The former Of Mice and Men frontman sparks rumors he might join the group by posting an Instagram video of himself performing with Linkin Park in 2014.
- Aug 31, 2018
AceShowbiz - Former Of Mice & Men frontman Austin Carlile has denied rumours he's set to replace the late Chester Bennington in Linkin Park .
Chester's suicide at the age of 41 has left the nu metal band in limbo, but the group's co-leader Mike Shinoda has said he's open to continuing with the band when he has finished his current solo tour.
Austin, 30, who quit Of Mice & Men in 2016 due to his struggles with Marfan syndrome, sparked rumours he might join the group by teasing his return to music on social media and posting an Instagram video of himself performing with Linkin Park in 2014, when the two acts toured together.
Fans took this as a sign he would be replacing Chester, forcing him to shut down speculation with a tweet denying that fronting a new iteration of the group would be his next project.
"Chester is one in a billion," he replied. "There's no way myself or anyone else for that matter would ever be able to replace him. Performing 'Faint' every night on our European tour together & festivals stateside, was one of the most special memories of my career. New project, yes. LP, no."
Chester is one in a billion. There's no way myself or anyone else for that matter would ever be able to replace him. Performing "Faint" every night on our European tour together & festivals stateside, was one of the most special memories of my career. New project, yes. LP, no.
— Austin Carlile (@austincarlile) 29 August 2018
The rocker pulled out of Of Mice & Men's 2016 tour due to his struggle with his rare genetic disorder - which affects sufferers' connective tissue - and moved to Costa Rica to improve his health. He officially left the group the following January.
Austin was friends with Chester and attended his funeral in California last July.
