Chester Bennington's mom learned that Linkin Park had a new singer at the same time as us
Chester Bennington's mom learned that Linkin Park had moved forward with a new singer at the same time as everyone else in the world.
She tells Rolling Stone they promised to give her a heads-up: https://t.co/gSmwZ35zkL pic.twitter.com/ArXlH0dCmY
- Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 20, 2024
Susan Eubanks learned that the band had moved forward with a new singer at the same time as everyone else in the world.
Susan Eubanks says the band had promised to notify her if it had any inkling of moving forward. She had run into the group’s other vocalist, rapper Mike Shinoda, in recent years, as well as its turntablist Joe Hahn, but says neither mentioned anything about a reunion. When she learned of the announcement, she felt sudden shock.
“We are thrilled to be back out here,” Shinoda said at a recent concert. “It is not about erasing the past. It is about starting this new chapter into the future and coming out here for each and every one of you.” Eubanks disagrees.
She says:
"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 wouldn’t going to be very happy. I’m very upset about it. 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."
"I saw Mike Shinoda about two years ago. He promised to tell the family what was going on. And he did reach out when they were going to release some songs [with Chester on them] that they had that were new. He let Samantha and Draven know, and then Samantha let me know. He tried very hard to recreate a relationship with Samantha. She was willing to do that. They didn’t talk about Chester’s death; they talked about Chester’s life. I found out about Emily Armstrong joining the band on Google."
"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."
"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 her 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. Now you can just put out new songs. But don’t bother to put out Chester’s songs with Emily singing them."
Samantha Bennington, Chester’s ex-wife, disputes Eubanks’ version of the events. She says she hasn't spoken to Shinoda since she was married to Bennington. They divorced in 2005. She says she thinks Eubanks is mixing up Linking Park and Grey Daze. (Bennington was the singer in both bands.)
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