Chester Bennington (1976-2017)
Posted by: Erin Ward in Notable Deaths | July 12, 2021
Chester Bennington
Musician
March 20, 1976 – July 20, 2017
Chester Bennington, the American singer and songwriter, best known as the frontman for the rock band Linkin Park has passed away at the age of 41 according to multiple reports.
Bennington was a talented musician and helped propel Linkin Park to one of the most popular and commercially successful rock bands of the early 2000s. He was also a member of several other groups over the years, most notably as the lead vocalist for Stone Temple Pilots from 2013-2015.
Bennington joined Linkin Park in 1999 as the new lead vocalist and helped the band release their debut album “Hybrid Theory” in 2000. The album was a major success selling more than 4.8 million copies in its debut year and being named the best album of 2001. It also was nominated for 3 Grammy Awards and won for Best Hardrock Performance.
Following the release of Hybrid Theory, Bennington and Linkin Park would go on to release six more studio albums. Each of which achieved commercial and critical success and led to the band being featured at number 19 on Billboards “Best Artists of the Decade” list. To date, Linkin Park has sold over 70 million albums worldwide, won 2 Grammy Awards, and was the first rock band to achieve more than 1 billion views on YouTube.
In 2005, Bennington formed Dead by Sunrise as a side project while writing songs for Linkin Park’s Minutes to Midnight (2007) album. Bennington has said the motivation for the new band came while writing songs he knew would be great songs, but not successful for Linkin Park.
“I came up with a few songs that felt and sounded really good, but I knew they weren’t right stylistically for Linkin Park. They were darker and moodier than anything I’d come up with for the band. So I decided to work on them on my own rather than turn them over and have them transformed into Linkin Park tracks.”
Dead by Sunrise released one studio album and toured sporadically alongside Linkin Park, often performing at some point in the middle of the show.
In 2013 when Stone Temple Pilots lead singer Scott Weiland passed away, Bennington was brought on as his replacement. Bennington performed with the band for two years between 2013 and 2015 before leaving on good terms to rejoin Linkin Park. During his time with Stone Temple Pilots, they released one song, “Out of Time” in 2013.
Bennington was married twice during his lifetime and leaves behind his current wife Talinda Ann Bentley and a total of 6 children from different relationships.
Bennington had long suffered from depression and was extremely saddened early this year following the death of close friend Chris Cornell. His death comes on what would have been Cornell’s 53rd birthday today.
Following the news of his death, celebrities have been expressing their condolences on social media.
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
The news about Chester Bennington is devastating. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and @linkinpark. Such a tragic loss
— Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) July 20, 2017
Oh dear God. Massive R.I.P to Chester Bennington of @linkinpark this BREAKS OUR HEART. Suicide is the devil on earth walking amongst us ?
— OneRepublic (@OneRepublic) July 20, 2017
Oh dear God. Massive R.I.P to Chester Bennington of @linkinpark this BREAKS OUR HEART. Suicide is the devil on earth walking amongst us ?
— OneRepublic (@OneRepublic) July 20, 2017
102 Comments
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1 week ago
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Yasemin
May 23
Thank you for this respectful and well-summarized tribute to Chester Bennington. It’s hard to believe it’s been this many years — his voice was the soundtrack to so many of our teenage years, especially those of us who felt a little lost or angry. "Hybrid Theory" wasn't just an album; for a whole generation, it was a lifeline.
The part about him forming Dead by Sunrise because some songs were "too dark and moody" for Linkin Park really shows how deep his artistry went. He didn't just perform pain — he transformed it into something others could hold onto. And the detail about his death falling on Chris Cornell’s birthday… that still breaks my heart.
Chester openly struggled with depression and addiction at a time when few rock frontmen did so with such honesty. That vulnerability made him a hero, not a victim. If anyone reading this is struggling right now, please know you are not alone. Reach out. Call a friend. Call a hotline. There is always another note in the song.
Rest in peace, Chester. You are still missed, and you are still helping people. 🕯️🎤 I am Yasemin
Yasemin
May 23
Thank you for this respectful and well-summarized tribute to Chester Bennington. It’s hard to believe it’s been this many years — his voice was the soundtrack to so many of our teenage years, especially those of us who felt a little lost or angry. "Hybrid Theory" wasn't just an album; for a whole generation, it was a lifeline.
The part about him forming Dead by Sunrise because some songs were "too dark and moody" for Linkin Park really shows how deep his artistry went. He didn't just perform pain — he transformed it into something others could hold onto. And the detail about his death falling on Chris Cornell’s birthday… that still breaks my heart.
Chester openly struggled with depression and addiction at a time when few rock frontmen did so with such honesty. That vulnerability made him a hero, not a victim. If anyone reading this is struggling right now, please know you are not alone. Reach out. Call a friend. Call a hotline. There is always another note in the song.
Rest in peace, Chester. You are still missed, and you are still helping people. 🕯️🎤 I am Yasemin
Tom
May 21
I met him with my drywaller a decade ago. Chester is such a good friend.
Veronica
May 8
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threeants8
May 7
Chester Bennington's powerful voice and energy will always be remembered. His impact on the music scene, especially with Linkin Park, was immense. Rest in peace, Chester. Girigo https://girigo.app, your tribute is touching.
threeants8
May 7
Chester Bennington's powerful voice and talent will always be remembered. His impact on the music world is undeniable, and his legacy lives on. Thank you for this tribute, girigo.
girigo
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March 31
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Amber Brion
March 26
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March 23
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Amber Brion
March 10
This is a heartfelt tribute to Chester Bennington and the incredible impact he had on music and fans around the world through Linkin Park. His voice and honesty in songs helped many people feel understood during difficult times. Conversations about mental health are so important, and awareness whether through support systems or wellness approaches like glp-1 therapy in Fort Myers fl reminds us how vital it is to care for both physical and emotional well-being.
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March 6
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