Earlier this month,Linkin Parkannounced it had officially reunited seven years afterthe death of singer Chester Bennington.
The bands fans gave the announcement amixed reaction.
One person who had immediately strong feelings about the announcement was Benningtons mother, Susan Eubanks.
Bennington in 2008. The late singer’s mother says she learned about the band’s reunion on Google.Kevin Winter/Getty Images
When she learned of the announcement, she felt sudden shock.
We are thrilled to be back out here, Shinoda said at a recent concert.
It is not about erasing the past.
Here, in her own words, is how she has been feeling since the band has moved forward.
(A representative for Linkin Park did not respond to a request for comment for this story.)
They told me that if they were ever going to do something, they would let me know.
They didnt let me know, and they probably knew that I wasnt going to be very happy.
Im very upset about it.
I feel like theyre trying very hard to erase the past.
Theyre performing songs that Chester sang.
And I dont know how the fans are taking it, but I know how I take it.
And having [Armstrong] singing my sons songs is hurtful.
They said they would let the family know if they were going to reunite.
It was the same for me and it hurt.
He promised to tell the family what was going on.
He let Samantha and Draven know, and then Samantha let me know.
He tried very hard to recreate a relationship with Samantha.
She was willing to do that.
They didnt talk about Chesters death; they talked about Chesters life.
Hows his family doing?
It was all of us.
She told him that she has regular conversations with me and Draven as well.
And that if he wanted to tell her something, she would be sure to tell me.
I have not seen him since prior to my divorce in 2005.
I believe my mother-in-law is mixing up bands between Linkin Park and Grey Daze.
Grief and sadness messes with your memory.)
I found out about Emily Armstrong joining the band on Google.
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.
I thought her singing …
It was just a moment.
And I got out of there as fast as I could.
And Chester called me and said, He thinks that theyre going to replace me with a girl.
And I said, What do you mean?
And Chester was dumbfounded and hurt.
And the fact is that now they did it.
So, of course, all that comes right back into my mind.
I had a talk with my son about this.
I didnt think theyd probably do it.
You made a promise to me that you would let us know and you didnt.
If you were going to do this, this is the wrong way to do it.
Its like making him go away, erasing the past.
Now you’ve got the option to just put out new songs.
But dont bother to put out Chesters songs with Emily singing them.
This post was updated on Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m.
ET to reflect a statement from Benningtons ex-wife, Samantha.
