Daily Times

Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington has died at age 41. The Los Angeles County coroner confirmed the death of the singer of rock band Linkin Park, which is being investigated as a suicide, E! News has learned. A post-mortem examination is planned.

Chester’s body was found in a private home in the upscale Palos Verdes neighbourhood of Los Angeles on Thursday around 9am, TMZ reported, citing law enforcement sources as saying he hanged himself. Police confirmed to E! News that they responded to a report about a suicide from a residence in the neighbourhood around that time.

In interviews, the singer had been candid about his past battles with drugs and alcohol. Is it unclear if any were found at the scene.

Chester is survived by wife Talinda Bennington, their son Tyler and twin daughters Lilly and Lila and his three children from previous relationships.

“Shocked and heartbroken, but it’s true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one,” tweeted Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda.

“Heartbroken,” added band mate and bassist Dave “Phoenix” Farrell.

Chester was born in 1976 in Phoenix. In the late ‘90s, he moved to California and successfully auditioned for an Agoura Hills-based band that would later become Linkin Park. In 2000, the group released its debut album, Hybrid Theory, which contained singles such as “One Step Closer” and “Crawling,” the latter of which won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

In the ‘00s, the group went on to became internationally famous thanks to hits such as “In the End” and “Numb.”

Chester’s death comes on the same day Linkin Park released a new music video, “Talking to Myself,” which features tour footage of the band, and a week before the group was set to begin a new tour.

His passing also comes on what would have been the 53rd birthday of his friend and legendary rocker Chris Cornell, who hanged himself in a hotel room in Detroit almost exactly two months ago. Chester, who was one of his children’s godfathers, sang Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” at Chris’ private funeral in May.

Published in Daily Times, July 22^nd , 2017.