Known for their hit songs like “In The End” and “Numb,” Linkin Park has been rocking audiences for over 20 years.
But today, fans are rocking with a little more pain in their hearts as the band’s frontman, Chester Bennington, reportedly committed suicide by hanging in his Los Angeles home last night .
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Bandmate Mike Shinoda tweeted this afternoon that he was “shocked and heartbroken” to receive the devastating news about his longtime musical companion.
The 41-year-old had won two Grammys, sold more than 70 million albums worldwide and found success that most people can only dream of. But none of those things have the power to end depression, which Bennington reportedly battled for years.
Childhood abuse led the rock star to heavy drug and alcohol abuse for years. Bennington has always been honest and transparent about his addictions and personal struggles.
“I have been able to tap into all the negative things that can happen to me throughout my life by numbing myself to the pain, so to speak, and kind of being able to vent it through my music,” he said in a 2009 interview. “‘Crawling,’ for example, by Linkin Park, is probably the most literal song lyrically I’d ever written for Linkin Park and that’s about feeling like I had no control over myself in terms of drugs and alcohol.”
In a recent performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Bennington dedicated the song “One More Light” to fellow musician and close friend Chris Cornell who died by suicide in May.
Today (July 20), the day Bennington chose to end his life, would have been Cornell’s birthday.
Bennington was married and had six children. Our prayers are with his family, bandmates, friends and fans during this time.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental illness, please know you are not alone. Suicide is completely preventable. There is hope. PLEASE reach out if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or fear that someone you love might be.
If you need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or text “START” to 741-741.
