Chester Bennington’s mom has broken her silence on Linkin Park reuniting with new lead singer Emily Armstrong – and claims she was never told about their new tour or music.
Bennington – the lead vocalist of the iconic Crawling hitmakers – died via suicide at the age of 41 on July 20, 2017. Earlier this month it was announced Armstrong, 38, had joined the group with plans for a new tour and album.
However, Armstrong’s ties with Scientology, and past support of actor Danny Masterson, who was convicted of rape and sentenced to at least 30 years in prison, have ignited backlash.
Bennington’s mother Susan Eubanks has accused the band of reneging on their promise to let her know if they planned to reunite, claiming she only found out about Armstrong ‘on Google’ and said the ‘betrayal’ had left her in tears.
Despite alleged run-ins in recent years with rapper Mike Shinoda and turntablist Joe Hahn, she claims neither told her a reunion was in the works.
She told 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 wouldn’t going to be very happy. I’m very upset about it.
Chester Bennington’s mom has broken her silence on Linkin Park reuniting with new lead singer Emily Armstrong – and claims she was never told about their new tour or music
Earlier this month it was announced Armstrong, 38, had joined the group with plans for a new tour and album
‘I feel like they’re trying very hard to erase the past. They’re performing songs that Chester sang. And I don’t know how the fans are taking it, but I know how I take it. And having [Armstrong] singing my son’s songs is hurtful.
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She said she last saw Hahn ‘four or five years ago’ who ‘promised her’ he would let her know any updates with the band – and claimed he said he ‘didn’t have any intention of starting the band back up.’
Susan says she saw Shinoda two years ago – and claims that while he did reach out to Chester’s widow Samantha and son Draven when the band was going to release new songs with Chester on them – that he did not tell her about the reunion.
Susan said the news of Armstrong’s new lead singer role had left her shaken, saying: ‘I found out about Emily Armstrong joining the band on Google. When I go to Google to look for something, the first thing that often pops up is Linkin Park. And I saw that whole thing of, “We have an announcement.” That whole week, they were at the top if you go enter anything into Google.’
Susan slated Armstrong’s vocal abilities during the band’s livestream – saying she was ‘screeching her way through a very high note. And I got out of there as fast as I could.’
She said she thought if the band ever reunited that Shinoda would be the singer as Chester had ‘taught him.’
Susan further claims Shinoda threatened to replace Chester with a ‘girl’ and that he often ‘put Chester down.’
Bennington’s mother Susan Eubanks has accused the band of reneging on their promise to let her know if they planned to reunite, claiming she only found out about Armstrong ‘on Google ‘ and said the ‘betrayal’ had left her in tears(seen Armstrong and Shinoda)
Bennington died via suicide at the age of 41 on July 20, 2017 – seen February 21, 2017 – Susan further claims Shinoda threatened to replace Chester with a ‘girl’ and that he often ‘put Chester down’
Susan slated Armstrong’s vocal abilities during the band’s livestream – saying she was ‘screeching her way through a very high note. And I got out of there as fast as I could’
She claimed Chester had called her claiming ‘Mike told him at rehearsal that, “If you decide you’re leaving, we’re going to replace you with a girl.”
Susan said her one message to Linkin Park is that she feels betrayed over their alleged broken promise to her.
She added ‘don’t bother to put out Chester’s songs with Emily singing them.
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Linkin Park for comment.
Shinoda said at a recent concert: ‘We are thrilled to be back out here. 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
The new Linkin Park line-up also saw Colin Brittain replacing Rob Bourdon as drummer, saying the latter ‘decided to step away’ from the group, the AP reported.
The new Linkin Park line-up also saw Colin Brittain replacing Rob Bourdon (second left) as drummer, saying the latter ‘decided to step away’ from the group – the band Shinoda, Bourdon, Hahn, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell and Bennington are seen in 2014
The group recently put out a track titled The Emptiness Machine, which is from their upcoming album Zero, set to come out November 15.
Linkin Park achieved huge commercial and critical success beginning in the early 2000s with hits such as One Step Closer, In the End and Crawling, the latter of which earned the band a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2002.
The band would go on to capture another Grammy in 2006 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for Numb/Encore, a collaboration with Jay-Z.