Chester Bennington’s mother has spoken out about Linkin Park’s reunion (Picture: EPA / @susan_eubanks5)
Chester Bennington’s mother has penned a heartfelt letter expressing that she feels betrayed by Linkin Park’s decision to bring in a new lead singer seven years after her son’s death.
The surviving members of the band – Mike Shinoda, turntablist Joe Hahn, guitarist Brad Delson, and bassist Dave ‘Phoenix’ Farrell – brought in Dead Sara singer Emily Armstrong, allowing them to reunite for the first time since Bennington took his own life in 2017.
His mother, Susan Eubanks, has written a letter about her view on the reunion, writing that she feels ‘betrayed’ by the line up change.
She wrote in the letter published by Rolling Stone: ‘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.’
She went on to say that she feels as if the band is working to erase Chester’s legacy and their past, calling Armstrong singing the band’s songs ‘hurtful.’
She went on to say that Bennington’s family – including his wife and kids – were not made aware of the reunion before it was announced (although Bennington’s widower has since given the reunion her blessing).
Bennington died in June 2017 (Picture: EPA)
Eubanks shared that when she last saw Mike Shinoda around two years ago, he ‘promised to tell the family what was going on.’ He then made good on this promise and told the family of his plans to release archival tracks featuring Bennington for their ‘Papercuts’ collection.
Eubanks continued to say she was blindsided by the band teasing an announcement ahead of the news that Emily Armstrong would join the band, saying that: ‘I thought if they were to go back out, it would just be the band not adding a singer.’
Eubanks also had plenty to say about Armstrong’s vocals, calling her singing ‘screeching’ and saying: ‘ I got out of there as fast as I could. I cried.’
Emily Armstrong has replaced Bennington as the lead singer for Linkin Park (Picture: AP/Invision)
Eubanks then explains that Shinoda had previously told Bennington that he thought their songs would sounf better with a female vocalist, saying: 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.’
She also shared that Shinoda often used to put Bennington down, especially when Bennington was considering leaving the band.
She continued, making it clear that she is against Armstrong replacing her son as the lead singer, emphasising that there’s no one who can replace him vocally. Though she does says she would have been okay with Shinoda taking over as the frontman.
Many fans initially embraced Armstrong, but controversy soon arose (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Bennington’s mother says she feels ‘betrayed’ by the band (Picture: Getty Images)
Eubanks ended her emotional message by directly addressing Linkin Park: ‘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.’
She also warned them against putting out old Linkin Park songs with Armstrong on the vocals, telling them to instead write new music if they must continue to release albums and songs.
Following Linkin Park’s reunion, most fans were thrilled with Armstrong’s performance.
However, after Emily’s appointment, there has also been mounting backlash over her past links with Scientology and historic support of convicted rapist and former That 70s Show actor Masterson.
The rumours began to circulate after a message sent to the singer by The Mars Volta and former At The Drive-In frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala resurfaced online.
Linkin Park was first founded in 1999(Picture: Mick Hutson/Redferns)
The rumours caused Armstrong to speak out online, posting in an Instagram story: ‘Hi, I’m Emily, I’m new to so many of you, and I wanted to clear the air about something that happened a while back.
‘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. Soon after I realised 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 the abuse or violence against women, and I empathise with the victims of these crimes.’
Eubanks is not happy with the band’s new direction (Picture: @susan_eubanks5)
The group has just announced a new album, From Zero, to go along with their upcoming tour.
Bennington’s son Jaime, 28, has also spoken out about the band’s forthcoming reunion tour.
His criticism was far more measured than his grandmother’s, and he said that fans may need ‘time to wrap their heads around’ the band reforming with Armstrong.
He later said his father’s former bandmates ‘didn’t ask me how I felt’ about the reunion.
Mike Shinoda has shared his enthusiasm to have Armstrong take over as the singer (Picture: Getty Images)
More recently, one of the founding members of the band announced he would not be joining the band in this next chapter.
Original drummer Rob Bourdon had already left the group ahead of what has been dubbed ‘Linkin Park 2.0′, and then guitarist Brad Delson revealed he will no longer perform live with the Grammy-winning band he helped form in the early 90s.
Rob, Brad, and co-lead vocalist Mike Shinoda started Linkin Park when they were in high school together before recruiting current members Joe Hahn and Dave ‘Phoenix’ Farrell.
Brad Delson has dropped out of the band ahead of their upcoming tour (Picture: Mick Hutson/Redferns)
In a statement about their new era, 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.’
The band’s reunion highlights the ongoing cultural discourse about who, exactly, is the keeper of any one person’s artistic legacy. Bennington became synonymous with Linkin Park to many people, causing his family to feel ownership over the band.
In contrast, the surviving band members feel that the band remains theirs to do with as they please, even at the risk of displeasing their late bandmate’s family, as evidenced by this most recent controversy.
Fans are now forced to navigate the choice between remembering Linkin Park as it was versus embracing Linkin Park as it reforms without Bennington.
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