Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington dies aged 41
RIP
Last updated 21st Jul 2017
Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington has died at the age of 41, it's been confirmed.
TMZ first broke the news that Chester’s body was discovered shortly before 9am local time this morning (20th July) at a private residence in Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles.
The website quoted sources who claim that the singer had hanged himself.
Chester's Linkin Park bandmate Mike Shinoda confirmed the devastating news of his death on Twitter. He wrote: "Shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one."
Linkin Park had toured the UK earlier this month playing a trio of shows in London and Birmingham to promote their latest album ‘One More Light’.
Over a 21-year career with Linkin Park, Chester sold 70million records, released seven albums and won two Grammy Awards.
2000's Hybrid Theory, which boasts the anthems 'Crawling' and 'In The End', is five times Platinum in the UK selling over 1.5million copies on these shores alone.
Chester had spoken openly in interviews about his struggles with alcohol and drug issues in the past and he's also spoken about contemplating suicide as a result of being a victim of abuse as a child.
On Linkin Park's latest record 'One More Light', which saw the band delve into pop realms, Chester's lyrics were highly potent. Lead single 'Heavy' opens with the lines "I don't like my mind right now" and thematically deals with the "heavy" things that happen in the band members' lives.
A close friend of the late-great Chris Cornell, in May Chester wrote a poignant tribute to the Soundgarden singer in the wake of his death.
Chester said: “You have inspired me in many ways you could never have known. Your talent was pure and unrivaled. Your voice was joy and pain, anger and forgiveness, love and heartache all wrapped up into one. I suppose that’s what we all are. You helped me understand that."
He also sang a version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah at Chris's private funeral service.
Chester was married and had six children from two wives.
RIP Chester Bennington.
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