Chester Bennington Suicide Letter
Friends and family of Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington are in absolute 'shock' over the rock star's apparent suicide as it's revealed they believed he 'was in a good place in his life'.
Chester Bennington’s suicide is no exception. No one ever expects someone they love to commit suicide. They especially don’t expect celebrities to do such a thing, especially when said celebrity seemed to be doing just fine, touring and recording music as normal. Chester was doing just that. Chester Bennington wrote moving letter to Chris Cornell after Soundgarden frontman’s death. Police confirmed that Chester had died from suicide by hanging.
The 41-year-old was found dead in his home in Palos Verdes near Los Angeles shortly before 9am on Thursday.
A Los Angeles County coroner confirmed they were investigating Bennington's death as an apparent suicide but no additional details were available.
Law enforcement officials say Bennington hanged himself from a door, in a similar manner to friend Chris Cornell, in his bedroom and he was home alone at the time, according to TMZ. He was found upstairs by his housekeeper.
Band-mate Joe Hahn arrived at his home on Thursday afternoon. Other friends and relatives flipped the finger to photographers gathered outside.
After news of his shock death emerged, friends said that while they never suspected he'd kill himself, Bennington was 'never the same' after the death of his close friend Chris Cornell.
His apparent suicide coincided with Cornell's birthday. The Soundgarden rocker killed himself in May by hanging.
Scroll down for video
Linkin Park DJ Joe Hahn was seen arriving at the home of Chester Bennington on Thursday after the singer's shock death by hanging
Hahn kept his gaze forward and avoided photographers as he made his way inside the home
Just hours after his death, the body of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington was seen being wheeled away into a van
A group of five police and coroner authorities were seen at the scene earlier today
'Chester and Chris were so close, and he was never the same after Chris’s death,' the friend told Radar.
The friend of Bennington's also noted that Cornell's death deeply affected Bennington, who also struggled with 'addiction issues'.
Chester Bennington, 41, (pictured in February) killed himself in his home in Palos Verdes near Los Angeles shortly before 9am on Thursday
'But everyone thought that he had it licked. He seemed to be at a good place in his life. It is just so tragic and there are no words,' the friend told Radar.
His bandmates were said to be blindsided by Chester's suicide with sources telling TMZ they had plans to attend a photo shoot in Hollywood later on Thursday.
One Linkin Park band member went to pick him up on Thursday morning but arrived to find police already at his home.
The singer had a history of drug and alcohol abuse. He was married and is survived by his six children from two relationships.
Chester had flown back to Los Angeles on Wednesday night. He had been spending time in Arizona with his wife Talinda, but she remained behind.
Chester, as well as Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson, had performed Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' for the crowd of mourners at Cornell's funeral, many of whom were moved to tears.
Another of the singer's friends was angered by the sight of photographers gathered outside the home
A friend is pictured arriving at the late singer's home on Thursday afternoon after news of his death emerged
An unidentified woman gave a the same gesture as she made her way inside the property
Others left flowers at the scene in tribute to the late singer
Linkin Park was on tour following the release of the band's latest album One More Light. They had a show at New York's Citi Field scheduled for next week with Blink 182.
They played together for the last time on July 7 in Birmingham, England.
The band released its newest music video just two hours before news of his death emerged on Thursday.
Bennington was married to his second wife Talinda, a former Playboy model, for 12 years. He divorced his first wife Samantha Marie Olit in 2005 after nine years of marriage.
The frontman had been open about his history of substance abuse and admitted in one interview in 2011 that he had once been a 'full blown, raging alcoholic'.
Law enforcement officials say Bennington hanged himself and he was alone in his Los Angeles home (above) at the time. He was found upstairs in his home by an employee
Chester Bennington Suicide Hoax
Friends said Bennington never recovered from the death of his friend Chris Cornell who took his own life in May. They are pictured above together in 2008. Cornell is second from left and Bennington second from right
Chester and Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson had performed for the crowd of mourners at Soundgarden rocker Chris Cornell's funeral in May. Chester killed himself on what would have been Cornell's birthday
Bennington's suicide came on the day of his late friend Chris Cornell's (above) birthday. The Soundgarden rocker killed himself in May by hanging
Chester married his second wife Talinda Ann Bentley in 2005. The couple had three children together and the Linkin Park singer had three other children from past relationships
Police were pictured outside the singer's home in Palos Verdes near Los Angeles following his death on Thursday morning
HEARTBREAKING FINAL NOTE FROM BENNINGTON'S SON
Weeks before his shock death, the singer's wife shared touching snippets from their family life on social media.
Among them was a photograph of an upbeat note left by their 11-year-old son Tyler on his father's morning coffee cup.
It read: 'Dad, enjoy your rehersal or whatever your doing today. Love life because it's a 'casltel of glass'
- Tyler'.
Castle of Glass is one of Linkin Park's most beloved songs. It was released in 2012 as part of the album Living Things.
He admitted to smoking pot after his parents divorced when he was 11. The drug use then spiraled into cocaine and meth.
Bennington had also previously spoken out about being sexually abused as a seven-year-old, saying he had been molested by an older male friend.
'If I think back to when I was really young, to when I was being molested, to when all these horrible things were going on around me, I shudder,' he said in one interview.
He went to rehab for his drug and alcohol addiction after marrying his second wife and said he really began to change in 2007.
In a 2011 interview, he said he was sober.
'I don't drink. I choose to be sober now. I have drunk over the last six years, but I just don't want to be that person anymore.'
Linkin Park's sixth and latest album, One More Light, jumped to the top of the Billboard chart when it was released in May.
BENNINGTON EXPLAINS BATTLE WITH DEPRESSION IN FINAL INTERVIEW BEFORE SUICIDE
Chester Bennington explained his complex battle with depression
Chester Bennington explained his complex battle with depression in his final interview before he committed suicide.
Speaking to Will Lavin, he said: '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,' according to the Mirror.
He added: 'And I chose to fight for what I wanted. I wanted to have good relationships.
'I wanted to love the people in my life. I wanted to enjoy my job.
'I wanted to enjoy being a dad and having friends and just getting up in the morning. Because that was a struggle for me.'
Linkin Park played together for the last time on July 7 in Birmingham, England. Bennington posted this photo on Instagram following the show
Chester Bennington (far right) performs alongside his Linkin Park bandmate Mike Shinoda and Austin Carlile, singer Of Mice and Men in London in 2014
Linkin Park released its newest music video just two hours before news of his death emerged on Thursday
Chester's Linkin Park bandmate Mike Shinoda confirmed the news, tweeting that he was shocked and heartbroken
Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park perform at July 3 in London
The Grammy Award-winning group sold 10 million copies of their 2000 debut Hybrid Theory, and then another 4 million with 2003's multiplatinum Meteora. Both albums explored feelings of frustration and fury.
They famously collaborated with JAY-Z in 2004 for Collision Course.
They won Grammys for best hard rock performance in 2001 for Crawling and best rap/sung collaboration for Numb/Encore in 2005.
Bennington formed his own band, Dead by Sunrise, as a side project in 2005. He was also the lead vocalist for Stone Temple Pilots from 2013 to 2015.
When he got his big break in 1999, Bennington was an assistant at a digital-services firm in Phoenix. A music executive sent him a demo from the band Xero, who needed a lead singer.
Bennington wrote and recorded new vocals over the band's playing and sent the results back. He soon got the gig and the band then changed its named to Hybrid Theory, then Linkin Park.
He told The Associated Press in 2010 that because of the sound the band is known for, it's virtually impossible to satisfy their many kinds of fans.
'We're making music for us, that we like. We're not making music for other people,' he said.
'We're not thinking, 'Let's make a pie-graph of all our fans and find out how many people fit in whatever category and then make the perfect album for them.' Like, that would be absolutely ridiculous.'
Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon, Joe Hahn, Brad Delson, Dave 'Phoenix' Farrell and Chester Bennington (L-R) being inducted into Guitar Center's RockWalk of fame in 2014
Bennington, above in 2017, has spoken out previously about being sexually abused as a seven-year-old, saying he had been molested by an older male friend
Bennington (above in 2009) got his big break and joined Linkin Park in 1999. The band quickly rose to fame with its debut album Hybrid Theory
Tributes have been flowing in from fellow musicians and devastated fans since his shock death.
The band Nickelback tweeted: 'When life leaves us blind, love keeps us kind.' - Chester Bennington. Rest easy sir.'
'Oh dear God. Massive RIP to Chester Bennington of @linkinpark this BREAKS OUR HEART. Suicide is the devil on earth walking amongst us,' OneRepublic tweeted.
Nicky Romero said: 'In the end, it really matters. You will be missed. RIP Chester Bennington.'
'We just lost one of the loudest, most iconic voices of our generation. RIP Chester Bennington,' another tribute read.
Josh Franceschi tweeted: 'Incredibly sad news about Chester Bennington. His voice and band a huge inspiration to so many. Thoughts with his family & LP x.'
While George Shrouder wrote: 'Depression is hard to understand. But if it can kill Robin Williams, Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington I'd say it's pretty damn real.'
Those seeking support should contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
For confidential support In Australia, call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14 or MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78.