Chester Bennington, the ferocious lead singer of the platinum-selling hard rock band Linkin Park, has died. He was 41.
Brian Elias, chief of operations for the Los Angeles County coroner's office, confirmed the death and said it was being investigated as an apparent suicide.
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Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington dead
The music community is mourning the death of the 41-year-old front man, who died from an apparent suicide.
Elias said that law enforcement authorities responded to a call shortly after 9am local time and were conducting a death investigation in Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles County.
Bennington, who was known for his piercing scream and free-flowing anguish, released seven albums with Linkin Park. The band's most recent record, One More Light arrived in May and debuted at No.1 on the Billboard album chart. The band was on tour and scheduled to perform at a concert in Mansfield, Massachusetts, on Thursday night.
Linkin Park sold 10 million copies of their 2000 debut, Hybrid Theory, and then another 4 million with 2003's multi-platinum Meteora.
Both albums explored feelings of frustration and fury.
Bennington also performed in the side project Dead by Sunrise and joined Stone Temple Pilots as its lead singer after the band split with singer Scott Weiland in 2013.
In May, he responded to the death of his friend, singer Chris Cornell, in a note he shared on social media.
"I can't imagine a world without you in it," he wrote. "I pray you find peace in the next life."
A week later, he posted a series of positive tweets. In one, he shared a photo of his daughter graduating from the University of San Diego. In another, he wrote about being creatively inspired: "Feeling very creative this last week. I've written 6 songs and I'm happy with all of them. Just getting started."
But Bennington had also been open about his struggles with the drug and alcohol addiction that had fuelled many of his biggest hits with Linkin Park.
"I have been able to tap into all the negative things that can happen to me throughout my life by numbing myself to the pain so to speak and kind of being able to vent it through my music," he said in an interview with music news website Noisecreep in 2009.
"I don't have a problem with people knowing that I had a drinking problem. That's who I am and I'm kind of lucky in a lot of ways 'cause I get to do something about it."
Bennington's fans and former collaborators, including Rihanna, Chance The Rapper, Nikki Sixx and Jimmy Kimmel, were among those who paid tribute to the singer.
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
Chester was one of the kindest men I've had on my show. My heart breaks for his family and friends. He will be missed terribly.
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) July 20, 2017
I am in tears.Chester just told me how happy he was…..He was such a sweet and talented man……Ifeel so sad for his family,band mates and fans
— Nikki Sixx (@NikkiSixx) July 20, 2017
RIP Chester. Tragic ending. Condolences his family and friends and Linkin Park 🙏🏾
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) July 20, 2017
RIP Chester Bennington. This feels like a kick in the chest. My December has pulled me through many times. Depression is a real monster.
— Gabby Sidibe (@GabbySidibe) July 20, 2017
❏ Support is available for those who may be distressed by phoning Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636.
New York Times, AP