Linkin Park Singer Chester Bennington Dies, Aged 41

20 July 2017, 22:22 | Updated: 21 July 2017, 10:55

Chester Bennington Linkin Park 2017

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: 

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.

Linkin Park

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. 

See his heartbreaking performance of the Leonard Cohen track below:

Linkin Park had just recently toured the UK, playing their last date at Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena on 6 July.

Video: SecretClown/YouTube

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".

 

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".

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.

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."

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.

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)"

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

HEADS TOGETHER

Too often, people feel afraid to admit that they are struggling with their mental health. This fear of prejudice and judgement stops people from getting help and can destroy families and end lives. Heads Together wants to help people feel much more comfortable with their everyday mental wellbeing and have the practical tools to support their friends and family.

One of their partners is the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), an award-winning charity dedicated to preventing male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK. In 2015, 75% of all UK suicides were male.

CALM offers support to men in the UK, of any age, who are down or in crisis via our helpline, webchat and website.

www.thecalmzone.net

NATIONWIDE: 0800 58 58 58
LONDON: 0808 802 58 58

Calls are free from landlines, payphones and all mobiles.

For more on Heads Together, see www.headstogether.org.uk

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