This time it's Chester Bennington, the lead singer for Linkin Park.
photo by Stefan Brending for Festival Summer
Wikimedia
Chester Bennington
Linkin Park was known for combining the nu-metal sounds with the rap vocals of Mike Shinoda and the angst-ridden singing vocals of Chester Bennington.
Linkin Park came to fame in the early 2000s, a time when the nu metal and rap-metal ruled the world of rock. Limp Bizkit, Korn and Kid Rock were the kings of rock of that era! Other bands that were popular at the time included (but definitely not limited to) Disturbed, POD, Papa Roach, Staind, Evanescence, Rammstein and Slipknot!
However, with all due to respect to those bands, Linkin Park became the most popular band of them all!
Whereas the other bands either faded or disbanded, Linkin Park continued to succeed into the following decade.
While their base was nu metal and rap-metal, they weren't limited to that. They had albums with more electronic and alternative rock sounds.
While metal tends to appeal to a more macho crowd, Chester Bennington's singing expressions of vulnerability allowed the band to cross over to a less macho crowd, making them the spokespersons of vulnerable youth who might be outcasted by their peers or their family. It was also balanced by Mike Shinoda's rapping vocals which gave the band an appeal to the hip-hop crowd.
The band also collaborated with rap mega-star Jay-Z, giving them an increasing appeal to the hip-hop crowd.
Linkin Park had their first hit album Hybrid Theory in 2000.
Their 1st major single was "One Step Closer" which is about one person who can only take so much crap and just can't hold in his anger anymore
"One Step Closer"
Here's the 2nd single "Crawling", about emotional pain
"Crawling"
Here's "In the End", which you can hear more of Mike Shinoda's rapping vocals.
"In the End"
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Linkin Park continued their success with their 2nd album Meteora, with the hit songs "Numb" and "Somewhere I Belong".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsCD5XCu6CM
"Somewhere I Belong"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXYiU_JCYtU
"Numb"
and of course, the remix with Jay-Z
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNPECkESPbU
Linkin Park w/Jay-Z
"Numb/Encore"
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However, even with all those hit records and sell-out concerts, Chester Bennington was suffering from depression.
He suffered from sexual abuse, physical bullying and a family breakdown when he was growing up.
He eventually developed a drug addiction.
His music spoke to the pain of millions of youth!
As we learned from Robin Williams, all the success and money will NOT erase personal traumas.
Money and therapists can only do so much!
Even with money and success, a person can only take so much suffering.
On July 20, 2017, Chester Bennington was found dead by hanging. It was assumed to be a suicide.
====================
PS: check out my blog post on Robin Williams and depression
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2014/08/robin-williams-and-depression.html
However, even with all those hit records and sell-out concerts, Chester Bennington was suffering from depression.
He suffered from sexual abuse, physical bullying and a family breakdown when he was growing up.
He eventually developed a drug addiction.
His music spoke to the pain of millions of youth!
As we learned from Robin Williams, all the success and money will NOT erase personal traumas.
Money and therapists can only do so much!
Even with money and success, a person can only take so much suffering.
On July 20, 2017, Chester Bennington was found dead by hanging. It was assumed to be a suicide.
====================
PS: check out my blog post on Robin Williams and depression
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2014/08/robin-williams-and-depression.html
