Linkin Park: 'Outdoor festivals have killed the live experience'

Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington has claimed that 'outdoor festivals have killed the live experience' - adding that they much prefer to play indoors at their own shows. 

The band, who headlined Download last month, were talking to NME about their experience of festivals - and discussed what to expect from their upcoming UK and European shows. 

"I always prefer to play inside," said Bennington. "Rock and roll was not meant to played with the sunshine in your face. It can be done, but it's done begrudgingly because we're forced to do it. I think that it's interesting, but the outdoor festivals killed the live experience a little bit. The whole idea of seeing a rockband is to be in a dark place with lights and the stage and to be part of the show."

He continued: "When you're sitting on the grass in the sunshine, whether the lights are on, it doesn't fucking matter - you're just up there playing songs. Inside, dark, controlled environment, lights, loud music - always better."

Bennington went on to say that he can't wait to "incorporate more of the album into the live show" - with tracks from recent album The Hunting Party adding more 'energy' to gigs. 

"That was something that was inspiring to us," he said. "We wanted to make music that was going to be fun to play live. Not only is it going to be fun to listen to, but for us, when we try to add all of these mid-tempo songs that are singles like 'Iridescent' and 'Numb', they're great songs but we're known for our high-energy show and when we add those songs to the set, the energy is not high.

"We challenged ourselves, even at the beginning of making Living Things, to try and incorporate those songs into the set, and I think that every single track off this record would be fun to incorporate into a live set - so the more tracks that we can add, the better."

NOVEMBER
3 Zurich Hallenstadion
4 Stuttgart Schleyerhalle
6 Cologne Lanxess Arena
7 Amsterdam Ziggo Dome
9 Oberhausen Koenig-Pilsener Arena
10 Hamburg O2 World
12 Leipzig Arena
13 Munich Olympiahalle
14 Vienna Stadthalle
16 Paris Bercy
17 Frankfurt Festhalle
19 Berlin O2 World
20 Bermen OVB Arena
22 Manchester Phones 4 U Arena
23 London O2 Arena