Linkin Park‘s reunion earlier this month was surely intended to be a triumphant return, but as recent weeks have shown, that hasn’t exactly been the case. By many measures, fans have welcomed the newly reconfigured band back, with their music once again surging on the charts, shows on their comeback tour quickly selling out, and interest in their upcoming album “From Zero” (out November 15th) building.
However, not all headlines regarding the acclaimed nü-metal/alternative rock band’s reemergence have been positive. The instatement of Dead Sara vocalist Emily Armstrong in place of the late Chester Bennington has proven a controversial choice.
Armstrong‘s documented ties to Scientology, and her past public support for convicted rapist Danny Masterson, himself a Scientologist, have not sat well with some. If you’re unaware, Bennington was an advocate for victims of sexual abuse, given his own experiences as a victim of childhood sexual abuse.
The Mars Volta vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala and his wife Chrissie were among the most vocal opponents of Armstrong joining the band. Chrissie was one of several women to publicly come forward against Masterson in court, accusing him of rape. Chrissie and Cedric themselves are also former Scientologists.
Upon Chrissie originally coming forward against Masterson, the couple allege to have been the victims of an horrific intimidation campaign waged against them, which they claim was perpetrated by Scientologists. While the couple had previously publicly criticized Armstrong last year over her support for Masterson, her addition to Linkin Park found them extending their disapproval to the aforementioned band for welcoming her into the fold.
Several vitriolic posts toward Armstrong were shared by Cedric and Chrissie. in the wake of Linkin Park‘s reunion announcement While Armstrong would go on to explain her past support for Masterson in a subsequent statement, her ties to Scientology do not appear to have officially been addressed.
Another individual who was highly critical of Armstrong joining Linkin Park was Chester‘s son Jamie Bennington. The latter accused Mike Shinoda and co. of attempting to ‘erase the past’. Across several posts and videos on social media, Jamie outlined his disappointment with the band and disapproval on how they have chosen to proceed forward.
Shinoda seemingly responded to Jamie in an onstage comment during the opening date of the band’s reunion tour at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, stating: “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.”
Now Chester‘s mother Susan Eubanks has also spoken out against the group, claiming they did not contact her or Chester‘s children regarding the reunion. She also alleges that Shinoda once threatened Chester with replacing him with a female vocalist, and that she feels betrayed by the addition of Armstrong into the reunion.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Eubanks offered:
“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.”
“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 claimed that members of the band had communicated to her that they would inform her if they ever decided to reunite. She also alleged that in the years since Chester passed, vocalist/guitarist, etc. Mike Shinoda and turntablist, etc. Joe Hahn both reassured her that they would keep in touch about any activity in the group. She did admit that Shinoda did reach out to the family regarding the past posthumous release of singles featuring Chester in recent years.
However, as for the big reveal of the group’s new lineup, Eubanks claims she found out via Google. She also mentioned she took in a bit of the band’s livestreamed return live announcement and did not walk away a fan of Armstrong, offering:
“I tuned into the livestream when it happened. Not on purpose. I thought her singing … I don’t even remember what it is [she was singing], because I didn’t want to hear it. It was just a moment. But it was her, I’m just going to say it, screeching her way through a very high note. And I got out of there as fast as I could.”
According to Eubanks, Chester once confided in her that Shinoda previously threatened replacing him with a female vocalist. She recalled of that:
“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.”
Eubanks later told the aforementioned publication that she would have been OK with the band continuing on without attempting to replace her son, presumably with Shinoda attempting the lead vocal duties. She went on to add:
“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. You don’t have to worry about going through the old songs and finding new ones, new Chester songs to put out. Now you can just put out new songs. But don’t bother to put out Chester’s songs with Emily singing them.”
You can find more from Eubanks over at Rolling Stone. The aforementioned publication also noted that Linkin Park declined to comment on their interview with Eubanks.
