Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington Dead
Chester Bennington, the lead singer for the platinum-selling rock band Linkin Park, has died at the age 41. The New York Times and other sources report his death is being investigated as a possible suicide. Brian Elias, the Chief of Operations for the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office said law enforcement authorities responded to call at Bennington’s home in Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles County shortly after 9am PT Thursday and were conducting a death investigation.
Bennington, “who was known for his piercing scream and free-flowing anguish,” released seven albums with Linkin Park. He had also performed in the side project Dead by Sunrise and was recruited to join Stone Temple Pilots as their lead singer after the band split with the late Scott Weiland in 2013. Linkin Park’s most recent Warner Bros. album, One More Light was released in May and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. Linkin Park was preparing to kick off their One More Light World Tour next Thursday, July 27 at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA.
In a statement, Cameron Strang, Chairman and CEO Warner Bros. Records said, “Chester Bennington was 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. All of us at WBR join with millions of grieving fans around the world in saying: we love you Chester and you will be forever missed.”
Kevin Weatherly, CBS Radio SVP of Programming and PD of KROQ/Los Angeles issued a statement on Bennington’s passing, which read, “On behalf of everyone at KROQ, I would like to extend our deepest condolences and prayers to Chester Bennington’s family, friends and Linkin Park bandmates. KROQ, Chester and Linkin Park have been together since Day 1, and our long history extends beyond the music. Chester and Linkin Park headlined many of our shows over the years, entertaining audiences and pushing the boundaries of music along the way. We are without words to describe how terribly saddened we are today. RIP friend, KROQ will miss you.”
Bennington leaves behind his wife, Talinda Bentley and six children — son Jaime with Elka Brand (Bennington also adopted Brand’s son, Isaiah), son Draven Sebastian with his first wife, Samantha Marie Olit, and son Tyler Lee and twin daughters Lily and Lila with Bentley.
• Our friends at The Mix Group have produced an audio tribute to Chester Bennington that you are invited to use.
