Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington has been found dead in his Los Angeles Home, People confirms. His death is being investigated as a possible suicide.
Police responded to an emergency call from Bennington’s home around 9am LA time, after the singer’s body was found by an employee, TMZ reports.
Linkin Park guitarist Mike Shinoda confirmed the news on Twitter:
Bennington, 41, was married to Talinda Ann Bentley, with whom he has three children. He also has three other children from a previous relationship.
Bennington’s life was marked by a tragic childhood and severe drug abuse. He has revealed that he was sexually abused by an older male friend of the family from the age of just seven until he was 13.
“It destroyed my self-confidence,” he told Kernag in 2008, Who reports. “Like most people, I was too afraid to say anything.”
As a teenager Bennington became involved in drugs, which escalated until he was “on 11 hits of acid a day.”
But he turned his back on drugs and alcohol later in his career, as Linkin Park continued to enjoy staggering success, with Meteora becoming the world’s third best-selling album of 2003 and selling over four million copies.
He married Playboy model Talinda Bentley in 2006 and in February this year released his last single, Heavy, which fans are now saying points to his troubled state of mind. “I don’t like my mind right now… stacking up problems that are so unnecessary… if I just let go, I’d be set free,” he sings.
Just days before he died, Bennington shared the below photo on Twitter.
Our thoughts go to Bennington’s family.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au.
