Linkin Park Singer Chester Bennington Dies, Aged 41
20 July 2017, 22:22
According to reports, the frontman has tragically committed suicide on what would have been the late Chris Cornell's 53rd birthday.
Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington has died.
According to TMZ, the 41-year-old singer was reportedly found hanged at a private residence in Palos Verdes Estate in Los Angeles just before 9am on Thursday (20 July).
His Linkin Park bandmate Mike Shinoda tweeted:
Shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.
— Mike Shinoda (@mikeshinoda) July 20, 2017
The Crawling singer - who had three children with wife Talinda Bentley and another three from previous relationships - had struggled with drugs and alcohol abuse in the past and previously admitted he had considered suicide after being abused as a child by an older male.
The rocker was also the singer in Dead by Sunrise, and performed as frontman for Stone Temple Pilots from 2013 to 2015, as well as collaborating as a solo artist with the likes of Santana, Motley Crue, and his close friend Chris Cornell - who committed suicide in May.
The news tragically comes on what would have been the late grunge icon's 53rd Birthday. Bennington was close friends with the Audioslave and Soundgarden frontman and wrote a heartfelt note at the time of his death, as well as singing Hallelujah at his funeral.
With all of my love @chriscornell. pic.twitter.com/NFz0dnxfp8
— Chester Bennington (@ChesterBe) May 18, 2017
See his heartbreaking performance of the Leonard Cohen track below:
.@ChesterBe & Brad performed 'Hallelujah' at Chris Cornell's funeral. Heartbreaking performance #RIPChrisCornellhttps://t.co/vY8rUKSW4n pic.twitter.com/p3WnNWcBHp
— Linkin Park Live (@LPLive) May 26, 2017
Linkin Park had just recently toured the UK, playing their last date at Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena on 6 July.
The band were set to continue their One More Light world tour in North America, with a date at The Xfinity Center in Massachusetts on Saturday 27 July.
Tributes have already begun to pour in for the frontman from across the music and entertainment world.
Slipknot's Corey Taylor lead the tributes, simply writing: "Jesus no".
Jesus No...
— MARY POPPINS, Y'ALL! (@CoreyTaylorRock) July 20, 2017
Stormzy - who recently teamed up Linkin Park on the track Good Goodbye - has sent his "prayers" to his family.
He tweeted alongside numerous broken heart emojis: "Bruv I can't lie I'm so upset serious.
"I am heartbroken you do not know what someone's going through serious. Prayers up for your family right now my brother".
Bruv I can't lie I'm so upset serious
— #GSAP (@Stormzy1) July 20, 2017
I am heartbroken you do not know what someone's going through serious. Prayers up for your family right now my brother
— #GSAP (@Stormzy1) July 20, 2017
Rest in perfect peace my brother...Chester the legend. Thank you for inspiring me. Prayers up for your loved ones and family pic.twitter.com/XBu08izrxg
— #GSAP (@Stormzy1) July 21, 2017
His bandmate Mike Shinoda has also broken his silence, writing: "shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.
Shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.
— Mike Shinoda (@mikeshinoda) July 20, 2017
Chester was a close friend of Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, who took his own life in May, and his death came on what would have been the You Know My Name singer's 53rd birthday.
Cornell's widow Vicky tweeted: "Just when I thought my heart couldn't break any more."
Just when I thought my heart couldn't break any more.....I love you T
— Vicky Cornell (@vickycornell) July 20, 2017
My Chemical Romance were "deeply saddened" by the tragic passing of the What I've Done singer - who had three children with wife Talinda Bentley and another three from previous relationships - because they "loved" him.
We are deeply saddened by Chester's death. We loved him. Our condolences to Chester's family, Linkin Park, and all of their loved ones.
— My Chemical Romance (@MCRofficial) July 20, 2017
They wrote on their Twitter page: "We are deeply saddened by Chester's death. We loved him. Our condolences to Chester's family, Linkin Park, and all of their loved ones."
N.E.R.D. star Pharrell Williams hailed the frontman as an influence on an "entire generation".
Alongside a photo of Chester, he posted: "Chester... You and the guys all influenced an entire generation. You went so hard and set so many kids free of their environments and situations. You let NERD open for you in Germany, we'll never forget that show; YOU CRUSHED IT. The last time I saw you, you gave us chills. Your essence is amongst the stars. Rest now."
Paramore singer Hayley Williams said her "heart hurts" as she pondered the vulnerability of artists and shared the number for a helpline.
She wrote: "artists are ppl compelled to bring beauty into a world that can be so dark. makes sense then that artists are always conscious of darkness..
"... & maybe at times made more vulnerable by it? i don't know. life can be relentless. heart hurts for Chester's family/band/friends/fans.(sic)"
if you're suffering, say it. Suicide Prevention Hotline, available 24 hrs a day: 1-800-273-8255. we love you.
— paramore (@paramore) July 20, 2017
Billie Joe Armstrong paid tribute to the singer, while also encouraging others experiencing similar struggles to seek help.
The Green Day frontman posted: "i've met Chester a couple times. he was very kind and also very smart. and one hell of a singer. mental health and drug addiction are really complex issues. but just know you are not alone. rest in peace Chester. you will be missed .. suicide prevention hotline: +1 (844) 540-5889 (sic)"
Photo: Twitter/Stormzy1
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