing about Linkin Park singers. I don't know anything about all this.”
Whibley's connection to Linkin Park runs deep. He played at the Bennington tribute concert in October 2017 and later, Mike Shinoda joined Sum 41 on stage at Reading festival 2018 for a cover of Linkin Park's “Faint”.
However, when asked in 2022 about possibly filling Bennington's shoes, Whibley was hesitant.
On The Jasta showhe remarked, “I think it's an impossible task… I think it's impossible to fill those shoes. I don't know if [Linkin Park is] will ever do anything. I have no idea what he will look like or who he could be.''
Asked if he would join the band if the opportunity presented itself, he added, “It's so unlikely that it's too weird to even think of it as a joke.”
“I don't know how anyone could fill those shoes,” he added, “I think it would be difficult.”
Fan reaction to the possibility of Whibley joining Linkin Park was mixed. On Redditone fan expressed concern: “I'm just worried he'll be too much like Chester and fall behind.” Another offered a more optimistic view: “He couldn't do the screaming songs, but he could handle most of the setlist.”
However, there is also optimism among fans, with one user noting: “Deryck honestly sounds pretty good [Faint]… interesting.”
Whibley's life and career are at a pivotal moment, not only because of speculation about Linkin Park but also because of his recently announced memoir. Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hellis set to be released on October 8 via Gallery Books.
The memoir chronicles the rocker's journey through the highs and lows of his life, both personally and with Sum 41.
“Ten years ago, I found myself on the brink of death in a hospital bed,” Whibley said in a statement about the book's launch.
“Surviving that moment, I made a promise to myself: I would fight harder than ever for this band and try to be the best version of myself. Today, I'm proud to say that Sum 41 is experiencing the biggest success of our career, with our biggest radio hits and playing the biggest shows of our lives.”
He continued, “This book is the story of that journey – through the good, the bad and the really ugly. It's about how I fought my way back, the battles I faced along the way and how I turned those struggles into the fuel that fuels everything I do now.”
To promote the memoir, Whibley will embark on a US book tour in October, making stops in cities including Jersey City, Boston, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
In addition to his memoir, Whibley and Sum 41 are currently on their latest tour. Browse Setting Sumwhich started earlier this year. The band will perform their biggest show to date in Paris in November, followed by their final shows in their hometown of Toronto in January 2025.
Their last and final double album, Heaven :x: Hellenjoyed commercial success, with singles such as “Landmines,” which topped Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart, marking the band's first No. 1 single since 2001's “Fat Lip.”
As the clock ticks down to the expected announcements, the rock community is on edge. Whether Whibley is set to join Linkin Park or something completely different is in the works, fans are ready for the reveal.
Check out Linkin Park's YouTube countdown post here.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/sum-41-deryck-whibley-might-be-linkin-park-new-frontman-1235761716/
