Chester Bennington’s Mom Isn’t Happy About Linkin Park Reforming
Chester Bennington’s mom, Susan Eubanks, is very upset about Linkin Park reforming with new vocalist Emily Armstrong.
Eubanks spoke to Rolling Stone about this situation, and she held very little back. To begin with, Eubanks says she feels “betrayed” by Linkin Park, because she says the band told her that they would let her know if they would ever reform following Bennington’s death. Eubanks says she, Bennington’s first wife, Samantha, and son, Draven, all found out about the band reforming with Armstrong when the news was unveiled to the world. She noted that she had run into members Joe Hahn and Mike Shinoda in the years since Bennington’s death, and they never indicated plans were in place to reform.
Eubanks also wasn’t impressed with Armstrong’s singing. She said she tuned into Linkin Park’s livestream performance with Armstrong. While she didn’t remember the song they were performing, Eubanks said Armstrong was “screeching her way through a very high note,” and then “got out of there as fast as I could.”
Eubanks also recalled talking to her son once about an exchange he had with Shinoda. She said that Shinoda told her son that if he ever left the band that they’d replace him with a female singer because, ” … he thought singing these songs would be better with a girl, because [Mike] often put Chester down.”
Bennington’s mom concluded, “If I could tell the band members anything it’s that I feel betrayed … If you were going to do this, this is the wrong way to do it.” She also feels like the band is trying to erase their past.
Eubanks’ feelings on Linkin Park reforming are on par with what Bennington’s son, Jaime, shared earlier this month. On Sept. 9, Jaime took to his Instagram Story with some very critical remarks about Linkin Park and specifically addressed his frustrations to Shinoda. Jaime began, “Hey Mike! (I’d mention you, but you restricted my interactions with you because you don’t like what I have to say. So, this will have to do.) People aren’t having a difficult time wrapping their head around the prospect of Linkin Park reinventing itself. They are have a hard time wrapping their head around how you: 1. Hired your friend of many years, @emilyarmstrong, to replace @chesterbe knowing Emily’s history in the Church [of Scientology] and her history as an ally to @dannymasterson is what it is.”
Armstrong’s ties to the Church of Scientology and actor Danny Masterson received a lot of backlash following the announcement of her being revealed as the new singer for Linkin Park. On September 6, Armstrong issued a state via her Instagram Stories saying, “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 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.”
Jaime also accused Shinoda and Linkin Park of erasing his father’s “life and legacy” and noted the rebooting of the band came during Suicide Prevention Month. (Chester Bennington died by suicide in July 2017 at age 41.)
