Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington is ‘found hanged’ at 41

  21 July 2017    Read: 2500
Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington is ‘found hanged’ at 41
His body was discovered this morning just before 9am and it is believed that he hanged himself.
The singer is survived by his wife, Talinda Ann Bentley, and six children – Jamie, 21, Isaiah, 19, Draven, 15, Tyler Lee, 11, and Lily and Lila, 7.

He was previously married to Samantha Marie Olit from 1996 – 2005.

Chester, whose band Linkin Park spawned hit rock songs including Numb and Breaking the Habit, often focused his lyrics on personal struggle, depression and addiction.

Mike Shinoda, who also provided vocals for the band, confirmed the news on Twitter and wrote: “Shocked and heartbroken, but it’s true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.”

One of the band’s last singles, Heavy, released four months ago, focused on the topic of depression.

It contained haunting lyrics including: “I don’t like my mind right now // Stacking up problems that are so unnecessary // Wish that I could slow things down”

In the chorus, he talks about how he is dragging around issues that are bringing him down before chillingly adding: “If I just let go, I’d be set free.”

He had also previously spoken about his battle with drug addiction, alcoholism and depression – admitting in December last year that he was even at one point on crack and crystal meth.

The star told Metal Hammer magazine: “I was on 11 hits of acid a day. I dropped so much acid I’m surprised I can still speak! I’d smoke a bunch of crack, do a bit of meth and just sit there and freak out. Then I’d smoke opium to come down.

“I weighed 110 pounds. My mom said I looked like I stepped out of Auschwitz. So I used pot to get off drugs.”

However, just days before his death, he was seen in the recording studio with his bandmates and Watsky, suggesting that he was currently in the process of collaborating with him.

The singer’s death comes on the birthday of his close pal Chris Cornell – the Soundgarden frontman who was found hanged in his hotel room back in May.

Linkin Park hit the limelight with their debut album Hybrid Theory in 1999, and continued their success with the global hit Meteora in 2003.

They later became a crossover hit thanks to a collaborative album with Jay-Z in 2004, titled Collision Course.

The musicians combined their hip-hop styles and rap tracks together and created a new album using their hits, including Numb/Encore.

Their latest album, One More Light, was released earlier this year and they have only just returned from a UK tour culminating at London’s O2 Arena on July 3.

They were due to start a tour with pop-punk band Blink 182, who are performing at the O2 tonight, next week.

Just three hours before Chester’s death was announced, the band had released the new music video for their latest offering, Talking to Myself.

The now poignant video followed the shenanigans of the band while on tour in a split screen montage, and saw them travel the world together.

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