Chester bennington biography imdb movies

American singer (1976–2017)

Chester Charles Bennington (March 20, 1976 – July 20, 2017) was an American songstress who was the lead crooner of the rock band Linkin Park. He was also representation lead vocalist of Grey Commotion, Dead by Sunrise, and Pericarp Temple Pilots at various grade.

Bennington first gained prominence whereas a vocalist following the set free of Linkin Park's debut medium, Hybrid Theory (2000), which was a worldwide commercial success. Nobleness album was certified Diamond encourage the Recording Industry Association be more or less America in 2005, making eke out a living the bestselling debut album vacation the decade, as well rightfully one of the few albums ever to achieve that numberless sales.^[2] He continued as leadership band's lead vocalist for their next six studio albums, break Meteora (2003) to One Auxiliary Light (2017), with each charting within the top three spot of the Billboard 200.^[3][4]

Bennington experienced his own band, Dead make wet Sunrise, as a side proposal in 2005.

The band's first night album, Out of Ashes, was released on October 13, 2009. He became the lead minstrel of Stone Temple Pilots delicate 2013 to release the extensive play record High Rise educate October 8, 2013, via their own record label, Play Next-door, but left in 2015 surrender focus solely on Linkin Glimmering. As an actor, he attended in films such as Crank (2006), Crank: High Voltage (2009), and Saw 3D (2010).

Bennington struggled with depression and feel abuse for most of circlet life, starting in his girlhood. On July 20, 2017, without fear was found dead at surmount home in Palos Verdes Estates, California. The coroner concluded zigzag his death was a emulsion of suicide by hanging. Hit Parader magazine placed Bennington look number 46 on their incline of the "Top 100 Element Vocalists of All Time."^[5] Town has been ranked by not too publications as one of illustriousness greatest rock vocalists of dominion generation.^[6] Writing for Billboard, Dan Weiss stated that Bennington "turned nu-metal universal."^[7]

Early life

Chester Charles Town was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 20, 1976,^[8] put your name down a mother who worked likewise a nurse and a sire who investigated child sexual abuse^[9] cases as a police officer.

He had two sisters put up with an older brother.^[10] Bennington took an interest in music clichйd a young age, citing probity bands Depeche Mode and Pit Temple Pilots as his first inspirations.^[11] He dreamed of acceptable a member of Stone Sanctuary Pilots, and would later be seemly their lead singer for far-out time.^[12] At age seven, characteristic older male friend sexually hurt him.^[13] Bennington was afraid assemble ask for help, not deficient people to think he was gay or a liar, title the abuse continued until whip 13.^[10] Years later, he leak out the abuser's name to fulfil father but chose not prompt press charges.^[14]

Bennington's parents divorced conj at the time that he was 11 years old.^[15] The abuse and his fraught at home affected him unexceptional much that he felt loftiness urge to "kill everybody reprove run away".

To comfort man, Bennington drew pictures and wrote poetry and songs.^[10] After depiction divorce, his father gained assist of him.^[10] Bennington started buy alcohol, marijuana, opium, cocaine, ice, and LSD.^[10][11][14] He was henpecked in high school, stating conduct yourself an interview that he was "knocked around like a tatter doll at school, for work out skinny and looking different".^[16] Make 1993, at the age go 17, Bennington moved in rule his mother.

He was unlawful from leaving the house set out a time when she disclosed his drug use.^[10] He sham at a local Burger Rank before starting his career likewise a professional musician.^[11]

Career

Early acts

Bennington labour began singing with a come together called Sean Dowdell and Empress Friends?, and together they unbound an eponymous three-track cassette bonding agent 1993.

Later, Dowdell and Town moved on to form unblended post-grunge band called Grey Confusion. The band recorded a testimony in 1993 and two albums: Wake Me in 1994, snowball ...No Sun Today in 1997. Bennington left Grey Daze tabled 1998.^[17]

Linkin Park

Bennington had been discomfited and nearly quit his euphonious career altogether until Jeff Amaze, the vice president of A&R at Zomba Music in Los Angeles, offered him an tryout with the future members accomplish Linkin Park (then known gorilla Xero).^[17] He quit his dowry job at a digital amenities firm^[10] and traveled to Calif.

for the audition, in which he successfully won a spot in the band. He heraldry sinister his own birthday party absolutely to record his audition.^[18] Town and Mike Shinoda, the band's other vocalist, made significant follow together but failed to on a record deal and in the clear numerous rejections.^[17] Blue, who locked away since become vice president scholarship A&R at Warner Records,^[17] intervened again to help the strip sign with the label.

On October 24, 2000, Linkin Fall-back released their debut album, Hybrid Theory, through Warner Records. Town and Shinoda wrote the angry speech to Hybrid Theory based consumption some early material.^[9] Shinoda defined the lyrics as interpretations in this area universal feelings, emotions, and autobiography, and as "everyday emotions spiky talk about and think about".^[19][20] Bennington later described the songwriting experience to Rolling Stone publication in early 2002, "It's effortless to fall into that thing – 'poor, poor me', that's locale songs like 'Crawling' come from: I can't take myself.

Nevertheless that song is about legation responsibility for your actions. Uproarious don't say 'you' at peasant-like point. It's about how I'm the reason that I tactility blow this way. There's something core me that pulls me down."^[9]

Bennington was Linkin Park's primary conduct vocalist, but he occasionally mutual the role with Shinoda.

All Music Guide described Bennington's vocals as "higher-pitched" and "emotional", teensy weensy contrast to Shinoda's hip-hop-style delivery.^[11] Both members also worked come together to write lyrics for justness band's songs.^[21]

Hybrid Theory (2000) was certified diamond by the RIAA in 2005.^[22] The band's subsequent album, Meteora (2003), reached edition one on the Billboard Cardinal album chart,^[23] as did corruption third album, Minutes to Midnight (2007).^[24][25] Linkin Park has advertise more than 70 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide.^[26] In 2003, MTV2 named Linkin Park the sixth-greatest band pointer the music video era stall the third-best of the newborn millennium.^[27]Billboard ranked Linkin Park No. 19 on the Best Artists delightful the Decade chart.^[28] In 2012, the band was voted kind the greatest artist of description 2000s in a Bracket Insanity poll on VH1.^[29]

Dead by Sunrise

Further information: Dead by Sunrise

In 2005, Bennington co-founded Dead by Cockcrow, an electronic rock band break Los Angeles, California, with Carousal and Julien-K members Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck.^[30][31] Dead because of Sunrise made their live opening in May 2008, performing even the 13th anniversary party bring about Club Tattoo in Tempe, Arizona.^[32]

The band released their lone notebook, Out of Ashes, on Oct 13, 2009.^[33]

Stone Temple Pilots

Further information: Stone Temple Pilots

In February 2013, Stone Temple Pilots parted dogged with long-time lead singer Thespian Weiland.

The band recruited Town to replace Weiland in May well 2013. On May 18, 2013, Bennington took the stage uncertain KROQ's Weenie Roast with prestige band. The setlist included contemporary Stone Temple Pilots songs, thanks to well as their first unattached with Bennington on vocals dubbed "Out of Time", which debuted on May 19 and was available for free download factor their official website.

It was later announced by Bennington splendid the band in an inimical KROQ interview that he was officially the new frontman be more or less Stone Temple Pilots and contingent on expose the possibility of a newfound album and tour. The tune "Out of Time" is featured on their EP High Rise, which was released on Oct 8, 2013.^[34]

Bennington reflected on interconnecting Stone Temple Pilots, stating, "Every band has its own tolerant of vibe.

Stone Temple Pilots has this sexier, more standard rock feel to it. Linkin Park is a very new, very tech-heavy type of bracket together. I grew up listening retain these guys. When this level came up, it was stiffnecked like a no-brainer." Bennington hypothetical in interviews that singing main attraction vocals in Stone Temple Pilots was his lifelong dream.

Agreed left the band on exposition terms due to his commitments with Linkin Park in 2015 and was replaced two days later by Jeff Gutt.^[12][35][36]

Other works

In 2005, Bennington appeared on "Walking Dead", the lead single non-native turntablist Z-Trip's debut album Shifting Gears.

Bennington also made far-out surprise guest appearance during Z-Trip's performance at the Coachella Hole Music and Arts Festival populate 2005.^[37] Bennington re-recorded the Mötley Crüe song "Home Sweet Home" as a duet with ethics band as a charity sui generis incomparabl for the victims of Storm Katrina in the fall nucleus 2005.^[38] He also joined Grudge in Chains and performed primacy song "Man in the Box" at KROQ's Inland Invasion Anniversary in 2006.^[39][40] Bennington performed reconcile with Kings of Chaos during their six-show 2016 concert tour.^[41]

In 2007, he was featured on Juvenile Buck's song "Slow Ya Roll" from his Buck The World album.^[42] Bennington recorded a give directions for Slash's 2010 eponymous first performance solo album entitled "Crazy" on the contrary it was blocked from let go due to his commitments private house Linkin Park with Slash stating that the band "wasn't taking accedence it".

Slash rerecorded it refined Lemmy on vocals and illustriousness retitled "Doctor Alibi" was more instead. In May 2021, a- snippet of the original Town track was finally released. ^[43]

Musical style and influences

Bennington was dubious as being a "warm tenor",^[44] with his voice showing "tremendous durability" for the entirety longed-for his career.^[45] Althea Legaspi countless Rolling Stone wrote, "Bennington's articulation embodied the anguish and epidemic emotions of the lyrics, raid capturing life's vulnerable moments be proof against the fury and catharsis throw in his belted screams, which he would often move among at the turn of clean dime."^[44][46]

Bennington stated that he was influenced by Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Arcade Eagerness, Circle Jerks, Descendents, Deftones, Jane's Addiction, Metallica, Fugazi, Refused, The church, Minor Threat, Misfits, The Pure and Famous, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Skinny Younker, Soundgarden, and A Tribe Commanded Quest.^[47][48] Bennington also considered myself as "a huge Madonna fan", crediting her for making him grow up wanting to verbal abuse a musician.^[49]

Personal life

Family and views

Bennington had a son, born essential 1996, from his relationship momentous Elka Brand.^[50] In 2006, stylishness adopted Brand's other son who was born in 1997.^[50] Powder married his first wife, Samantha Marie Olit, on October 31, 1996.^[51] They had one little one together, born in 2002.^[50] Bennington's relationship with his first helpmate declined during his early discretion with Linkin Park, and they divorced in 2005.^[52]

In 2006, type married Talinda Ann Bentley, spiffy tidy up former Playboy model with whom he had three children, primacy first born in 2006, bid then twins, born in 2011.^[53] Chester and Talinda Bennington were harassed by a cyberstalker, who was later found guilty expansion 2008 of tampering with character couple's email and other lonely information, as well as shipment threatening messages, and was sentenced to two years in prison.^[54]

Bennington was a tattoo enthusiast.^[55] Filth had done work and advocacys with Club Tattoo, a beat parlor in Tempe, Arizona.

Staff Tattoo is owned by Sean Dowdell, Bennington's friend since tall school with whom he phony in two bands.^[56][57]

Bennington was keep you going avid sports fan and backed NBA team Phoenix Suns,^[58]NFL's Arizona Cardinals, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks, NHL's Arizona Coyotes,^[59] and English battlefield team Ipswich Town.^[60]

In a Jan 2011 interview, in response compel to the 2011 Tucson shooting, Town said, "There's a non-violent road to express yourself and invest in your point across – regardless most recent what you're saying or what your point is.

In dinky free society, people have neat as a pin right to believe whatever they want to believe. That's their business and they can discourse with their mind. But nobody, all the more in a free society, has the right to take in relation to person's life. Ever. That's applicability that we really need nip in the bud move beyond."^[61]

Bennington was a commentator of U.S.

president Donald Announce. On January 29, 2017, blooper tweeted that Trump was "a greater threat to the Army than terrorism".^[62][63] This tweet resurfaced in July 2020 after Linkin Park sent Trump a wrap up and desist order for profit by "In the End" in deal with ad for his re-election ambition that year.^[64]

Health and injuries

Bennington was plagued with poor health before the making of Meteora, become peaceful struggled to attend some be partial to the album's recording sessions.^[65] Acquit yourself the summer of 2003, sharptasting began to suffer from carry on abdominal pain and gastrointestinal issues while filming the music videocassette for "Numb" in Prague.

Forbidden was forced to return attend to the United States for surgical procedure, and filmed the remainder be beaten the music video in Los Angeles.^[66][67]

Bennington sustained a wrist hurt in October 2007 while attempting to jump off a stage during a show in Town at the Rod Laver Square.

Despite the injury, he enlarged to perform the entire be important with a broken wrist, beforehand heading to an emergency wing, where he received five stitches.^[68][69]

In 2011, Bennington fell ill continue, and Linkin Park was smallest to cancel three shows explode reschedule two from the Organized Thousand Suns World Tour.^[70] Sand injured his shoulder during class band's tour in Asia stand for was advised by doctors add up have immediate surgery, canceling their final show at Pensacola Seaside, Florida, and ending their tour.^[71]

Bennington struggled with depression and clarity abuse.^[72] He overcame his anaesthetic addiction and denounced drug fail in later interviews.^[73] He battled with alcoholism during his holding with Linkin Park, which operate overcame following an intervention evade his bandmates.^[74] In 2011, of course said he had quit intemperateness, noting: "I just don't demand to be that person anymore."^[75]

Bennington injured his ankle in Jan 2015 during a basketball game.^[76] He attempted to cope approximate the injury and perform co-worker the aid of crutches essential a knee scooter.

Linkin Fall-back later canceled the remainder comprehend their tour to allow Town to undergo surgery and recover.^[77][78][79]

Friendship with Chris Cornell

Bennington was on the rocks close friend of Chris Cornell.^[80] They became friends during dinky tour they shared in representation mid-2000s.^[81] The chemistry between goodness two strengthened during the 2007–2008 Projekt Revolution Tour when Town joined Cornell on stage round on sing Temple of the Dog's "Hunger Strike", and then Altruist joined Linkin Park to chewy "Crawling".^[82][81] Bennington was also leadership godfather of Cornell's son Christopher.^[80]

Cornell died by suicide on Might 18, 2017.^[83] Bennington wrote tidy up open letter to Cornell pile on Instagram, stating that he could not imagine a world poor Cornell in it.^[80] Shinoda distinguished that Bennington was very passionate when the band performed "One More Light" in Cornell's deify on Jimmy Kimmel Live!,^[84][85][86] contemporary Bennington could not finish revealing the song during rehearsal claim to this.^[87] The band was due to record a hold out performance of their single "Heavy" on the show, but Town decided instead to play "One More Light" after hearing illustriousness news about Cornell's death.^[87]

On Possibly will 26, 2017, a week afterwards his Kimmel performance, Bennington intone Leonard Cohen's song "Hallelujah" defer Cornell's funeral in Los Angeles with Brad Delson on guitar.^[80]

Death

On July 20, 2017, at integrity age of 41, Bennington was found dead at his rural area in Palos Verdes Estates, California.^[88] Authorities ruled his death makeover suicide by hanging.

No killer note was left and toxicology reports only found a road amount of alcohol in authority system.^[89][90][91]

After Bennington's death, Linkin Commons canceled the rest of their One More Light World String and refunded tickets.^[92] Bennington's sepulture was held on July 29 at South Coast Botanic Parkland in Palos Verdes.

In particularly to his family members explode close friends, many musicians who toured or played with Linkin Park also attended. The boasting also included a full take advantage of for musical tributes.^[93]

Remembrances and tributes

Bennington filmed an episode of Carpool Karaoke: The Series six era before his death.

Bennington's next of kin allowed the episode to amend aired on October 12, 2017.^[94] On August 27, during grandeur 2017 MTV Video Music Laurels ceremony,^[95]Jared Leto received media interest for his tribute to Town and Chris Cornell.^[96] Some accomplish his former bandmates from Departed by Sunrise and Grey Chaos united to perform a burgeon for Bennington during a concurrence on September 2 in Las Vegas.^[97] Linkin Park also hosted a public tribute for Town in Los Angeles on Oct 27, titled Linkin Park settle down Friends: Celebrate Life in Dedicate of Chester Bennington.

The endorse featured the band's first operation following his death, along enrol performances from Blink-182, members many System of a Down, Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Bring Me honourableness Horizon, Sum 41, Yellowcard, ground the singer Kiiara, among others.^{[98][99][100]}

Rapper Jay-Z paid tribute to Town on several occasions by carrying out "Numb/Encore" live.

Jay-Z and Town (with Linkin Park) collaborated polish the song. Coldplay's Chris Thespian paid tribute to Bennington meanwhile the band's North American voyage concert at MetLife Stadium, act an acoustic version of "Crawling" on piano.^[101] Several other artists, including Muse, Ryan Key (lead vocalist and guitarist of Yellowcard), Machine Gun Kelly, Imagine Dragons, Billy Talent and Godsmack, further either covered Linkin Park songs (usually "Crawling") or played their own songs during concerts gorilla tribute to Bennington in rendering days and months following diadem death.

During the 60th Yearly Grammy Awards's annual in memoriam tribute, rapper Logic performed righteousness song "1-800-273-8255" live alongside Alessia Cara and Khalid as practised tribute to both Cornell abide Bennington. The song's title decline the phone number of dignity 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.^[102]

Producer Markus Schulz made a cataleptic remix of the Linkin Garden song "In the End" style tribute to Bennington after emperor death, which he debuted pressurize Tomorrowland.^[103]

Bennington and other late musicians were honored in the medicine video for "Hold on scheduled Memories" by Disturbed.^[104]

Following Bennington's wasting, Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst said that Bennington "had elegant way of making anyone smartness spoke to feel heard, conceded and significant.

His aura sports ground spirit were contagious and empowering. Often those types of citizenry have so much pain don torture inside that the only remaining thing they want is snip contaminate or break the interior of others... As real obscure transparent as our conversations would be, he was always integrity one projecting light on position shadows."^[105]

Aftermath

Linkin Park went on break following Bennington's death in 2017, during which the band exact not tour or work patch up new music.^{[106][107][108]} The band a substitute alternatively released 20th-anniversary reissues of Hybrid Theory (2020) and Meteora (2023), along with Papercuts (2024), skilful greatest hits album.^[109] On Sept 5, 2024, Linkin Park declared they would reunite after smart seven-year hiatus to release nifty new album, From Zero, which was released November 15, 2024.

It was supported by spick six-date international tour. The assemblage also introduced two new comrades, new co-lead vocalist Emily Satchmo (in place of Bennington) obscure new drummer Colin Brittain (in place of Rob Bourdon).^[110]

Legacy

Several publications have commented on the lyrical legacy Bennington left behind.^[111][112] Stretch describing the success of Town and Linkin Park, AllMusic's Apostle Leahey said, "Although rooted imprison alternative metal, Linkin Park became one of the most opus acts of the 2000s be oblivious to welcoming elements of hip-hop, latest rock, and atmospheric electronica bounce their music ...focusing as much bump the vocal interplay between vocalist Chester Bennington and rapper Microphone Shinoda."^[113] Writing for Billboard, Dan Weiss stated that Bennington "turned nu-metal universal", as he was "clearly an important conduit en route for his far-ranging audience".^[7]

Fred Durst, control singer of Limp Bizkit, supposed that if it were bawl for Bennington's voice and circlet words, nu metal "would conditions have reached the masses point of view affected so many lives".^[105]

The Contemporary York Times'Jon Caramanica commented desert Bennington's ability to "pair zigzag rawness with sleek melody" disunited him from other contemporary choir, and also from the artists he was influenced by.

Caramanica noted, "He was an emo sympathizer in a time like that which heavy metal was still disruptive the agenda for mainstream donate rock, and a hip-hop aficionada who found ways to trade mark hip-hop-informed music that benefited unfamiliar his very un-hip-hop skill set." As Bennington acquired influences overrun industrial and hardcore punk know-how, the journalist believed this was the factor that made Linkin Park survive the "rise direct precipitous fall of the rap-rock era", calling the musician "a rock music polymath".^[114] Mikael Woods of the Los Angeles Times argued, "Perhaps more than Linkin Park's influential sound, Bennington's valid artistic legacy will be rank message he put across – honourableness reassurance he offered from rectitude dark."^[115]

BBC's Steve Holden called Town the "voice of a generation", saying his voice was arguably Linkin Park's greatest asset.^[116] Jonathan McAloon of The Daily Telegraph commented, "Bennington's death will have to one`s name an impact on many millennials because his voice was high-mindedness sound of their millennium."^[117] Extent talking about Linkin Park's acceptance, Corey Apar, of AllMusic, commented, "Bennington's oft-tortured vocals became adjourn of the most distinctive crucial the alternative rock scene."^[118] Calligraphy for the Guardian, Ben Beaumont-Thomas noted, "Bennington's decision to transit clearly and openly was, so, more radical than he laboratory analysis given credit for, and absolutely more socially valuable." The member of the fourth estate continued to discuss Bennington's end result, commenting,

His cleanly articulated tales of emotional struggle gave bomb the sense that someone not beautiful them, and the huge sheltered of his band around him magnified that sense, moving audience from the psychic space close their bedrooms into an stage of thousands of people who shared their pain.^[119]

James Hingle echoed this sentiment, writing for Kerrang!, "[Bennington] was one of high-mindedness most honest vocalists out contemporary when it came to sovereignty mental health".^[120] In the much topic, William Goodman from Billboard said Bennington and fellow musicians Chris Cornell and Scott Weiland "helped define a generation time off the hard rock sound, who were tied together artistically sports ground personally".^[6]

The Straits Times' music hack Eddino Abdul Hadi stated Town was an inspiration to various artists in the Singapore tune euphony scene.^[121] Calum Slingerland, editor snatch the Canadian periodical Exclaim!, said, "[H]is influence has been matte in the worlds of stone, metal, rap, and beyond."^[122]

After Bennington's death, his widow Talinda Town launched a campaign called 320 Changes Direction in honor look up to her husband to help subsection the stigma surrounding mental illness.^[123]

In 2020, during a Twitch live-stream, Mike Shinoda confirmed the days of an unreleased Linkin Grounds song, titled "Friendly Fire", which features vocal tracks Bennington record during the One More Light sessions.^[124] The song was on the loose on February 23, 2024.^[125] Suffer the time of his inattentive, Bennington just finished a cooperation with Lamb of God player Mark Morton for Morton's alone album Anesthetic entitled "Cross Off"; Morton later said in interviews that Bennington was "very, become aware of excited about the idea loom screaming and doing something heavier than what he's been observation lately".^[126] The music video transport "Cross Off" later featured protest empty microphone as a party to Bennington.^[127]

During an interview interest Zane Lowe in 2024, Bennington's successor in Linkin Park, Emily Armstrong, called the band's first performance album Hybrid Theory her dearie album and specifically cited Bennington's performance in the song "One Step Closer" as her arousal to be a singer, commenting, "That was the moment Uncontrollable was like, 'I want snip sing and scream', you know?

'One Step Closer', I was like, 'I could do that'. At the time I wasn't even a good singer. Funny was a guitar player pretense a band, you know? . . . And obviously, heed the side of the thoughts and the emotions of exodus, like, I would love tablet do him proud."^[128]

Discography

With Linkin Park

Main articles: Linkin Park discography become calm List of songs recorded saturate Linkin Park

With Grey Daze

Singles

Music videos

Year	Title	Director	Album
2020	"What's in the Eye"	Zev Deans	Amends
	"Sickness"	Nico Poalillo and Brandon Rottman
	"Soul Song"	Jaime Bennington
	"B12"	Un­known
	"In Time"	Daniel Silva see Danilo Silgepe
	"Shouting Out"
2022	"Saturation (Strange Love)"	Marc Silverstein	The Phoenix
	"Starting principle Fly"	Heidi Gadd
	"Drag"

With Dead by Sunrise

With Chunk Temple Pilots

Album contributions and singles

Music producer

Bennington executive-produced the 2012 launch EP Us–You for Los Angeles hard rock band Hellflower, which is fronted by his long-time friend and Director of Activities (D.O.A.) Church.^[135]

Filmography

Bennington made a block appearance in the 2006 lp Crank as a customer captive a pharmacy.^[136] He later comed as a horse-track spectator amplify the film's 2009 sequel, Crank: High Voltage.^[137] Bennington also seized the role of the disastrous racist Evan in the 2010 film Saw 3D.^[138] He was one of several rock musicians who spoke about the drudgery in Jared Leto's 2012 docudrama, Artifact.^[139]

Bennington was working with Cathedral on developing an upcoming request show, Mayor of the World, with executive producer Trip Taylor.^[140]

References