Linkin Park have published a heartbreaking open letter to their late frontman Chester Bennington, who was found dead in his LA home last week at the age of 41.
“Dear Chester, our hearts are broken,” write the band.
“The shockwaves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened. You touched so many lives, maybe even more than you realized.”
Linkin Park have seen “an outpouring of love and support” since Bennington’s death, and say his family wants the world to know that he was “the best husband, son, and father”.
“Your absence leaves a void that can never be filled — a boisterous, funny, ambitious, creative, kind, generous voice in the room is missing,” say the band.
“We’re trying to remind ourselves that the demons who took you away from us were always part of the deal. After all, it was the way you sang about those demons that made everyone fall in love with you in the first place.”
Finally, addressing the future of the band, Linkin Park say, “Our love for making and performing music is inextinguishable. While we don’t know what path our future may take, we know that each of our lives was made better by you. Thank you for that gift. We love you, and miss you so much.”
Read the band’s open letter to Bennington in full, below.
Bennington’s death was ruled a suicide by the LA County coroner earlier this week. Since then, the band’s Mike Shinoda has shared an early photo of the group (below), taken in the late ’90s when they were still known as Xero.
“I think this was the first photo we ever took together,” Shinoda says of the pic. “We had just told Chester that we wanted him to join the band.”
Linkin Park have also updated their website with a new section dedicated to Bennington, which features support hotlines and tributes from fans.
Bennington played his final show with Linkin Park in Birmingham, England on 6th July. The band were also reportedly in talks to tour Australia in 2018 prior to Bennington’s death, but have since cancelled their upcoming tour of North America.
Linkin Park Open Letter
Dear Chester,
Our hearts are broken. The shockwaves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened.
You touched so many lives, maybe even more than you realized. In the past few days, we’ve seen an outpouring of love and support, both public and private, from around the world. Talinda and the family appreciate it, and want the world to know that you were the best husband, son, and father; the family will never be whole without you.
Talking with you about the years ahead together, your excitement was infectious. Your absence leaves a void that can never be filled—a boisterous, funny, ambitious, creative, kind, generous voice in the room is missing. We’re trying to remind ourselves that the demons who took you away from us were always part of the deal. After all, it was the way you sang about those demons that made everyone fall in love with you in the first place. You fearlessly put them on display, and in doing so, brought us together and taught us to be more human. You had the biggest heart, and managed to wear it on your sleeve.
Our love for making and performing music is inextinguishable. While we don’t know what path our future may take, we know that each of our lives was made better by you. Thank you for that gift. We love you, and miss you so much.
Until we see you again,
LP
Originally published on Music Feeds
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