This is crazy. I'm devastated. Chester loved his fans so much that I feel like he might have left a note saying exactly why he did this. I feel like he would want to give his fans one last message. I'm certain he left his family something. I wonder if something triggered this. Family or wife problems? Was his voice getting worse? Could he not cope with being less popular than he was in the past? So many questions. Rest in peace to one of the greatest to ever do it.
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Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington has committed suicide
- Thread starter smokeymicpot
- Start date
Exactly.
I started listening to music when I was 12 (this is 2001). And MTV, at that time, was all about Nu-Metal and some pop groups. And it was all new music: Limp Bizkit, Korn, Linkin Park, Papa Roach, P.O.D., Evanescense, SOAD, etc
THAT is my generation. And it's all young people that are barely reaching the late 40s in current age.
The first "musician" death that shocked me was Adam Yauch (Beastie Boys). But Chester... man, it's like part of MY past is kind of lost...
Yeah, as someone so entirely detached from that scene it's hitting in a weird way. Love them or meme them, Linkin Park was a significant cultural touchpoint for a generation.
I'm on PTO from work this week to return home to see my childhood friends. We went driving around and we're sharing nostalgic stories of childhood when we heard the news. This hurts me bad, this hurts me really really bad because I grew up listening to LP since I was in elementary school during the Hybrid Theory years. We played HT as we drove past a lot of the old locations where I'd remember sitting alone after I got out of school listening to LP on my CD player. I still remember all the lyrics and vocal hooks, it was a profound album for me at the time. I spent an entire summer hooked on that thing while playing Counterstrike with friends.
It's probably just the combination of his death coinciding with my return to my hometown that just... wrecks me. I'm using this time to vent here, hence the rambling but this is a really, really painful celebrity death for me.
It's probably just the combination of his death coinciding with my return to my hometown that just... wrecks me. I'm using this time to vent here, hence the rambling but this is a really, really painful celebrity death for me.
it was actually most likely chris cornell's death that was the final trigger.
it hit him hard, he was depressed before that but was getting betterish. they were decently close. Chester has dealt with depression, drugs and a bad past for all his life, it caught up with him.
Chester killing himself on Chris Cornell's birthday via the same method (death by hanging) is unlikely to be a coincidence.
Yeah he was definitely making a statement by doing this on his birthday. 6 kids without a father just like that.
'Linkin Park has always been the *NSYNC, of my generation when it comes to rock music.
But I never wished this.
It is crazy that someone with so much going for them would choose to die in such a complicated way .
Some ask how a successful millionaire with 6 children would do this.
I have no idea how that happens, I have much less and am mostly content
But the person I most loved in the world took their own life. And so I could reduce it to a selfish act, but obviously they were living in a lot of pain.
So if there is anything to take from this, be kind to your loved ones. I no longer see suicide as a selfish act. It is a person who feels they cannot deal with the next day of their life.
So be sympathetic, and do not treat suicide victims as ass holes. They were not in their right mind when they made that decision.
But I never wished this.
It is crazy that someone with so much going for them would choose to die in such a complicated way .
Some ask how a successful millionaire with 6 children would do this.
I have no idea how that happens, I have much less and am mostly content
But the person I most loved in the world took their own life. And so I could reduce it to a selfish act, but obviously they were living in a lot of pain.
So if there is anything to take from this, be kind to your loved ones. I no longer see suicide as a selfish act. It is a person who feels they cannot deal with the next day of their life.
So be sympathetic, and do not treat suicide victims as ass holes. They were not in their right mind when they made that decision.
Blue Ninja
Member
Having money probably makes it worse, rather than better. He could do anything he wanted and it still didn't help.
therealist
Member
Chester's voice was iconic. I can't believe he left us already. I cannot even imagine the demons he must have had to deal with for all of his life to want to commit suicide like this.
I've always enjoyed Linkin Park especially some of their newer albums. I really liked their latest album. RIP
I've always enjoyed Linkin Park especially some of their newer albums. I really liked their latest album. RIP
PuppetSlave
Member
My thought as well when I saw he had 6 kids. He was 40 so they can't be that old either... tragedy, RIP
Wow, what the fuck. I saw people talking about it but I was sure it was just a joke since it was posted on /r/kappa.
RIP.
Linkin Park got a bad rep but everyone knew this was the shit back in the day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVTXPUF4Oz4
RIP.
Linkin Park got a bad rep but everyone knew this was the shit back in the day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVTXPUF4Oz4
daTRUballin
Member
It's so weird. It's like a lot of Linkin Park's songs have a new meaning now after Chester's death. Still can't process everything that happened.
It's so weird. It's like a lot of Linkin Park's songs have a new meaning after Chester's death. Still can't process everything that happened.
well I mean chester has been dealing with issues for a good chunk of his life.
it shouldn't be surprising that his depression leaked into the lyrics even if mike wrote a good chunk of them.
that being said... even the "cheesy" lyrics that people make fun of linkin park hurt right now :/
I also wish I could scream like chester as I can get decently close to his singing voice but I can't touch those screams :/
daTRUballin
Member
It's just so tragic. I wish this was all some kind of joke of some sort, and Chester would come out and say "hey guys, I'm still here." But it's real. :/
I've been listening to LP lately, and I listened to their newest album again only a few days ago. Listening to their music will never be the same again knowing that Chester is gone......
Yeah.
earlier in the thread I was thinking this was likely it for LP.
but reading more stuff, listening to old interviews... I think there is a decent chance they put out at least one more CD.
Chester was writing new songs and had 6 of them done. If it was me I would likely want to try to finish them and release them to honor him. I would do it without replacing him having mike cover the vocals as he is a pretty decent singer as well. but we will have to see, I imagine when we get the press release they won't say one way or another if this is it, more that they need to take time to process and grieve.
In my younger years I was one of them who used to make fun of Linkin Park fans and their teenage-emo-whatever musical taste as the metal head I was.
15 years later the news of Chesters death and the reasons behind them hit me harder that than all the others. Somehow this is so relatable when I have been struggling with depression and still do since 10 years.
Here and now the lyrics suddenly make sense and I say that as a person who never even once listened to a Linkin Park song by choice (I know the lyrics by heart though considering the not so limited air-time).
Depression is a fucking bitch! :/
RIP Chester
15 years later the news of Chesters death and the reasons behind them hit me harder that than all the others. Somehow this is so relatable when I have been struggling with depression and still do since 10 years.
Here and now the lyrics suddenly make sense and I say that as a person who never even once listened to a Linkin Park song by choice (I know the lyrics by heart though considering the not so limited air-time).
Depression is a fucking bitch! :/
RIP Chester
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtoELJo5Bmg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HuiZpNSOT8
Looking back at this interview in retrospect......man.
The negative backlash they've gotten throughout the years for "being sellouts", the negative reception of their work, the cancelled tour, the broken leg, the physical and psychological mayhem associated with having to disappoint people and being unable to do something about it, the tragic loss of a close friend, the continued bullshit directed at said yourself and the people close to you...Topple that with years of battling depression, alcohol and drugs.
Chester was in pain, and as Mike says in the interview, a lot of that was channeled to the new album.
It just makes everything so much clearer. Their music truly was..real. I hope that in the end, most people embrace that fact.
Edit: Added part 2 of the interview. A must watch if you want to have more background about Chester's journey, LP's process etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HuiZpNSOT8
Looking back at this interview in retrospect......man.
The negative backlash they've gotten throughout the years for "being sellouts", the negative reception of their work, the cancelled tour, the broken leg, the physical and psychological mayhem associated with having to disappoint people and being unable to do something about it, the tragic loss of a close friend, the continued bullshit directed at said yourself and the people close to you...Topple that with years of battling depression, alcohol and drugs.
Chester was in pain, and as Mike says in the interview, a lot of that was channeled to the new album.
It just makes everything so much clearer. Their music truly was..real. I hope that in the end, most people embrace that fact.
Edit: Added part 2 of the interview. A must watch if you want to have more background about Chester's journey, LP's process etc.
therealist
Member
I just don't get why it was so sudden. He seemed perfectly normal all this time. The band didn't suspect that he was entering a downward spiral. Either Chester broke down within a few short hours or he has been planning this for a long time and finally became at peace with committing suicide on Cornell's birthday.
Killer Queen
Banned
He's been having a lot of outbursts as of late in response to people's reception to their latest album, even telling fans to "stab themselves in the fucking face" so I mean, something must've been broke for a while.
daTRUballin
Member
Yeah, hopefully the band still stays around after this. I didn't know that Chester has been writing new songs. I definitely agree that they should keep them for their next album if there will be one. But things definitely won't be the same without Chester now whether they replace him or not.
Look at Chris Cornell.
Most fans of the the early 90's Grunge era saw him as maybe the most likely to survive that bull shit.
He just finished a Temple of the Dog Tour where they played super stadiums, and Soundgarden had recently released new music. He was at the top of his game.
Despite the dark lyrics and songs, we all thought he had it together.
One day out of thousands, he lost control. That is all it takes when suicide is a consideration. You can pull it together for years, maybe be happy for most of those days. But a bad day or week from a person suffering from depression or their own demons is all it takes. You add potentially addiction to that, and it becomes even more likely.
Cameron122
Member
As someone who grew up with music and struggles with depression this is the first death of a musician that leaves me heart broken😞
Seriously, yes, this is the best way to put it.
I mean shit even like 6 weeks ago this kid at where I volunteer was working in the supply room just playing Linkin Park songs back to back on his phone. He was probably like 21 at the oldest.
At first I was thinking like "lol Linkin Park at your age - c'mon dude!?" but then as it was just song after song I realized they all reminded me of some specific thing. Like, chilling in my friends basement in 6th grade for this one, watching WoW videos for this other one, driving around with my uncle for this next one, and so on.
It was actually really recent but that was kind of when I realized I'm 100% cool with them and their legacy, despite at no point in my life being an actual fan.
Dorsal Axe
Member
Weirdly I've experienced the opposite. Lots of people I never would have expected to have liked LP (and especially back in the day) being really fucking sad about this.
I remember making fun of the dudes in my class in high school for listening to LP back when their first album came our, must be 15-16 years ago.
Realized that I never actually listened to them, so I'm going though Hybrid Theory right now. Chester is by far the best part, as the edgy white guy rapping is cringetown.
RIP to Chester. My thoughts go out to his kids.
Realized that I never actually listened to them, so I'm going though Hybrid Theory right now. Chester is by far the best part, as the edgy white guy rapping is cringetown.
RIP to Chester. My thoughts go out to his kids.
most of my friends didn't seem to care much. got a few that's sad when I told them but no one seemed all that bothered.
one friend made a bad joke at me
" Seems the crawling in my skin jokes came true?"
though I think they forgot I was a big linkin park fan (not that it was an in good taste joke anyways but still)
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
I don't think I've ever heard someone describe Mike Shinoda as either white or edgy. I don't think that's the vibe he's going for.
Speaks bad of you to have shit friends like that.
I prefer mike to most actual rap
that being said the message in hands held high is solid, so perhaps you would prefer that one more.
also from their new album I highly recommend giving one more light (live version linked) a listen.
and it speaks bad of you to make rash statements about others based on a single comment. It was a joke in bad taste, but not something truly horrible. obviously that single line makes him a shit friend and reflects poorly on me though. It's not possible at all that after that bad taste joke we could have an actual conversation and he could help me with my sadness over the loss of Chester.
ChackanKun
Member
This sucks.
Not only Chester but the band itself, they look like great genuine good guys.
That's rare. Fucking drugs.
Not only Chester but the band itself, they look like great genuine good guys.
That's rare. Fucking drugs.
I was literally just thinking yesterday morning about how his music spoke about mental illness in a way that was pretty unheard of in popular music. It's no wonder that it resonated with so many young teens struggling with depression, anxiety, anger, etc including myself.
I really hate that mental illness stole another one. I haven't listened to their music in years, but this really affected me in deep way today. Still thankful for all the ways Chester gave me language to describe what no one else was wanted to talk about when I was a kid.
I really hate that mental illness stole another one. I haven't listened to their music in years, but this really affected me in deep way today. Still thankful for all the ways Chester gave me language to describe what no one else was wanted to talk about when I was a kid.
Linkin Park were the defining band of my childhood. I was 9 years old when Meteora came out and I heard Numb for the first time by coincidence when I was flicking through music channels and Kerrang were playing it, completely changing my perspective of music from that point onwards.
This made me go back and discover Hybrid Theory, and I fell in love with it just like I did with Meteora. Chester's vocals were overflowing with passion and emotion, pulling you into the music and the energy.
Minutes to Midnight, A Thousand Suns & Living Things were all albums I fell in love with over the years, A Thousand Suns especially. That album got me through some dark moments and I will forever be grateful to Chester and the rest for giving me that gift of light in a dark time.
Im struggling to believe that there will be no more LP.
Rest in Peace Chester. Thank you so much for everything.
This made me go back and discover Hybrid Theory, and I fell in love with it just like I did with Meteora. Chester's vocals were overflowing with passion and emotion, pulling you into the music and the energy.
Minutes to Midnight, A Thousand Suns & Living Things were all albums I fell in love with over the years, A Thousand Suns especially. That album got me through some dark moments and I will forever be grateful to Chester and the rest for giving me that gift of light in a dark time.
Im struggling to believe that there will be no more LP.
Rest in Peace Chester. Thank you so much for everything.
Man this is hitting me harder than I thought it would. Had a night to process this and I'm really sad. I can't even start to imagine how his family, friends and the band feel right now.
Just thinking about what his final moments must have felt like... What went through his head... I can't.
I really wanted to see them live in June but couldn't because I left for my vacation the same day they played. Now I will never get another chance to hear him perform live.
I've been to multiple Linkin Park concerts and even got into a meet and greet with them.
I thought there would be another chance to see them live...
That is why I live in the present. I want to buy something (financially reasonable)? I buy it. I want to travel somewhere? I plan a trip. I want to eat something? Fuck it. Eat it and run an extra mile the next day.
Life is way too short to not enjoy every second of it. I learned that during the last few years when my wife and I lost several family members.
It feels so incredibly unreal but at the same time more real than any other celebrity death in my life.
Just thinking about what his final moments must have felt like... What went through his head... I can't.
I really wanted to see them live in June but couldn't because I left for my vacation the same day they played. Now I will never get another chance to hear him perform live.
I've been to multiple Linkin Park concerts and even got into a meet and greet with them.
I thought there would be another chance to see them live...
That is why I live in the present. I want to buy something (financially reasonable)? I buy it. I want to travel somewhere? I plan a trip. I want to eat something? Fuck it. Eat it and run an extra mile the next day.
Life is way too short to not enjoy every second of it. I learned that during the last few years when my wife and I lost several family members.
It feels so incredibly unreal but at the same time more real than any other celebrity death in my life.
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