Chester Bennington

Chester Bennington was born in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1976 and endured a difficult childhood that he later spoke about with unusual openness. He sang in local bands before auditioning in 1999 for a Los Angeles group that would become Linkin Park. His voice, capable of moving from a fragile whisper to a full-throated scream, became the band's emotional center.

Linkin Park's debut album Hybrid Theory, released in 2000, became one of the best-selling debut albums in American history and defined the sound of rock radio at the turn of the millennium. With Meteora and later albums the band continually reinvented itself, blending rock, hip-hop, and electronic music. Bennington also fronted his side project Dead by Sunrise and served as the lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots from 2013 to 2015.

Bennington spoke candidly throughout his life about depression and addiction, hoping his honesty would help others. He died in 2017 at age 41, and his loss prompted a worldwide conversation about mental health in music. His bandmates continue to honor his memory, and his voice remains a source of comfort and catharsis for listeners around the world.

As the voice of Linkin Park, Chester Bennington turned private pain into songs that helped millions of listeners feel less alone.