Grey Daze is the origin story of one of the most recognisable rock voices in a generation. The band are finally finding their feet with a new line-up after the tragic loss of their original singer Chester Bennington in 2017.
Grey Daze’s first and only tour of the UK came thirty years too late. In 2024, the group from Phoenix, AZ brought their #ForYouChester tour to these shores for the very first time, raising awareness for men’s mental health and suicide prevention. New singer Cris Hodges solidified the group and sparked a renewed passion not only from the band to get out and play these songs for people, but also from the fans for whom the music means so much.
In 2025, Grey Daze released their first new music since Chester’s death, featuring Hodges’ distinctive lead vocals and growing songwriting contributions on the U.S. rock-radio hits “Fake Little Lies” and “Still Screaming.” Alongside this, the band performed a handful of European shows for the very first time. Drummer and founding member Sean Dowdell said, “We had fans come from as far as Japan, and even a fan who traveled five days from the war-torn border of Ukraine just to see us. It feels like the world has decided we can’t give up on these songs. They still need to be heard, and they mean so much to people. On top of that, it has inspired us creatively.”
Grey Daze’s live experience is the perfect combination of honouring an important legacy while celebrating exciting new music from a rock band that has rediscovered its hunger.
The History of Grey Daze
Formed in Phoenix, AZ in 1993, Grey Daze drummer and co-founder Sean Dowdell met Chester Bennington through mutual friends while they were still in high school. The bond was immediate, the results groundbreaking, and Grey Daze relentlessly toured on the strength of two successful albums between 1994 and 1998.
As Chester’s star rose after joining Linkin Park and major label success followed, Grey Daze’s catalog seemed to disappear into obscurity. Sean and Chester remained close friends and business partners, creating the highly successful Club Tattoo brand in the U.S.
In 2016, Chester began reforming Grey Daze, with the band set to perform at Club Tattoo’s anniversary party in September 2017. On July 20, 2017, Chester’s tragic and untimely passing sent shockwaves across the globe. The Grey Daze reunion show, which was to feature original bassist Mace Beyers and newly recruited guitarist Cristin Davis, never took place. Chester Bennington, a devoted husband and father of six, was 41 years old.
Emerging from tragedy, the remaining members of Grey Daze, who had already begun working with Chester on a new album, unearthed the original recordings of his unmistakable vocals. After much reflection, they were inspired to finish the work so it could be shared and celebrated for years to come.
In 2020, the album Amends was released on Loma Vista Recordings, reaching #1 on the UK Rock & Metal Album Chart. The record featured guest appearances from members of Korn, P.O.D., Bush, Breaking Benjamin, and included vocal performances from Chester’s family, who were deeply involved in the project.
Following the success of Amends, Grey Daze released a second posthumous album in 2022 titled The Phoenix to immortalize Chester’s distinctive vocals. The album reached #2 on the UK Rock & Metal Chart and featured guitar from Dave Navarro, vocals from Richard Patrick of Filter, and performances from Chester’s twin daughters Lily and Lila Bennington, who sang with their father one final time.
In 2023, Grey Daze were invited to perform live by long-time supporters 98KUPD, the Phoenix, AZ radio station, at U-Fest in front of more than 10,000 people. Unsure of how anyone could fill Chester’s shoes, the band brought in LA-based rock singer Cris Hodges to front the group. This performance solidified the lineup, with Hodges using his immense vocal talent to pay tribute to Chester’s legacy while ensuring fans could experience these once-hidden songs both live and on record.
By 2024, the band completed the lineup with the addition of luthier-turned-bassist Evan Nichols and Phoenix rock-scene veteran Kenny Bulka on guitar. In 2026, Grey Daze will return for their first UK tour as a five-piece, performing across six major English cities.
Presented by DHP.
