The music world has been hit hard this summer when it was just a week ago when we lost Adrenaline Mob bassist Dave Z in a horrific accident and the suicide of the late Chris Cornell this past May. Tragedy struck once again yesterday when Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington committed suicide. Now, TMZ reports the 41-year-old’s death was nearly identical to the late Cornell.
TMZ noted the following:
“Law enforcement sources tell us, the Linkin Park singer was found hanging from a door separating his bedroom from his closet. TMZ broke the story, Chris Cornell died hanging from a hotel door separating the bedroom from the bathroom.
We’re also told Chester was found with a belt around his neck. Chris was found with an exercise band around his neck.
Our sources say there was a partially empty bottle of alcohol in the room where Chester died, but no evidence of drugs.”
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention shared a statement on his death with the following message:
“There is never a single cause for suicide. Suicide is the result of many factors that come together such as an underlying mental health condition and access to lethal means. We must do more to prevent such tragic deaths through greater awareness of mental health issues, common risks and warning signs, and effective interventions and treatments.”
Since his death, the music community continue to pour a variety of emotions.
Stone Temple Pilots shared a heartfelt tribute to their former singer, who was part of the group from 2013-2015.
“Chester,
It is a sad day today to know that so many of us will no longer share in your laughter, friendship and love. You showed us time and time again what it is to be an incredible human being. A beacon of light and hope is what you will always be to us. We love you Chester. We will miss you.”
KoRn’s Brian “Head” Welch shared multiple posts ranging from anger, sadness, understanding, disappointment, and more:
“Honestly, Chester’s an old friend who we’ve hung with many times, and I have friends who are extremely close to him, but this is truly pissing me off! How can these guys send this message to their kids and fans?! I’m sick of this suicide shit! I’ve battled depression/mental illness, and I’m trying to be sempethetic, but it’s hard when you’re pissed! Enough is enough! Giving up on your kids, fans, and life is the cowardly way out!!!
I’m sorry, I know meds and/or alcohol may have been involved, I’m just processing like all of us and I know we are all having some of the same thoughts/feelings.
Lord, take Chester in your arms and please re-unite him with his family and all of us one day. Be with his wife and kids with your grace during this difficult time.”
“I didn’t mean to sound insensitive about Chester. Just dealing with a range of emotions today. Love you Chester. I’m pissed that you did this, but I know this could have been me back in the day after getting wasted one night.”
“This is my favorite band, @thrice. This might be my favorite photo of them; tearing up a green room in the most stereotypical of ways, and all drinking… water. Hydrating. Treating their bodies like tools of their craft. Music is one of the most relentlessly difficult industries to work in. It’s taken a toll on my body; mentally, physically, spiritually. From the outside, I completely understand why people roll their eyes when we highlight the difficulties. You see what we want you to see. The show. The facade. The pristine package. But creating that package asks us for more vulnerability than I think we’re prepared for when we start out. We find places in our souls that most have the luxury of not exploring. It gets dark. I’m really not here to dishonor a hurting family, hurting friends, a hurting band. I’m not here to cheapen a tragedy. I know self medication is a means to quiet the demands for more when you’ve already given so much and I know it can get out of hand before you realize it has. I know before you realize it, you’re not “making decisions” and it’s not “stupidity.” I know before you realize it, you’re just surviving. But I AM here to say I’m tired of it. I’m weary of the loss. Suicide often isn’t a momentary decision. It’s often the end of a path that’s been walked for years. Decisions you make early on reap their results.. YEARS.. later. I’m not often moved by the events of people I don’t know personally. I don’t understand the celebrity worship prevalent in our culture, but it’s been different as of late. I’ve been hurting for the Cornells and I now hurt for the Benningtons. I chose this photo; a photo of a band not related to either one of them, not to forget them, not to shame them, not to disrespect them, but to promote “how it should be.” Let’s celebrate people. Let’s celebrate good things. Let’s celebrate art and each other. There’s a lot of darkness and hurt out there. You can add to it, you can make it colder, darker, or you can shine a light on it.”
Additionally, late last night around 2AM, Welch shared the following video:
Disturbed’s David Draiman opened up on the band’s Facebook page with the following message:
“I remember Chester.
I remember my first exposure to him.
We were playing a show in Pittsburgh, I think, (location doesn’t really matter) and this new band, who’s first hit single “One Step Closer”, was ALL OVER the airwaves already, called Linkin Park, were opening for us. I remember thinking, “I wonder of they’re from Chicago? “linkin’ park” and all…”
I remember sitting in our dressing room and hearing that song start during their set. It drew me out of the dressing room and I stood side stage and watched, in awe of his ferocity, precision, and power. I walked back to the dressing room and said to the guys, “Uh oh…we’d better step up our game tonight, these guys are GOOD!”
I remember when the band, Warner Bros. Records label mates, came to say hello when we were shooting our music video for Prayer, also the same day I met the woman who was to become the love of my life…Lena.
I remember sharing a stage with them on Ozzfest, and although they were originally met with some boos and jeers by the often less than open minded metal crowd, Chester and Co. were unfazed, and mid-way through that tour, they had won the crowd over, and were kicking ass and taking names.
I remember doing a side run together at that time, and Chester caught me kind of making fun of him while I was getting some clothes from under the bus. I had my own little version of “Crawling” where I sung the opening line of the verse with my own lyric (JOKINGLY), “I don’t know why I have to sing like such a pussy…it hurts me…my pussy…”, not knowing that he was standing directly behind me listening!!!
I turned around and noticed he was there and turned white.
“Um…sorry brother! I didn’t mean anything by it! I have mad respect for you! Just playing around!!”, I said. To which he responded, “We’ll at least I actually sing, not just make noises like Oooh wah ah ah ah and ugh ugh!!! (laughing).”
“You got me brother…”, I said laughing, “much love”.
I remember when us, Papa Roach, and Linkin Park were all on a chartered jet together headed to The World Famous KROQ acoustic christmas show, or twisted acoustic christmas show, or weenie roast, or SOMETHING, and it was basically a contest of who could be the loudest, most drunk, and most obnoxious at the time…lol, and Chester and Jacoby were trying to outdo each other each minute, with me playing the part of the grumpy old man, trying to get some sleep in my seat, unsuccessfully, because Chester and Jacoby kept accosting me every 5 minutes trying to get me to join in…lol!!
I remember when I met his family, his children, and saw what a loving father he was, and how much he adored them.
I remember when they got the lead track on the Transformers soundtrack (I was a little jealous, admittedly…lol), I heard the track, saw its copious usage in the film and said, “OK..THIS IS THE GAME CHANGER. They will now go from being nu-metal sensations, to global superstars.”…and they DID.
I remember him reaching out to me right after our performance of “The Sound of Silence” on Conan O’Brien Presents: Team Coco.
He said, “Dude! That was fucking amazing!!! I had no idea you could sing like that!!! Why don’t you sing that way more often???!!”
I was humbled.
I remember talking to him just recently, right after the new record came out, and I told him that I hoped he didn’t mind me saying how proud of him I was. That it took great courage to break new ground stylistically for the band, and that the song (“heavy”) was a HUGE HOOK, and to pay no mind to the idiots out there who didn’t get it.
AND I will always remember when I first heard of his passing today.
Lena and my son Sam were swimming outside, and the text chain began between my brothers in Disturbed and I about the horrible news. I remember feeling the hot stinging tears streaming down my face as I watched my wife and son playing, with a greater appreciation for them, and my life, than ever…SHOCKED, and in disbelief of what I had just been told.
I remember Chester Charles Bennington….
…I cherished and admired him…
…and for all the reasons I listed above, and many more…
…I will never forget him.
-David Draiman”
Stone Sour shared the following:
“The world has lost not only an amazing singer and artist, but a great father and a good friend. Our hearts are broken from the loss. We will miss you Chester.
If you’re alone and feeling the same, reach out. If you’re fighting depression and pain, speak out. There is always someone to listen.
All our love,
Stone Sour”
