When it comes to selecting new vocalists, Fear Factory, etc. guitarist Dino Cazares has some experience. Outside of welcoming Milo Silvestro into the aforementioned gold-certified cyber metal outfit, and a bitter split with that band’s original frontman Burton C. Bell, Cazares also went through several vocalists in another of his bands, Divine Heresy.
The most notable of those singers was Tommy Vext, whose time in the group came to an end after a violent altercation played out between Vext, Cazares, and more, amid a show the group performed back in 2008. In the wake of the recent controversy surrounding Linkin Park‘s new vocalist Emily Armstrong, Cazares recently chimed in on X with the lessons he’s learned from his own experiences on bringing someone new into the fold, posting:
Before I picked my new singer he was vetted thoroughly. I’ve learned my lesson with a past singer in one of my other bands.
— Dino Cazares (@DinoCazares) September 9, 2024
Linkin Park have found themselves under fire for enlisting Armstrong, given her ties to Scientology and her past public support for convicted rapist Danny Masterson. The latter was sentenced to 30 years in prison last year after being found guilty of raping multiple women. Following the reveal of her new role in Linkin Park, Armstrong issued this statement last weekend, distancing herself from Masterson.
However, her association with the Church of Scientology, and her past relationship with Masterson haven’t sat well with a vocal contingent of the band’s fanbase. Armstrong took over the vocal duties in Linkin Park from the late Chester Bennington, who was public with own experiences as the victim of childhood sexual abuse. As such, he went on to become an advocate for victims of sexual abuse.
