Sum 41's Whibley: Linkin Park's New Frontman?
The rock world is abuzz with speculation that Deryck Whibley, the frontman of Canadian punk rock band Sum 41, could be stepping into the iconic role of Linkin Park's new lead vocalist. The rumour mill has gone into overdrive following cryptic social media posts from both bands, leaving fans in a frenzy.
Sum 41 ignited the flames on August 25th, teasing a "Deryck Whibley announcement" scheduled for Wednesday morning (August 28th) Pacific Standard Time. Just a day earlier, Linkin Park launched a 100-hour countdown on their website, set to conclude simultaneously with Sum 41's reveal. The coincidental timing has, naturally, fuelled intense speculation about a possible connection.
Linkin Park, one of the most successful rock groups of the 2000s, has been without a full-time lead vocalist since the tragic passing of Chester Bennington in 2017. Earlier this year, *Billboard
reported that the band was considering a reunion tour in 2025, with whispers circulating about a potential female vocalist taking the reins.
Adding fuel to the fire, Orgy's Jay Gordon mentioned hearing about a female singer joining the band. However, he later clarified that his comments were taken out of context.
Whibley's connection to Linkin Park is undeniable. He performed at Bennington's tribute concert in October 2017 and later, Mike Shinoda joined Sum 41 on stage at the 2018 Reading Festival for a cover of Linkin Park's "Faint".
However, when asked in 2022 about potentially replacing Bennington, Whibley expressed reservations. On *The Jasta Show*, he remarked, "I think that's an impossible task⦠I think those are impossible shoes to fill. I don't know if [Linkin Park is] ever gonna do anything. I have no idea what that's gonna look like, or who that could be."
Asked if he would join the band if the opportunity arose, he added, "That is such a non-possibility that it's too weird to even, like, sort of joke-think about it."
Fan reactions to the potential of Whibley joining Linkin Park have been mixed. On Reddit, some fans expressed concern, worrying that his sound might be too similar to Chester's, potentially falling short. Others offered a more optimistic view, suggesting he could handle most of the setlist, but perhaps not the high-energy screaming tracks. There's also optimism among fans, with some noting that Whibley sounded "pretty good" on "Faint."
Whibley's career is at a pivotal moment, not just due to the Linkin Park speculation, but also because of his recently announced memoir, *Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell*, set for release on October 8th. The book chronicles his 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 release. "Surviving that moment, I made a promise to myself: I would fight harder than ever for this band and strive to become the best version of myself. Today, Iâm proud to say that Sum 41 is experiencing the greatest success in our career, with our biggest hits on the radio and performing at the largest shows of our lives."
He continued, "This book is the story of that journeyâthrough the good, the bad, and the really fucking 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 powers everything I do now."
To promote the memoir, Whibley will embark on a US book tour in October, with 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 final tour, *Tour of the Setting Sum*, which kicked off earlier this year. The band will perform their largest show to date in Paris this November, followed by their final hometown shows in Toronto in January 2025.
Their latest and final double album, *Heaven :x: Hell*, has been a commercial success, featuring singles like "Landmines", which topped Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart, marking the band's first No. 1 single since "Fat Lip" in 2001.
As the clock ticks down to the anticipated announcements, the rock community is on edge. Whether Whibley is about to join Linkin Park or something entirely different is in the works, fans are ready for the reveal.
To see Linkin Park's countdown post on YouTube, head over to their channel.
