Draven, son of Chester Bennington, looks back on his father’s career: “Everything he has done is special to me” (exclusive)

Draven Bennington He’s excited to carve his own path in life, but he was definitely influenced by his late father, Linkin Park Chester Bennington. In the new Paramount+ documentary series family inheritanceThe 21-year-old looks back on some of his father’s most iconic moments over the years and draws on his own memories of those days.

hollywood life spoke EXCLUSIVELY with Draven about how he got to a point where he wanted to do the complete “opposite” of what made his father so famous. He also admitted that he wants to ‘change the narrative’ on how people remember him as the father of him, who tragically passed away in 2017. A lot of amazing things happen,” he said. Read our Q&A below:

How did you react when you got the call from Paramount+ to do it? family inheritance?
Draven Benington: Honestly, I got a DM. So at first I wasn’t sure if that was true or not. I was like, okay, I need to make sure this isn’t some random person DMing me real quick. But then I started talking to them a little more. We did some background checks. I was like, okay, this is really cute. I had to make sure they focused at least a little bit on the kids and what we’re doing and where their careers are going, and not just that everything was focused on our life growing up and stuff because I wanted to be more of an advocate as well of children’s artists and all. They were very supportive and once they told me they wanted it too, I was really open. I was really excited.

As the son of a revered singer, was there a time in your life when you thought about rebelling against that heritage by taking a non-artistic path?
Draven Benington: Yes. Honestly, for a long time I’ve wanted to be an engineer or something. Very, very, very opposite. But then it took me a while to realize that I don’t like that kind of work either. I don’t feel happy sitting at a desk all day. So I’m like, ok, what can I do? The funny story is that I got into photography and graphic design thinking, okay, this is somewhere between art and serious work and everything in between. I started doing graphic design for Risk Rock which is a street artist and all that. It’s incredible. I love. He took me under his protection and I was interned there for 9 months with him. That’s when I started taking art seriously for myself and doing my own thing and just expressing my passions. Since then, I’ve dived headfirst.

Fans continue to feel a connection to his father through his music and will continue to do so for decades to come. Is there a specific piece of your father’s art that particularly appeals to you?
Draven Benington: Everything he did is special to me only because it’s a part of him that’s still here. I feel so lucky to have his music and so many videos out there that we have so many pictures that I can go back and when I miss him I can see him doing what he loved the most and be happy about it. I’m so thankful for all of this footage, because I know not everyone has the opportunity to be able to remember so many hours of someone they’ve lost before. I am very thankful for that. Each piece means a lot to me.

You definitely have a lot of the same energy and spirit as your father. Do people say you remind them of their father?
Draven Benington: I do a lot and the funny thing is the only thing I couldn’t do was grow a beard so I’m keeping it.

For many, Chester’s voice was that of a generation going through the trials and tribulations of growing up. How do you want people to remember your father?
Draven Benington: I think the best thing is when people come to me and tell me how much their lives have changed through their music. I don’t know why, but it makes me very happy. What he did and his creative output had a huge impact on so many different people, and he was able to save so many people. I think that’s the number one thing I want people to remember him for, and the number of good times as well. I kind of want to change the narrative… I think sometimes we focus too much on the end of everything, when he was his whole life and so many amazing things happened to him. The messages I get from people saying, “I was backstage and we had the best conversation with your dad and he was so sweet.” These are the things I want people to remember. I don’t want people to sit there and focus on the ending all the time. Although I think it’s a nice conversation to have. I think it’s a necessary conversation, but it shouldn’t be how we remember it.

You are involved in many different things. You are an artist, musician and actor. Are there any that you are particularly focused on right now?
Draven Benington: Definitely art and music. I tried acting a little here and there, but only in some friend’s projects. It was fun. I did a little scene where I put on my prison suit and hit bars and stuff, but still nothing really serious in that sense. So right now it’s mostly about art and music.

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