Chester Bennington’s son Jaime Bennington has publicly reacted to a recent video posted by Julien-K singer Ryan Shuck. The video announced a one-night-only Dead by Sunrise show alongside In the End and Grey Daze singer Cris Hodges — a move that drew a sharp response from Jaime.
Dead by Sunrise was a supergroup originally formed by Chester Bennington and Ryan Shuck. The announcement proved particularly sensitive for the Bennington family, as the show would move forward without Chester’s involvement or blessing. Jaime took to the comments to express his disapproval.
“This is Ryan from Julien-K,” Shuck said in the video. “For one night only Dead by Sunrise with this amazing man, my friend Cris Hodges, amazing singer. We’re gonna play a selection of Dead by Sunrise songs on August 1st at The Bellwether in LA.”
Jaime Bennington responded directly to the announcement, making his feelings clear.
“How disrespectful,” Jaime commented. “I’m sorry they continue to choose this over choosing you, dad.”
The show is scheduled for August 1st at The Bellwether in Los Angeles. It remains to be seen whether the public reaction will have any impact on the event.
This is not the first time Jaime Bennington has spoken out publicly about how his father’s legacy is being handled. His willingness to call out figures from his father’s musical circle reflects a broader, ongoing tension between the Bennington family and some of Chester’s former collaborators over the stewardship of his name and work.
Dead by Sunrise was formed in 2005 as a side project for Chester Bennington, who served as the band’s frontman and primary creative force. Ryan Shuck, a guitarist and co-founder of Julien-K, was a central member of the group alongside Bennington. The band released their only studio album, Out of Ashes, in 2009. It remains a significant part of Chester’s musical legacy outside of Linkin Park.
Jaime has previously been vocal about his frustrations with how certain figures have approached Chester’s memory and body of work. He publicly accused Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda of quietly erasing his father’s life and legacy — a claim that sparked considerable debate among fans and within the rock community. That episode underscored the depth of feeling within the Bennington family regarding who has the right to carry Chester’s musical identity forward.
Cris Hodges is known for his work with In the End and Grey Daze — the latter being another of Chester Bennington’s pre-Linkin Park bands. His involvement in the Dead by Sunrise show adds another layer of complexity to the announcement. Grey Daze itself has been a subject of posthumous releases tied closely to Chester’s estate and family.
The Out of Ashes album celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2024. The record continues to be regarded as a defining document of Chester Bennington’s artistic range beyond Linkin Park. For many fans, Dead by Sunrise remains deeply personal — a project that existed because of Chester, and one that carries significant emotional weight. Whether the band’s name and songs can be performed without him, and without the blessing of his family, is a question this announcement has brought sharply back into focus.
Source: Instagram
