The lead singer of the hard rock band Linkin Park, Chester Bennington, has died of an apparent suicide. He was 41.
According to law enforcement, Bennington hanged himself at a private home in Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles County, California, a TMZ report said. His body was found early Thursday morning and his death later confirmed by the LA County coroner.
“Chester Bennington was an artist of extraordinary talent and charisma, and a human being with a huge heart and a caring soul,” said Warner Bros. Records CEO and Chairman Cameron Strong, in a statement, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful family, his band-mates and his many friends. All of us at WBR join with millions of grieving fans around the world in saying: we love you Chester and you will be forever missed.”
Bennington, who was born in Phoenix, Arizona, helped propel Linkin Park to stardom in 2000 with its debut album ‘Hybrid Theory.’ The band’s next album, ‘Meteora,’ was one of the hottest alternative albums in music history, according to TMZ.
The singer had battled drug and alcohol addiction for years, TMZ reports, and previously said he had thought about committing suicide because of being abused when a child by an older male. He also was a close friend of Chris Cornell, who similarly committed suicide by hanging just a couple of months ago.
Bennington is survived by his wife Talinda Bennington and six children.