Linkin Park's lead singer Chester Bennington has committed suicide, according to TMZ reports.
An employee reportedly discovered Bennington's body at his private residence in Palos Verdes, California. The singer hung himself and supposedly struggled with a drug and alcohol addiction for a number of years.
Linkin Park was formed in 1996 in California. The band rose to international fame with their debut album Hybrid Theory (2000), which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-Platinum in several other countries.
Their following studio album Meteora continued the band's success, topping the Billboard 200 album chart in 2003, and was followed by extensive touring and charity work around the world. Bennington was also the lead singer for Dead by Sunrise and fronted Stone Temple Pilots from 2013 to 2015.
The Recording Academy released the following statement:
Our GRAMMY® family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of two-time GRAMMY winner Chester Bennington. As the cutting-edge lead vocalist of Linkin Park, Chester’s powerful range, paired with his impressive songwriting skills, made him a bona fide hard rock hero. His riveting stage presence made every live performance magnetic, earning him millions of fans around the globe.
Having put as much passion into charitable causes as he did his musical craft, we were honored to pay tribute to him at our 2013 MusiCares MAP Fund® benefit concert, where he lent his time and talents to help raise money to assist members of the music community with the addiction treatment process. We have lost a truly dynamic member of the music community and our sincerest condolences go out to Chester’s family, friends, collaborators, and all who have been impacted by his work.
Chester was married and is survived by six children.
