Tributes flow for Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, dead at 41

Tributes were flowing from other members of the music community as news broke of the death of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington.

The Los Angeles County coroner yesterday confirmed that the singer had been found dead in his home – in Palos Verdes Estates, a small coastal city near Los Angeles – and that it was being treated as a suicide.

His body was discovered by a Linkin Park employee at 9am on Thursday US West Coast time.

The 41-year-old leaves behind second wife Talinda, and is survived by six children.

Linkin Park were on tour and were meant to play a show in New York next week with Blink 182. They had also recently been in the studio recording new material.

Rhianna, Nile Rodgers, Chance The Rapper and Imagine Dragons were among the artists who took to Twitter to express their thoughts and condolences to his family.

Linkin Park bandmate Mike Shinoda said he was “shocked and saddened” by the news.

“One of the kindest men I’ve had on my show,” recalled Jimmy Kimmel.

Rob Thomas summed it all up, “Song of the day, Numb by Linkin Park.”

OneRepublic posted: “Suicide is the devil on earth walking amongst us.”

Cameron Strang, CEO and Chairman of Linkin Park’s record company Warner Bros issued a statement, describing Bennington as "an artist of extraordinary talent and charisma, and a human being with a huge heart and a caring soul".

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful family, his band-mates and his many friends,” Strang added.

Chester Bennington and the double Grammy-winning Linkin Park struck a chord with a mix of hard rock, hip hop and rap which punched through lyrical themes of angst and fury.

What delivered the message so effectively was his voice, which could shift from scream to whisper. Rolling Stone described it as a “shrapnel-laced howl that sounds like it comes from someone twice his size.”

Linkin Park sold 70 million albums worldwide, including their debut album Hybrid Theory (2000), which sold 10 million copies in the US.

The remix album Reanimation, and its mash-up with Jay-Z, Collision Course, were also hugely successful.

Ominously, the song Heavy from their latest album One More Light, released in May, began, “I don’t like my mind right now.” It was their fifth album to debut at #1 in the U.S.

He was deeply affected by the death of close friend Chris Cornell, at whose memorial he sang Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.

Always honest with his fans, Bennington spoke publicly about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, as well as being bullied at school.

"I was knocked around like a rag doll at school, for being skinny and looking different,” he said.

He journey into music was inspired by Depeche Mode and Stone Temple Pilots, and he used to dream about being a member of STP - a wish that was granted when he fronted the band between 2013 to 2015. 

Bennington’s big break came in 1999 when he was working at a digital services fame in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, when a music industry friend sent him a demo from a band called Xero who were looking for a singer.

Bennington wrote and sang over their playing and sent the demo back. Xero changed its name to Hybrid Theory, and then to Linkin Park.

For anyone who may be impacted by this story, we encourage you to seek support. Details for 24/7 crisis support services are outlined below:

Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467

Lifeline – 13 11 14

MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78

A telephone and online support, information and referral service, helping men to deal with relationship problems in a practical and effective way.

Headspace – 1800 650 890

Free online and telephone service that supports young people aged between 12 and 25 and their families going through a tough time. 

Further resources:

Support Act – 1300 731 303

An Australian registered charity focusing on supporting the mental health of Australian musicians and music industry professionals.

Black Dog Institute