Chester Bennington‘s mother has revealed that she feels “betrayed” by Linkin Park and their new line-up.
READ MORE: Chester Bennington Obituary: 1976-2017
Earlier this month, Mike Shinoda, turntablist Joe Hahn, guitarist Brad Delson and bassist Dave ‘Phoenix’ Farrell reunited Linkin Park seven years after the tragic death of vocalist Chester Bennington.
Now, Bennington’s mother Susan Eubanks has penned an essay on her feelings regarding the reunion and the band’s new line-up, which has been published by Rolling Stone. Replacing Chester on vocals now is former Dead Sara singer Emily Armstrong, and founding drummer Rob Bourdon has been replaced by Colin Brittain.
In her essay, Eubanks wrote: “I feel betrayed. They told me that if they were ever going to do something, they would let me know. They didn’t let me know, and they probably knew that I [wasn’t] going to be very happy. I’m very upset about it.”
Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. CREDIT: Jason Squires/WireImage
“I feel like they’re trying very hard to erase the past. They’re performing songs that Chester sang. And I don’t know how the fans are taking it, but I know how I take it. And having [Armstrong] singing my son’s songs is hurtful.”
She continued: “They said they would let the family know if they were going to reunite. They did not. [Bennington’s first wife] Samantha and [son] Draven didn’t know until it was told to the world. It was the same for me and it hurt.”
According to Eubanks, she last met Mike Shinoda around two years ago, where he “promised to tell the family what was going on”. He later reached out when Linkin Park were going to release archival tracks featuring Chester for their ‘Papercuts’ collection.
However, Eubanks alleges that Shinoda and the other members of Linkin Park never told the family about their reunion plans and Emily Armstrong joining the band. After seeing the teasers that Linkin Park were up to something, Eubanks thought “maybe the band was going back out, but that Mike would be the singer”. She added: “I thought if they were to go back out, it would just be the band not adding a singer.”
New Linkin Park singer Emily Armstrong. Credit: Timothy Norris/Getty Images for Warner Music
As for Armstrong replacing Bennington on vocals, Eubanks says she isn’t a fan: “I thought her singing… I don’t even remember what it is [she was singing], because I didn’t want to hear it. It was just a moment. But it was her, I’m just going to say it, screeching her way through a very high note. And I got out of there as fast as I could. I cried.”
According to Eubanks, having a female singer was something that Mike Shinoda had been plotting for a long time: “Mike told Chester one time that he thought singing these songs would be better with a girl, because he often put Chester down. And Chester called me and said, ‘He thinks that they’re going to replace me with a girl.’ And I said, ‘What do you mean?’ And he said Mike told him at rehearsal that, ‘If you decide you’re leaving, we’re going to replace you with a girl.’ And Chester was dumbfounded and hurt. And the fact is that now they did it. So, of course, all that comes right back into my mind. I had a talk with my son about this. I didn’t think they’d probably do it.”
She also said she “would’ve been OK” with Shinoda being the band’s only singer even if the songs didn’t sound the same: “But I’m not OK with this, to have somebody replace him and try to do what he did. I don’t think that there’s anybody in the world that has the same voice. And when I heard that, I was just so repelled that no, they’re trying to do exactly what Chester did, but they’re not succeeding at it.”
Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington of Linkin Park perform in 2015. CREDIT: Rick Kern/WireImage/Getty
Susan Eubanks ended her essay by addressing the band: “If I could tell the band members anything it’s that I feel betrayed. You made a promise to me that you would let us know and you didn’t. If you were going to do this, this is the wrong way to do it. Don’t put [Emily Armstrong] out there to sing Chester’s songs and then act like this was always the way it should have been. It’s like making him go away, erasing the past. You don’t have to worry about going through the old songs and finding new ones, new Chester songs to put out. Now you can just put out new songs. But don’t bother to put out Chester’s songs with Emily singing them.”
The initial response to the new line-up was largely positive among fellow artists and fans alike. However, controversy soon arose after it emerged that Armstrong seemingly had ties to Scientology and convicted rapist Danny Masterson. This was brought to light after a message sent to the singer by The Mars Volta and former At The Drive-In frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala resurfaced online.
Chester Bennington’s son Jaime, 28, later hit out at remarks made by Shinoda. The latter explained that fans may need “time to wrap their heads around” the band reforming with Armstrong. He also said that those who “disrespect” him due to the decision would “lose my respect in return”.
Linkin Park with new members Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain. Credit: James Minchin III
Jaime has since claimed that Linkin Park fans have been “aggressive” towards him since he criticised the revamped group. Additionally, Jaime said his father’s former bandmates “didn’t ask me how I felt” about the reunion.
Speaking to the audience in LA last week, Shinoda explained that this version of Linkin Park was “not about erasing the past” following the controversy surrounding Armstrong stepping in to replace the late Chester Bennington. The band have since taken to the stage in New York, and are scheduled to play at The O2 in London next Tuesday (September 24).
READ MORE: “This is not the end, this is not the beginning”: Linkin Park look to the future with new faces
Drummer Colin Brittain has joined Linkin Park for this current run of dates following the departure of founding member Rob Bourdon. Founding guitarist Brad Delson is also absent from the group’s comeback tour, but is still working with them behind-the-scenes – including participating in the creation of new music.
Armstrong explained recently that she would “love to do [Chester Bennington] proud”, and issued a statement addressing her previous support of Masterson.
Mike Shinoda and Emily Armstrong of Linkin Park perform during a global livestream at Warner Bros. Studios on September 05, 2024 in Burbank, California (CREDIT: Timothy Norris/Getty Images for Warner Music)
Meanwhile, Shinoda has spoken about why Linkin Park chose to keep their band name for the relaunched line-up. Additionally, he has said he is “not sure” if they will make new recordings of older songs that feature Bennington – who died by suicide in 2017.
In a statement, Shinoda wrote: “We feel really empowered with this new line-up and the vibrant and energised new music we’ve made together. We’re weaving together the sonic touchpoints we’ve been known for and still exploring new ones.”
Bennington’s widow Talinda has since expressed her approval of Armstrong joining the band.
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