Incandescent Scrutiny of Linkin Park's Show Revealed - Intense backlash towards Linkin Park's live show
On a stormy Saturday night, the Allianz Arena, home of the Champions League Final, became a vast concert venue. American rock titans Linkin Park and violin maestro David Garrett (44) stole the show with their electrifying opening act, but it wasn't without its fair share of controversy.
Dutch TV saw a fiery outburst, as football legend Marco van Basten (60), 1988 European Champion and two-time Champions League winner, vented his frustration on sports channel Ziggo Sport. "This performance is pure bullshit!" he declared. Van Basten was particularly peeved that the teams had to cease their pre-match warm-up a full 30 minutes prior to kick-off, all due to the musical spectacle. He slammed UEFA, calling their treatment of the players a sick joke. His co-commentator, Rafael van der Vaart (42), echoed his sentiments, bemoaning the pre-match performance as a colossal distraction for the athletes.
But social media buzzed with excitement during the performance. "This performance is better than the bloody match!" cheered one fanatic spectator. Another Twitter user raved, "Linkin Park knocked it out of the park! Let's have some football now!" However, the stadium remained eerily quiet following Linkin Park's display.
The six-member band, resurgent since Emily Armstrong (39) took over as frontwoman following the tragic demise of Chester Bennington in 2017, delivered a medley of their chart-topping hits. The performance culminated with David Garrett rendering a haunting rendition of "Seven Nation Army" on the violin, which filled the stadium with the hum of collective voices singing the timeless football anthem.
The performance marked another triumphant step in Linkin Park's return to the limelight. Their new album, "From Zero," garnered over two billion annual streams in 2024, according to Billboard.
Yet, the absence of Chester Bennington was palpable at the Munich show. "Linkin Park without Chester is like a shadow of its former self," lamented some fans. Others were more forgiving: "I miss Chester, but Emily's voice is truly angelic."
UEFA's spectacular pre-match music show was part of their strategy to create a holistic Champions League Final experience, a la the Super Bowl halftime show. Millions of viewers worldwide witnessed the dazzling display, replete with breathtaking special effects, masked dancers, and cutting-edge stage tech.
- Champions League Final
- Allianz Arena
- Linkin Park
- David Garrett
- Munich
- UEFA
- Marco van Basten
- Criticism
- Comeback
- Chester Bennington
- Music
[1] Some sources indicate that Marco van Basten's criticism may have been more directed towards UEFA's decision to include a pre-match performance rather than Linkin Park's performance quality.[2] The setlist for Linkin Park's performance included "The Emptiness Machine," "In The End," "Numb," and "Heavy Is The Crown."
- The controversial performance by Linkin Park and David Garrett at the Champions League Final in Munich's Allianz Arena drew mixed reactions, with football legend Marco van Basten expressing criticism towards UEFA for scheduling a pre-match spectacle that interrupted the players' warm-up.
- Despite the controversy, Linkin Park's setlist included popular hits such as "The Emptiness Machine," "In The End," "Numb," and "Heavy Is The Crown," showcasing their comeback after the tragic death of Chester Bennington.
- The Champions League's decision to include a pre-match music show, reminiscent of the Super Bowl halftime show, provided an entertaining element to the event, though it sparked some debate about its impact on the athletes' preparation.
