Ex-Of Mice & Men singer Austin Carlile denies he is joining Linkin Park

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“Chester is one in a billion. There's no way anyone would ever be able to replace him”

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Former Of Mice And Men frontman Austin Carlile has dismissed rumours that he is joining Linkin Park as replacement for Chester Bennington.

Speculation grew when Carlile shared footage of him onstage with Linkin Park in 2014 on Instagram, prompting some fans to suggest that he would be stepping into the shoes of Bennington, who died in July 2017.

"Don't turn your back on me, I won't be ignored." @chesterbe @linkinpark Austin Carlile

A photo posted by @austincarlile on Aug 28, 2018 at 11:30am PDT

Carlile responded to Loudwire, who ran a report on the rumours, with a tweet to clarify the claim: “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.”

Carlile left Of Mice & Men in December 2016. He recently revealed that he is working on an unspecified new project. He posted the announcement from hospital, where has was receiving treatment for genetic connective tissue disorder Marfan Syndrome. 

Dave Everley
Dave Everley

Dave Everley has been writing about and occasionally humming along to music since the early 90s. During that time, he has been Deputy Editor on Kerrang! and Classic Rock, Associate Editor on Q magazine and staff writer/tea boy on Raw, not necessarily in that order. He has written for Metal Hammer, Louder, Prog, the Observer, Select, Mojo, the Evening Standard and the totally legendary Ultrakill. He is still waiting for Billy Gibbons to send him a bottle of hot sauce he was promised several years ago.