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 …read more
Source:: Metro
