On June 26, Grey Daze, the band Chester Bennington sang for before joining Linkin Park and becoming one of rock’s most powerhouse lead vocalists, will release an album called Amends.
Featuring vocal tracks from the late singer matched with new recordings of the band’s earlier material. Featuring newly recorded music and remastered vocals from Bennington, the project is going to be something of an exercise in catharsis for both Bennington’s former band mates — Sean Dowdell (drums), Mace Beyers (bass) and Cristin Davis (guitar) — and Linkin Park fans still reeling from Bennington’s sudden passing in 2017.
One of those songs is “Soul Song,” and the track now has a new music video directed by Jaime Bennington — Chester’s 24-year-old son, who has crafted a profound tribute to his late father’s presence, even in death.
Said Jaime of the video:
“This music video is about my spiritual connection to the other side and my literal experiences with the elusive and, at times, incomprehensible presence of my father after death. ’Soul Song’ is about the many ways in which we come to enlightenment, into knowledge, and the many ways we fall away from it. This is my personal experience with that.”
The members of Grey Daze were moved by Jaime’s participation in this project, bringing music from Bennington’s past to the present as a means of honoring his legacy:
“Having Jaime involved in the recording of ‘Soul Song’ meant so much to all of us,” explains Grey Daze co-founder and drummer Sean Dowdell. “It was one of those full circle moments where we remembered meeting Chester at an even younger age than Jaime, and to now be recording with his son… it was a highlight of recording Amends. Jamie is a burgeoning filmmaker so when he offered to do this video, well, we couldn’t think of a better way to present this song.”
“Soul Song” follows “Sometimes” as another pre-release track from Amends:
And “Sickness”:
As well as the first to be released, “What’s in the Eye”:
Grey Daze formed in 1993 and broke up in 1998, before Chester Bennington tried out for an up-and-coming rock band named Linkin Park … and you know what happened next. In the time after his 2017 passing, Bennington’s Grey Daze band mates began working on this album, bringing to life songs that many haven’t heard (as early Grey Daze albums are currently absent from streaming platforms).
