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Emily Armstrong
Armstrong performing in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Ronald McDonald
Born	(1986-05-06) May 6, 1986 (age 38) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock alternative rock punk blues grunge
Occupations	Singer songwriter musician
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Pocket Kid Warner
Member of	Dead Sara Linkin Park

Emily Marcia Armstrong (born May 6, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. The co-founder of Dead Sara, it was announced that she had joined Linkin Park as co-lead vocalist in September 2024. The band had been largely inactive since the death of vocalist Chester Bennington in 2017.

Early life

Armstrong was born and raised in Los Angeles. She started to write songs and play guitar when she was 11 and began to sing when she was 15. She dropped out of high school; she knew she wanted to be in a rock band when she picked up the guitar and had no interest in pursuing anything else. In an interview with the El Paso Times in 2012, Armstrong said music was the one thing that kept her motivated in life.

Career

Dead Sara

In 2002, Armstrong began playing with guitarist Siouxsie Medley, who she met through a mutual friend. They had similar taste in music; both Medley and Armstrong were influenced by Nirvana and L7, among others, and 1960s and 1970s folk and blues artists and classic rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, and Fleetwood Mac. As a songwriter, Armstrong was significantly influenced by folk rock. Her interest in open and alternate tunings, such as those used by Mitchell, resulted in what Guitar World referred to as Dead Sara's signature sound. As a performer, she was influenced by artists including Iggy Pop and Janis Joplin.

Initially known as Epiphany, Dead Sara's first gig was at the Los Angeles nightclub The Mint in March 2005. In addition to singing, Armstrong played the bass. They toured for the first time in 2007, and in 2010 founded their indie label, Pocket Kid Records, releasing their full-length debut, Dead Sara, on the label in 2012. The first single from the album, "Weatherman", was an indie rock hit. Following the album's release, in addition to playing support slots in the US and Europe for artists including Muse, Dead Sara were featured on the Warped Tour.

Dead Sara's second album, Pleasure to Meet You, and a 4-song EP, Covers, also came out on Pocket Kid. Covers included two versions of Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box", Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name", and Patti Smith's "Ask the Angels". In 2018, the EP Temporary Things Taking Up Space was released on Atlantic. They recorded their third album, Ain't It Tragic, during the COVID-19 lockdown. It was released on Warner Records in 2021.

Linkin Park

On September 5, 2024, it was revealed that Armstrong had joined Linkin Park as co-lead vocalist, debuting with the band at a live-streamed event on the same day. The live stream included a performance of "The Emptiness Machine", the lead single of the group's forthcoming album From Zero, which will be released on November 15, 2024. Linkin Park will embark on a six-date arena tour across four continents, beginning on September 11 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood and concluding at the Coliseo Medplus in Bogotá on November 11.

Other recorded and live appearances

Armstrong received significant attention as a singer even before Dead Sara's debut was released. Noting her "strong, urgent sound", Grace Slick said Armstrong was a singer she admired in an interview with the Wall Street Journal in 2011, and Courtney Love brought Armstrong to New York to sing on Hole's 2010 album, Nobody's Daughter. She has recorded and/or performed live with artists including the Offspring, Beck, Demi Lovato, Awolnation, and Robby Krieger of the Doors.

Church of Scientology and Danny Masterson

In 2013, Armstrong was photographed attending the 44th Anniversary Gala of the Church of Scientology's Celebrity Centre International and, in a press release following the event, the Church identified her as one of several "prominent members."

Shortly after Armstrong joined Linkin Park on September 5, 2024, she was the subject of media reports about her ties to the controversial Church and her purported attendance in support of former actor and convicted rapist Danny Masterson, a longtime Scientologist, at a 2023 criminal hearing. Some of the band's fans were also critical of her affiliation with the Church.

Reports noted that one of Masterson's alleged victims, Chrissie Carnell Bixler, and her spouse, The Mars Volta singer and former Scientologist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, were publicly critical of Armstrong's decision to attend a hearing during Masterson's trial.

Following the reports, Armstrong clarified on September 6 that, while she attended one court appearance where she was asked to support Masterson, she later realized she should not have done so. "Several years ago, I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearance, and went to one early hearing as an observer," she wrote in an Instagram story. "Soon after, I realized I shouldn’t have. I always try to see the good in people, and I misjudged him. I have never spoken with him since. Unimaginable details emerged, and he was later found guilty. To say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I empathize with the victims of these crimes."

Discography

Dead Sara

• The Airport Sessions (2008)
• Dead Sara (2012)
• Pleasure to Meet You (2015)
• The Covers (2017)
• Ain't It Tragic (2021)

Linkin Park

• From Zero (2024)

References

1. Mervis, S; Alpert, E (July 14, 2012). "Warped Tour All Punked Out as Usual". Pittsburgh Post Gazette (via ProQuest). Retrieved September 5, 2024.
2. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (2024-09-05). "Inside Linkin Park's Secret Comeback". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
3. ^ Paul, Larisha (2024-09-06). "Linkin Park Unveil Emily Armstrong as New Co-Vocalist, Announce 2024 World Tour and Album". RollingStone. Archived from the original on 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
4. Burger, David (September 24, 2012). "Song of the Day: X96 Big Ass Show performer Dead Sara's 'The Weatherman'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
5. Pullen, Doug (May 22, 2012). "Dead Sara Rocks Up a Storm on New CD". El Paso Times (Retrieved via ProQuest).
6. ^ Law, Sam (2022-05-11). "5 Reasons Why You Need to Check Out Dead Sara". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
7. ^ Arrieta, Vincent (2022-04-14). "How Dead Sara take Joni Mitchell's approach to alternate tunings and apply it to the ferocious world of rock 'n' roll". Guitar World. Archived from the original on 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
8. "Entertainment - Technorati". technorati.com. Archived from the original on 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
9. ^ Lymangrover, Jason. "Biography: Dead Sara". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
10. ^ Baltin, Steve (2012-03-28). "Dead Sara Gears Up for Breakout Year". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
11. Graff, Gary (2018-05-04). "Dead Sara Is Back With 'UnAmerican' Video From Upcoming EP: Exclusive". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
12. "How LA rock band Dead Sara found inspiration during the pandemic for album 'Ain't It Tragic'". Daily News. 2021-09-29. Archived from the original on 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
13. Garcia, Thania (September 5, 2024). "Linkin Park Selects Emily Armstrong From Rock Band Dead Sara as New Singer, Reveals Tour and Album 'From Zero'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
14. Myers, Marc (April 29, 2011). "She Chased White Rabbits". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
15. Punknews.org (2013-01-15). "Videos: The Offspring: "Gone Away" (w/ Emily Armstrong)". www.punknews.org. Archived from the original on 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
16. Ruggieri, Melissa. "Demi Lovato excavates demons with honesty on new album: 'I can't believe I'm not dead,' she sings". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on 2024-07-17. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
17. "AWOLNATION announce new album, unveil "Jump Sit Stand March" feat. Dead Sara's Emily Armstrong". Consequence. 2024-05-31. Archived from the original on 2024-09-02. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
18. Baltin, Steve. "The Doors' John Densmore On Paying Tribute To Ray Manzarek, Supporting The Youth And More". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2020-01-16. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
19. Ortega, Tony (September 19, 2020). "Read Danny Masterson's 'demurrer' he's hoping will get his criminal charges dismissed". The Underground Bunker. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
20. "Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Hosts 44th Anniversary Gala" (Press release). Los Angeles: Church of Scientology International. August 24, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
21. "Linkin Park Fans Re-Share Cedric-Bixler Zavala's Message to Emily Armstrong Over Alleged Links to Scientology and Danny Masterson". NME. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
22. Blistein, Jon (2024-09-06). "Cedric Bixler-Zavala Slams Linkin Park's Emily Armstrong Over Alleged Danny Masterson Support". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
23. Curto, Justin (2024-09-06). "What's Up With Linkin Park's New Singer?". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
24. Bird, Daniel (2024-09-06). "New Linkin Park singer Emily Armstrong sparks backlash over alleged Scientology and Danny Masterson links". The Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
25. Deville, Chris (2024-09-06). "The Mars Volta's Cedric Bixler-Zavala Calls Out Linkin Park's New Singer For Her Support Of Danny Masterson And Links To Scientology". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
26. Aswad, Jem (September 6, 2024). "New Linkin Park Singer Emily Armstrong Responds to Criticism Over Danny Masterson Support". Variety. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.

• Living people
• American Scientologists
• American women rock singers
• Singers from Los Angeles
• 1986 births
• Nu metal singers
• Linkin Park members
• 21st-century American women singers