The mother of Chester Bennington, the former lead singer of rock band Linkin Park, is unhappy with the band’s comeback and feels betrayed. “It’s hurtful.”
Linkin Park recently announced a comeback, seven years after the death of frontman Chester Bennington. Singer Emily Armstrong was added to the line-up and a new face is also behind the drums in Colin Brittain.
But that change in attitude has already caused quite a stir. Armstrong came under fire for her alleged ties to the Church of Scientology and her support for convicted actor Danny Masterson. Shortly after, she released a statement distancing herself from Masterson. But even that hasn’t entirely put an end to the controversy.
This time it is Chester Bennington’s mother, Susan Eubanks, who is making herself heard. The woman said in an interview with Rolling Stone understand that she feels “betrayed” by the comeback. “They told me if they ever did anything, they would let me know,” she said. “They didn’t let me know and they probably knew I wouldn’t be happy. I’m very angry about it.” She, along with the general public, reportedly learned the news online when she heard Armstrong singing one of Linkin Park’s songs. “I’m just going to say it, Armstrong screamed his way through a really high note,” she said, adding that she immediately clicked away and started crying.
“I feel like they’re trying really hard to erase the past,” Eubanks continues. “They’re doing songs that Chester sang. And I don’t know how the fans are going to take it, but I know how I’m going to take it. And Armstrong singing my son’s songs is hurtful.”
According to Eubanks, guitarist Mike Shinoda had threatened to replace Bennington with a female vocalist in the past. “He put Chester down a lot,” she alleged of Shinoda. “He said Mike told him in rehearsal, ‘If you decide you’re leaving, we’re going to replace you with a girl.’ And Chester was stunned and hurt.”
Bennington’s son Jaime also spoke out against Linkin Park’s comeback earlier. The band also allegedly did not contact him before they released the news and he too is convinced that they are trying to “quietly erase the life and legacy” of his father.