Linkin Park's Dave Farrell posts poignant open letter to Chester Bennington
On the first anniversary of the singer's death
Linkin Park bassist Dave Phoenix Farrell has written a poignant open letter to Chester Bennington on the first anniversary of the singer’s death.
Farrell took to Instagram in the early hours of this morning to post a picture he took of Chester and wrote the following heartbreaking message:
Chester,
In the past year, there hasn’t been a day that has gone by that I haven’t thought of you. I miss you, and it still hurts to not have you here. I chose not to speak at your memorial because I couldn’t formulate the words to adequately express how I felt... I chose not to speak at the Celebration of Life Concert honoring you because I knew I’d struggle to even be able to speak at all.
And today, a year after your passing, I still struggle to try and eloquently express what you mean to your family, your friends, your fans... and to me. There is so much that I feel, and that I could say, and that I would want to say, and that I don’t know how to say... but one thing I know for certain, is that you are loved, and you are missed.
Be Well My Friend,
Dave
Chester was found dead at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California on 20th July 2017. He was 41 years old.
A week after Chester’s death, Farrell paid tribute to his late band mate on Twitter writing at the time: “It goes without saying, this last week has been extremely difficult.
“I wish I could personally thank every one of you for your love and support. A huge part of Chester’s legacy will be the memories we hold of him in our hearts. He was an enthusiastic, playful father… an honest, and passionate musician, and a loyal friend.”
Speaking to Kerrang! Radio’s Loz Guest earlier this month, Mike Shinoda admitted that Linkin Park’s future was ‘open’.
He told us: “When I’m done with (touring ‘Post Traumatic’), if I end up wanting to get together with another artist and just make songs with them, or go and meet up with some of the guys in (Linkin Park) and do that, it’s all open, it’s all on the table.”
Mike also touched upon missing Chester and his unique talent, explaining: “(Chester) had such a magical and like one of a kind instrument, you could give him nearly any kind of reference – maybe not any but so many different singers – he could imitate them and it would sound so close. It could sound just like what you were trying to get him to do.
“We’re writing a song and he sings it and I go ‘it sounds a little too Dave Gahan, give it some more Adele soulfulness’ and he’d do it and you’re like ‘yes! Now it’s like ok I got that but I don’t like it as much, can you do it a bit more Scott Weiland’ and he’d do it. And he could do all these different things and for me as a writer that’s such a powerful pair right. Yeah, so I’ll miss that.”
Listen to the full chat below: