LINKIN PARK's MIKE SHINODA: 'We Are Not Looking For A New Singer'

LINKIN PARK vocalist Mike Shinoda has shot down reports that the band is actively searching for a replacement for singer Chester Bennington, who died nearly two years ago.

On Thursday (February 21),Shinoda took to his Twitter account to write: "Lemme clarify a rumor: we are not looking for a new singer, and if it were to happen organically, I'd be open. Seems pretty clear, yet I guess some folks have a hard time understanding.

"I'm not into predicting the future. The future will happen.

"Stop making shit up."

Shinoda made his latest comments in an apparent response to how the media covered a recent interview he gave to Rock Antenne. Asked whether he and the other members of the band have gotten together recently, Shinoda told the German outlet: "I see the other guys here and there — not all together usually. Usually it's just one on one. But I'm sure we're gonna get together soon and just hang out — hang out and see what's up."

When asked about the possibility of finding a new singer, Shinoda said: "That's not my goal right now. I think it has to happen naturally. And if we find somebody that's a great person that we think is a good personality fit and a good stylistic fit, then I could see trying to do some stuff with somebody... I wouldn't wanna ever feel like we were replacing Chester."

Shinoda added: "I know the other guys, they love to get onstage, they love to be in the studio, and so to not do that would be — I don't know — almost unhealthy. If doing that means that we need to have some other people in the mix in order to do it and do it well, then we would do that... But, like I said before, it has to happen naturally. I'm not running out and putting up 'vocalist wanted' posters."

Shinoda released a full-length solo album called "Post Traumatic" last year, and says he is continuing to write music both for himself and other artists, along with doing some producing.

Bennington was found dead in his Los Angeles-area home in July 2017 after hanging himself. LINKIN PARK headlined an all-star tribute concert for Bennington in October 2017 in Los Angeles but has not announced any future plans for recording or touring.