Chester Bennington's mom: "Linkin Park are trying very hard to erase the past"

[SexxAtraxxion]

https://consequence.net/2024/09/linkin- ... on-mother/

The late Chester Bennington’s mother, Susan Eubanks, has revealed she feels “betrayed” by Linkin Park after they moved forward with a new singer without giving her any sort of heads-up.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Eubanks said the band told her that they would let her know “if they were ever going to do something.” Instead, she found out they were reuniting with Dead Sara’s Emily Armstrong as co-vocalist through Google — despite having run into vocalist Mike Shinoda and turntablist Joe Hahn in recent years.

“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,” Eubanks said. “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.”

She continued, “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.”

Eubanks added that it was especially hurtful because Shinoda “often put Chester down” and once told Bennington that “these songs would be better with a girl.”

“Chester called me and said, ‘He thinks that they’re going to replace me with a girl.’ And I said, ‘What do you mean?'” she recalled. “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.”

Eubanks also told Rolling Stone that she never thought Linkin Park would replace her son in the band. Instead, she thought Shinoda would just take over all the vocals.

“I would’ve been OK with that, but I’m not OK with this, to have somebody replace him and try to do what he did,” she explained. “I don’t think that there’s anybody in the world that has the same voice. And when I heard that, I was just so repelled that no, they’re trying to do exactly what Chester did, but they’re not succeeding at it.”

It’s worth noting Shinoda has said at recent concerts that Linkin Park’s comeback isn’t about “erasing the past,” but rather “starting this new chapter into the future.” Eubanks clearly doesn’t feel the same way.

Linkin Park’s decision to bring on Armstrong as their new co-vocalist has been met with backlash after stories of her ties to Scientology and past support of convicted rapist Danny Masterson surfaced online. The Mars Volta singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and his wife, Chrissie Carnell-Bixler (one of Masterson’s victims), have been particularly outspoken, with the latter blasting Armstrong for allegedly participating in “the cruel intimidation” of her “fellow sister survivors.”

For her part, Armstrong issued a statement admitting she once considered the disgraced actor “a friend,” but ultimately “misjudged him.” Armstrong also said she doesn’t “condone abuse or violence against women,” but didn’t mention Masterson by name.

One of Chester Bennington’s other sons, Jaime Bennington, has also said Linkin Park “betrayed the trust” of their fanbase.

[ijwthstd]

Looks like someone didn't inherit ownership shares.

[Zabooka]

The band didn't have to tell them anything, but if they told the family they would keep them in the loop, and then didn't, then I can see why they would feel negatively about that.

But the band can go on with someone new if they want. They aren't erasing anything.

They can replace him with whoever they feel would be best. What other job do you have to get the approval of the deceased's family when making decisions about your entity?

[SterileEyes1]

Not sure how I feel about this particular piece of it, but the whole thing just feels more weird and creepy and passive-aggressive and forced by the day.

It’s Mike’s band and more power to them if they want to keep the brand alive and audiences want to see it, but, yeah. Ick.

[Anthrax442]

Not sure how I feel about this particular piece of it, but the whole thing just feels more weird and creepy and passive-aggressive and forced by the day.

It’s Mike’s band and more power to them if they want to keep the brand alive and audiences want to see it, but, yeah. Ick.

Definitely seems like a cover band/solo act at this point. But, then again, a lot of 25 year old bands get that way, so I don't know that it's that surprising.

I do find it interesting that his Mom said that Chester told her that Shinoda said they'd replace him with a girl. Of course, million miles of telephone game between that and what happened, like if he was joking and Chester took it the wrong way, etc.

If it wasn't 7 years later, I could see some sort of conspiracy theory there, but that's way too much time to just sit on the shelf.

They sound fine live, so without there being a dead girl/live boy situation, people are just going to let it go.

[pieceofme]

This new linkin park is good sludge. Them performing and moving on with a new singer is not erasing the past.

I'm glad they are going ahead to they can piss off people like Chester's mum.

[Wild Obsession]

Slightly OT, but the Jimmy Fallon performance was some absolute amateur hour bullshit, Mike has zero vocal "anything" (style, range, tone, personality, etc.), and obviously can't stay on key.....
New gimmick chick vocals are less annoying than Chester's thin/nasally tone, but overall nothing about that song or performance reaches beyond bar band level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiD6KjygMSs

[Lobo]

This band sucks, always has. How they managed to have any kind of a career escapes me.

That said, since when are the family members of the dead singer even remotely a consideration in the band moving forward with new members after being dormant for years?

The Mom and the kids really have no say. Did they inherit any % of the band name? Maybe then they'd have the right to complain if they weren't receiving their cut of an agreement. Otherwise, they should mind their own business.

[mullet_head]

Them performing and moving on with a new singer is not erasing the past.

I'd say it was Chester who chose to erase his future when he kicked that fuckin' stool out.

[MetalSludgeCEO]

So... this guy offs himself, and now a full 3/4 of a decade later, the band wants to make a living, so his Mom, Wife and Kids are all losing their minds? Bitch pleez!

Suicide is selfish... it's a shortcut in life, to leave your pain and problems behind, and by those actions, you leave all of that - for those closest to you to deal with.

When you kill yourself, you don't hurt yourself, you hurt everyone else around you. Those who live on, have to endure all of that pain and more.

Now... the band wants to go forward, with their lives, their careers, their music, their next chapter, and now his family is mad they're trying to erase him?

How about he erased his life... and did this all on his own. The band didn't kill him, he killed himself and everyone's career (involved) with his selfish actions.

In addition to erasing his position as Father and Family man, he also erased a lot of their lives too, and all they did collectively to build their band (brand, business).

Now that they have chosen to pick up the pieces, and moved forward... the family is mad at them. Lame.

I am team Linkin Park... too bad the family, his kids, etc... can't accept this.

$tEvil

[kwf]

Scab LP

[NineteenEightyFour]

It's hilarious that the Oasis (known rabble-rousers) reunion is going off seemingly without a hitch and this milktoast radio rock band has never-ending drama.

[ijwthstd]

It's hilarious that the Oasis (known rabble-rousers) reunion is going off seemingly without a hitch and this milktoast radio rock band has never-ending drama.

They probably haven't even played together yet and may not be in the same room again for almost a year. You can probably see the white out they put over Guns N Roses when they handed over the contracts for them to sign.

[HueyRamone]

It's hilarious that the Oasis (known rabble-rousers) reunion is going off seemingly without a hitch and this milktoast radio rock band has never-ending drama.

Milquetoast.


The reason is that the band is emo-ish and sings about pain and trauma and their feelings and shit, so it's only natural that their fans, freinds, etc are all those types of people too.

"They carrying on makes me feel hurt and insecure"

"They should have talked it through with everyone so there could be consensus"

"The singer enabled abusers, how can we look up to that when we are triggered by abuse"


Oasis or Motley Crue or Mustaine might be assholes, but at least their fans know that if they whined about something Liam or Nikki and Dave would put up the finger and laugh to the bank.

[CoreyRotic007]

I am team Linkin Park... too bad the family, his kids, etc... can't accept this.

$tEvil

I’m also Team Linkin Park.

Total Chester nutswinger but I’m all for Linkin Park moving on. And they have. The new song’s a hit, the first shows have been sold out, they’ll be fine. They bought themselves another twenty years.

That said, Disturbed used two minutes of downtime during a set change to share the info and resources for suicide prevention and awareness. It was classy. Could have saved lives. Still, they weren’t obligated.

In NYC on Monday night, Linkin Park played about two minutes of scratchy vinyl surface noise with the lights down as they reset the stage to perform a verse and chorus of “Lost.”

They’re not obligated to do anything, but…ya know??
Especially because Chester has kinda become a suicide awareness icon. It would have been classy.

Not bitching, just an observation.

Other than that, play ball, Linkin Park. I came out of pocket to be there.

Oh, and in case anyone else is struggling and wants to save their families the grief of crying to Rolling Stone down the road…

Text 988
1-800-273-8255

[Wiseacre]

So, one member kills himself and the entire band are supposed to just retire forever? Or at least keep the guys mom “in the loop”? FFS

[Hatchets Molly]

I have never cared when a band replaces a singer for any reason or after any length of time. Even Motley: OH...THEY SHOULDN'T CALL THEMSELVES MC. Whatthefckever. No one is forcing you to listen.

When the pearl-clutching bs starts like this story, it smells fishy.

[Spongie]

“turntablist”

[daveg]

So, one member kills himself and the entire band are supposed to just retire forever? Or at least keep the guys mom “in the loop”? FFS

This.

Not the biggest fan, but from what I've seen, this chick is killing it on stage. Almost like she's been playing huge arenas her whole like. Gotta great presence.

Also, I think people forget how big this band actually is/was

If you look at the monthly Spotify streaming numbers, they are 43rd overall and 1st (by far) for a hard rock band. Ahead of AC/DC, Metallica, Bon Jovi etc.
https://chartmasters.org/most-monthly-l ... n-spotify/

They obviously got a big bump recently, but every time one of these lists get published they are at the top or near it.


# g# Artist Monthly Listeners Daily +/- Monthly +/-
1 43 Linkin Park 52,813,450 707,741 12,046,592
2 90 AC/DC 38,070,937 -191,323 -1,633,256
3 151 Guns N' Roses 30,729,140 -75,935 -870,745
4 158 Bon Jovi 30,239,426 -73,348 440,727
5 190 Metallica 27,013,596 -20,287 -105,180

[tooth]

I don't agree with LP's new singer supporting convicted rapist Danny Masterson & her sister & her best friend calling victims of se*ual a**ault liars https://youtu.be/qqdW4PzwSXA

[NeonKnite]

Translation: "They didn't cut me in."

[ParaDime77]

What’s interesting is I hear that Shinoda is the chief songwriter for the majority of the bands songs. Last week, I took the time to look through all of the album credits as to who the songwriters are and it states all songs written by “Linkin Park.” Very few individual songs had specific band members who wrote them. Apparently there must’ve been an agreement in place with the bad formed as to who got what as far as credit score. It’s sad that Chester decided to take his own life, however, we do not know the extent of his relationship with his mom. Did his wife inherit his estate or did other family members inherit his estate? I think the mom’s statement answers that. Now the band is back on the road and everybody within reach is standing there with their hand out.

[aznsquirt]

Slightly OT, but the Jimmy Fallon performance was some absolute amateur hour bullshit, Mike has zero vocal "anything" (style, range, tone, personality, etc.), and obviously can't stay on key.....
New gimmick chick vocals are less annoying than Chester's thin/nasally tone, but overall nothing about that song or performance reaches beyond bar band level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiD6KjygMSs

Not an LP fan, but I thought the performance was fine. The problem is that song is very medicore, but it's good enough to get the ol' loyal fanbase on board a bit.