Chester Bennington to Those Who Think Linkin Park Sold Out: ‘I Will Punch You In Your F–king Mouth,’ ‘You’re a F–king P–sy’

Earlier this month, Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington made headlines for telling fans to "move the f--k on" from Hybrid Theory after discussing the backlash the band has faced while promoting their new pop-centric album, One More Light. The singer has remained fired up, blasting those who believe the group has sold out.

Speaking with Kerrang!, Bennington and co-vocalist / guitarist Mike Shinoda discussed the approach of their new album and the perception fans have of the new Linkin Park sound. Bennington's incendiary attitude opened up once more as the band was aware their pop direction could turn off the harder rock fans. “And I think… I’m not going to speak… this is not an opinion of the entire band… I think my response was ‘cool, f--- them we don’t want them as fans anyways.’ By now, if people don’t know that we can throw a curveball then f--- them," the frontman said.

Bennington went on to infer that it is okay is fans don't like the new sound, but railed against those who feel Linkin Park had an ulterior motive in making the sonic switch. "But if you’re gonna be the person who says like, 'They made a marketing decision to make this kind of record to make money,' you can f--king meet me outside and I will punch you in your f--king mouth because that is the wrong f--king answer," he continued.

He further laced into fans who have branded the group as sell outs, stating, "Because guess what, calling us a sell out for that purpose is… selling out on your f--king excuse as to why you don’t like it. You’re a f--king pussy." Bennington then went on to stress the importance of taking "the chance to do something that you felt was important to you" because "that’s what being an artist is all about," regardless of what the fan perception may be.

Linkin Park's discography has explored a variety of sounds in the past and Bennington noted that the band consciously risked their career when making Minutes to Midnight. The band understood that "this could honestly be like the worst decision we’ve ever made professionally," the singer said about the 2007 album," continuing, "Creatively probably the best thing, professionally it might be the worst. We were like ‘We’re good with that. We can live with that.’

Closing things out, Bennington explained the difference between not liking the music and attacking the band. "When you make it personal, like a personal attack against who we are as people, like dude shut up. That means that I can actually have feelings about it and most of the time my feelings are I want to kill you," he said.

After the now infamous "move the f--k on" comment, Slipknot / Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor advised Bennington, "Be fortunate for what you have, be fortunate for that fact that people are still coming to see you to hear the music. Give it a little time, you have to give it a little time. In retrospect, maybe two or three years from now you put out an album and it makes them appreciate this one more. You have to pick your spots, dude, and this is coming from the guy who’s notorious for running his mouth.”

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