Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington died in 2017 and how he spent his final days has been revealed.
Author Jason Lipshutz’s new book takes an in-depth look at the legendary rock band’s career and the death of their frontman. Title It starts with one: The legend and legacy of Linkin Park, The book was published on October 1.
Taking anecdotes from friends and family, a preview of the book was shared with Everybody details Bennington’s final days. Bennington died by suicide on July 20, 2017.
Mike Shinoda visited Bennington a few days before his death, where they planned some upcoming performances.
“Mike just met Chester a few days ago at a recording studio: Chester introduced him to indie rapper and poet Watsky, after praising the artist for some time. Watsky and some of his friends have left studio, but Chester and Mike lingered together – spending a few hours chatting, discussing song ideas, planning their upcoming shows. It wasn’t anything special or worthwhile pay attention; that’s just what they’ve always done,” the book says.
Before his death, Bennington also went on vacation with his family but returned to California to work.
“In the days before his death, Chester was in Arizona with [wife] Talinda and the kids, vacationing with family at their cabin in Sedona ahead of Linkin Park’s extensive North American tour in support Add a glow later that month. Chester returned to Los Angeles on his own – he said he needed to work, and the band had a photo shoot scheduled for the morning of the 20th – but before leaving, Talinda took a photo of Chester and his children. They were looking into the woods leaving their deck, grinning,” it revealed.
“According to Talinda, Chester ‘was sober for nearly six months’ before his death. However, in the final months of his life, he openly discussed his general difficulties with life during that time. Add a glow for the press run, he was speaking privately to his loved ones about a specific problem: the urge to drink had once again taken over his thoughts,” the book added.
Despite this setback, Linkin Park continued their stadium tour and when the tour ended, Bennington’s singing was described as “powerful”. However, Bennington committed suicide on July 20, 2017 with alcohol found in his body. The singer was spotted with an empty bottle of Stella Artois in her room as well as a half-full glass of Corona.
In September, Linkin Park announced their new lead singer, Emily Armstrong. However, both Bennington’s mother, Susan Eubanks, and his son, Jaime Bennington, shared their distaste for the choice.
“I felt betrayed. They told me that if they were going to do something, they would let me know. They didn’t let me know and they probably also knew that I [wasn’t] will be very happy. I’m very sad about that,” Eubanks said Rolling Stone.
Jaime shared similar sentiments, posting on Instagram that Shinoda “quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time…during international suicide prevention month.”
The singer was 41 years old when he passed away.
Tags Linkin Park, Chester Bennington