Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington has died from an apparent suicide, TMZ reports. He was 41. According to TMZ, his wife discovered his body early Thursday morning. He’d reportedly hanged himself.
Linkin Park released their most recent album One More Light in May. The band was scheduled to embark on a major North American tour next week. Bennington was close friends with Chris Cornell, who also died by hanging earlier this year, and performed Leonard Cohen’s “Hallejulah” at the Soundgarden singer’s memorial in late May.
Bennington is survived by his wife, Talinda Ann Bentley, and his six children, three with Bentley and three from two previous relationships.
Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda has confirmed his bandmate Chester Bennington’s death. “Shocked and heartbroken, but it’s true,” he wrote on Twitter. “An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.
Shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.
— Mike Shinoda (@mikeshinoda) July 20, 2017
Several other musicians paid their respects via Twitter:
Mental health is no joke. We have to destigmatize the conversation around it.
— pw (@petewentz) July 20, 2017
RIP Chester. Tragic ending. Condolences his family and friends and Linkin Park 🙏🏾
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) July 20, 2017
Our thoughts are with Chester Bennington's family & all of Linkin Park at this remarkably difficult time. A voice of a generation. X
— You Me At Six (@youmeatsix) July 20, 2017
no words. so heartbroken. RIP Chester Bennington.
— Imagine Dragons (@Imaginedragons) July 20, 2017
Before his death, Chester Bennington was touring with Linkin Park to support their most recent album, One More Light. As Billboard notes, the band played what would be their last performance with Bennington on July 6 at Birmingham, England’s Barclaycard Arena. A fan in the stage pit was attending her first Linkin Park concert, according to the YouTube description, and ended up uploading footage of that show.
Watch Linkin Park perform “Papercut” and “Bleed It Out” below.
Source: Spin.com
