Thursday, 7/20/17 – TMZ reports that Chester Bennington, frontman of Linkin Park, has committed suicide by hanging. His body was discovered today before 9:00am at his home in Palos Verdes Estates (just outside of Los Angeles).
Bennington was 41 years old, and is survived by his six children and two wives.
Details surrounding the death will be updated here as information is released.
Background Information
Bennington’s Suicide is Under Investigation – No Presence of Drugs Reported at the Scene
Speculation over the suicide has already begun on celebrity gossip sites, many citing his drug use. Bennington has a long history of substance abuse, including smoking crack, meth, opium, and, at times, taking up to 11 hits of acid a day.
“I was on 11 hits of acid a day. I dropped so much acid I’m surprised I can still speak! I’d smoke a bunch of crack, do a bit of meth and just sit there and freak out. Then I’d smoke opium to come down. I weighed 110 pounds. My mom said I looked like I stepped out of Auschwitz. So I used pot to get off drugs.”
-Chester Bennington (via Blabbermouth)
He was also a close friend of Chris Cornell, who recently took his own life in a similar manner (hanging). Cornell’s death affected Bennington a great deal. It is worth noting that today would have been Cornell’s 53rd birthday – considering their friendship, it’s more than likely that this was not a coincidence.
Chester Bennington was also previously the frontman for the Stone Temple Pilots. He replaced Scott Weiland, the group’s original singer, in 2013 – Weiland was found dead on his tour bus in 2015, shortly after Bennington left STP.
Bennington’s mind-state was probably not improved by the abysmal reviews of Linkin Park’s latest album, which was ridiculed for departing from their original sound in favor of a more pop-oriented style.
