Linkin Park front man says sorry for threatening to punch fans

Chester Bennington has apologised for telling fans to "meet me outside".

The front man for a major rock act has apologised after threatening fans who criticised the band's latest album.

Chester Bennington, the singer for Linkin Park, took to Twitter to say he was "recalibrating my perspective".

The band has been criticised for its new album, One More Light, which departs from their signature sound in favour of a lighter, poppier tone.

Linkin Park's new album is lighter and poppier than their first releases.

Bennington told Kerrang Radio fans could "meet me outside and I will punch you in your f***king mouth" if they thought their new sound was a marketing decision.

He suggested to Music Week that fans should stab themselves in the face if they didn't like the album.

"If you're saying we're doing what we're doing for a commercial or monetary reason, trying to make success out of some formula ... then stab yourself in the face."

He also told fans to "move the f*** on" from the band's debut, Hybrid Theory.

But Bennington has had a change of heart after his comments were criticised by Slipknot front man Corey Taylor.

"You should probably be very, very fortunate that people this far along the line still love that music you made," Taylor reportedly told a US radio show.

"Be fortunate for what you have, be fortunate for that fact that people are still coming to see you to hear the music."

Bennington told fans on Twitter he had taken criticism of One More Light and the single Heavy too personally.

Just heard Corey Taylor's response to something I said in an interview and I agree with him. I do appreciate our fans.

— Chester Bennington (@ChesterBe) May 24, 2017

I'm human and sometimes take things too personally. Most of our fans have been very positive lately. Some... not so much.

— Chester Bennington (@ChesterBe) May 24, 2017

Either way... there is a lot of passion on both sides and I am grateful to all of our fans. Corey is a good dude and I appreciate him too🤘

— Chester Bennington (@ChesterBe) May 24, 2017

Time to recalibrate my perspective. So I say to all of our fans... Thank you and I love you all. Peace, love and happiness🙏

— Chester Bennington (@ChesterBe) May 24, 2017

One More Light has received mostly negative reviews from critics, and has a 43 per cent approval rating on Metacritic.