Chester Bennington’s Mother Feels ‘Betrayed’ After Linkin Park Reunites With New Singer Emily Armstrong

NEW YORK, NEW YORK: The reunion of Linkin Park, one of the most iconic rock bands of the 2000s whose hits include “In the End” and “Crawling,” has been met with mixed reactions.

Fans of the band are both excited and divided about the new chapter in their career, which features Emily Armstrong as lead vocalist. But no one seems more shocked by the news than Chester Bennington’s mother, Susan Eubanks, who claims she had no idea.

Eubanks’ statements come just days after Bennington’s son, Jaime Bennington, criticized band founder Mike Shinoda

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Bennington, who tragically died in 2017 at the age of 41 in a suicide, was the band’s beloved frontman. Earlier this month, it was announced that Armstrong, 38, would join Linkin Park for a new album and tour.

However, according to Eubanks, the team promised to keep her informed of any future plans, a promise she claims was broken.

In an emotional interview with Rolling Stone, Eubanks shared her heartbreak, saying she only found out about it online. “I found out about Emily Armstrong joining the band from Google. When I go to Google to look something up, the first thing that often comes up is Linkin Park… They’ve been at the top of the list all week if you Google anything.”

She went on to express her disappointment, explaining how deeply the band’s actions hurt her. “I feel betrayed. They told me if they ever did anything they would let me know. They didn’t let me know and probably knew I wouldn’t be very happy. I’m very upset about it,” she said, fighting back tears.

“I feel like they’re trying very hard to erase the past.”

Susan talks about the pain she felt when she heard her son’s songs sung by Emily Armstrong

For Eubanks, the most painful moment was hearing Armstrong sing songs that once belonged to her son.

“They’re performing songs that Chester sang. And I don’t know how the fans feel about it, but I know how I feel about it. And the fact that (Armstrong) is singing my son’s songs is hurtful,” she lamented.

The controversy over Armstrong’s involvement doesn’t end there. Armstrong’s past ties to Scientology and its support for convicted rapist Danny Masterson have sparked a backlash.

However, that’s not Eubanks’ only sore spot. She revealed that she last saw turntablist Joe Hahn about four or five years ago, and he “promised” to keep her updated with any band updates.

Even more surprisingly, she claimed that Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda was also silent when she saw him two years ago. Eubanks believes the band’s current lineup is far from what Chester would have wanted.

She even recalled how Chester once confided in her that Shinoda had threatened to replace him with a singer.

“Mike told him in rehearsal, ‘If you decide to leave, we’ll replace you with a girl,’” Eubanks claims, suggesting there had been long-standing tensions between the two band members.

Susan Eubanks Criticizes Armstrong’s Vocals, Mike Shinoda Defends Band’s New Direction

When it came to Armstrong’s vocal abilities, Eubanks had no qualms.

According to the Daily Mail, recalling a recent livestream of the performance, she noted, “She was tearing through a really high note. And I got out of there as fast as I could.” She also admitted that she always thought Shinoda would step in as lead vocalist since Chester “taught” him.

Shinoda defended the band’s decision to continue.

During a recent concert, he addressed the crowd, saying, “We’re excited to be back here. It’s not about erasing the past. It’s about starting a new chapter in the future and coming here for each and every one of you.”

According to the Associated Press, there have also been other lineup changes, with Colin Brittain replacing longtime drummer Rob Bourdon, who has reportedly “decided to leave” the band.

For fans eagerly awaiting new music, Linkin Park have shared “The Emptiness Machine,” a preview of their upcoming album Zero, out November 15.

For Eubanks, however, the release comes with a plea to the band: “Don’t bother releasing any Chester songs with Emily singing on them.”