Band members of Linkin Park have spoken out about the death of Chester Bennington. The lead of Linkin Park, Chester Bennington was found dead in Los Angeles at the age of 41. The coroner has ruled that Bennington hanged himself in an act of suicide after suffering from mental health problems.
The official statement said that they are devasted and they are still trying to come to terms with what has happened. ‘Our hearts are broken. The shock waves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened.’ They went on to say that he touched some many more lives than he realised.
They also said that the outpouring of love from the world had greatly helped Bennington’s family at this difficult time. ‘In the past few days, we’ve seen an outpouring of love and support, both public and private, from around the world. Talinda and the family appreciate it, and want the world to know that you were the best husband, son, and father; the family will never be whole without you.’
He was a close friend of Chris Cornell who also killed himself earlier this year – many said that Bennington never recovered from losing his friend and had been in a bad place since then. He penned an open letter to Cornell following his death saying ‘You have inspired me in ways you could never have known… I can’t imagine a world without you in it.’
Linkin Park formed in 1996 and went on to sell over 70 million albums worldwide – the band was also set to begin a tour next week. It was well-known that Bennington had struggled with drug and alcohol abuse and had contemplated suicide in the past after suffering abuse as a child.
Mike Shinoda, a member of the band, confirmed the news on social media after speculation of the singer’s death surfaced online. ‘Shocked and heartbroken, but it’s true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.’
The singer had spoken openly about his mental health, saying that he often feels like he has a choice to either die or fight for what he wants. ‘I came to a point in my life where I was like, “I can either just give up and f****** die or I can f****** fight for what I want