Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Linkin Park Singer Chester Bennington Commits Suicide At 41
TMZ is reporting that Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington was found dead on Thursday morning at a private residence in Palos Verdes Estates. According to TMZ, the 41-year-old singer committed suicide by hanging. A representative for the Palos Verdes Police Department told LAist that they were not able to confirm Bennington's death, but they could say that officers had responded to a call at a Palos Verdes Estates residence at 8:56 a.m.
Bennington was the lead vocalist for Linkin Park, and also briefly served as the frontman for Stone Temple Pilots from 2013 to 2015. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1976. He had six children and was married at the time of his death to his second wife, Talinda Bentley.
Linkin Park rocketed to fame following the release of their debut Hybrid Theory, which was the best-selling album of 2001. The alternative rock band's most recent album, One More Light, was released in May and also topped the Billboard charts.
According to TMZ, Bennington was close friends with the late singer Chris Cornell, who committed suicide in May. Today would have been Cornell's 53rd birthday.
Support for LAist comes from
Cornell toured with Linkin Park in 2007 and 2008, according to Variety, and Bennington remembered his friend in an open letter released on Twitter shortly after Cornell's death.
With all of my love @chriscornell. pic.twitter.com/NFz0dnxfp8
— Chester Bennington (@ChesterBe) May 18, 2017
Bennington has talked in the pastabout how he considered suicide after the end of his first marriage in 2005 and has also been open about his struggles with addiction.
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone; remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt; and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
Update [12:15 p.m.]: Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda has confirmed the death on Twitter.
Shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.
— Mike Shinoda (@mikeshinoda) July 20, 2017
Support for LAist comes from
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance. -
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
Best of LAist