Chester Bennington’s mother feels 'betrayed' after Linkin Park reunites with new vocalist Emily Armstrong

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

Fans of the band are both excited and divided over their new chapter with Emily Armstrong as the lead vocalist, but no one appears more shaken by the news than Chester Bennington’s mother, Susan Eubanks, who claims she was left completely in the dark.

Eubanks' statements come only a few days after Bennington's son Jaime Bennington criticized the band's founder Mike Shinoda

Susan Eubanks opens up about discovering band changes online

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

But according to Eubanks, the band had promised to inform her of any future plans, a promise she says was broken.

In an emotional interview with Rolling Stone, Eubanks shared her heartbreak, saying she only discovered the news on the Internet. "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... That whole week, they were at the top if you go enter anything into Google."

She further expressed her disappointment, explaining how deeply the band's actions had hurt her. “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,” she said, fighting back tears.

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

Susan speaks out on the pain of hearing her son’s songs sung by Emily Armstrong

For Eubanks, the most painful part is 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 are taking it, but I know how I take it. And having [Armstrong] singing my son’s songs is hurtful,” she lamented.

The controversy surrounding Armstrong’s involvement doesn’t end there. Armstrong’s past ties to Scientology and her support of convicted rapist Danny Masterson have ignited backlash.

Yet, this isn't the only sore spot for Eubanks. She revealed that she last saw turntablist Joe Hahn about four or five years ago, and who had “promised” to inform her of any band updates.

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

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

"Mike told him at rehearsal that, ‘If you decide you’re leaving, we’re going to replace you with a girl,’" Eubanks claimed, suggesting a long-standing tension between the two bandmates.

Susan Eubanks criticizes Armstrong’s vocals as Mike Shinoda defends band’s new direction

As for Armstrong’s vocal abilities, Eubanks didn’t hold back.

As per Daily Mail, recalling a recent livestream of a performance, she remarked, “She was screeching her way through a very high note. And I got out of there as fast as I could.” She also admitted she had always thought Shinoda would step in as the lead vocalist since Chester had “taught him.”

Shinoda, meanwhile, has defended the band's decision to move forward.

At a recent concert, he addressed the crowd, saying, “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.”

According to Associated Press, the band has also seen other lineup changes, with Colin Brittain replacing longtime drummer Rob Bourdon, who reportedly “decided to step away” from the group.

For fans eagerly awaiting new music, Linkin Park has already released the track 'The Emptiness Machine,' a glimpse into their upcoming album 'Zero', set to drop on November 15.

But for Eubanks, the release comes with a plea to the band: “Don’t bother to put out Chester’s songs with Emily singing them.”