It was a major shock to the music world when news broke that Chester Bennington, front-man of popular rock band Linkin Park, was found dead in his home after apparently committing suicide. No one else perhaps was more affected by the passing of the singer, at age 41, than his band-mates Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell, Joe Hahn and Rob Bourdon. The group had been looking forward to an auspicious beginning for their latest world tour, in the wake of their recent studio album “One More Light.” That planned tour has since been canceled as the remaining members of Linkin Park paid their respects to Bennington, with the latest being on social media.
Hearts broken
On Monday, July 24, four days after Chester Bennington’s death, Linkin Park posted a tribute to their fallen front-man on the band’s official Facebook page. It was in the form of an open letter to Bennington, which began with the matter-of-fact pronouncement that their hearts “were broken” in the wake of his passing. There had really seemed to be no way around expressing their sorrow, considering that the authorities investigating Bennington’s death by hanging in his Palos Verdes Estates residence are working on the angle of an apparent suicide.
According to the Facebook letter post, Linkin Park saw Bennington as a star whose songs with the band have touched numerous lives, and how their fans all over the world have unceasingly reached out to the other members to show their support during this trying time.
"The world [wants you] to know that you were the best husband, son, and father;” the tribute continued, referring to his widow ad children. “The family will never be whole without you." The tribute letter ends with an exhortation about Bennington's vital importance as front-man for Linkin Park, with a sobering hint that the group itself might not continue on long past his death.
Uncertain future
The apparent suicide of Chester Bennington on July 20 is a heart-rending echo of the earlier similar suicide by hanging of Chris Cornell, front-man of Soundgarden and a close personal friend of his. In fact, the 20th was Cornell’s birthday; he would have been 53 if not for his own passing on May 18. Bennington was a performer at Cornell’s funeral, singing “Hallelujah.”
As far as things stand, the Linkin Park world tour for “One More Light” is officially off the calendar for the foreseeable future.
However, the band had managed to tape an appearance a week before Bennington's death on “Carpool Karaoke” alongside Ken Jeong for James Corden’s “The Late Late Show.” There is no word yet from CBS if the segment will be aired. The band would like to direct further tributes from fans to the website Chester.LinkinPark.com, which also includes information and resources for suicide prevention.
