The loss of Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington to suicide on July 20, 2017, left a deep whole in the hearts of many โ not simply because he is "yet another" famous rock star in the long list of those who died too young (he was just 41 years old at the time), but because his music spoke to us in such uniquely direct terms about the pain he struggled with throughout his far too brief life.
Bennington, like his music, was real and raw โ about life, addiction, craft, and yes, the crippling hold of depression.
I don't know if it's a Gen X thing, a Xennial thing, or just an adult human trying to make it through this life thing, but as magnificent as Bennington was as an artist, the lyrics of the songs he composed have a magical quality enhanced by virtue of just how brutally real they are.
In a 2009 interview with Spin, he said, "This is just who I am, this is what I write about, what I do, and most of my work has been a reflection of what Iโve been going through in one way or another.โ
RELATED:The Beautiful Way Chester Benningtonโs Wife Talinda Is Reaching Out To Linkin Park Fans Struggling With Depression And Suicidal Thoughts To #MakeChesterProud
I'd be willing to bet that at times more numerous than we can imagine over the past several decades, far more than one person found themselves saved in a moment of soul-crushing desperation when they played their favorite Linkin Park songs, took in the strength and security of Bennington's literal and lyrical voice, and decided to stay here and "MakeChesterProud."
There are so many resources out there if you are feeling depressed. Talk with a friend, call the National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255, go to https://t.co/sFvN53nvXV. There is a world of people who love and stand behind you. #MakeChesterProud #320changesdirection pic.twitter.com/N4cntz8T35
โ Erin Lahey (@lahey_erin) July 14, 2019
The depth of meaning in his words is all the more obvious now, of course.
Take a moment to look for yourself and find the messages within these excerpts from 11 of the best Linkin Park songs about depression, suicidal thoughts, addiction and even sexual abuse.
1. "Heavy" from One More Light (2017)
According to the lyrics page on Genius, this song "centers around the emotional weight of fixating on oneself ... Chester Bennington said in an interview with 102.7 KIIS FM that 'Heavy' is a song of enlightenment, where a person takes a step back and realizes that a great deal of emotional strain is self-inflicted."
The band shared that the lyrics were written based on their discussions amongst themselves about the troubles they each faced in their lives, and in one interview, Bennington stated, "I know for me, I have a hard time with life even when it's good, like, I just am uncomfortable all the time. And my goal is to, personally, to figure out how to live life on life's terms. I don't want to just be happy all the time. I just want to be able to just ... be. And I struggle with that."
I donโt like my mind right now
Stacking up problems that are so unnecessary
Wish that I could slow things down
I wanna let go but thereโs comfort in the panic
And I drive myself crazy
Thinking everything's about me
Yeah, I drive myself crazy
'Cause I canโt escape the gravity
I'm holding on
Why is everything so heavy?
Holding on
So much more than I can carry
I keep dragging around what's bringing me down
If I just let go, I'd be set free
Holding on
Why is everything so heavy?
2. "Somewhere I Belong" from Meteora (2003)
(When this began)
I had nothing to say
And I get lost in the nothingness inside of me
(I was confused)
And I let it all out to find
That Iโm not the only person with these things in mind
(Inside of me)
But all the vacancy the words revealed
Is the only real thing that Iโve got left to feel
(Nothing to lose)
Just stuck, hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, and the fault is my own
I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain Iโve felt so long
(Erase all the pain till itโs gone)
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like Iโm close to something real
I wanna find something Iโve wanted all along
Somewhere I belong
RELATED:
3. "Breaking The Habit" from Meteora (2003)
According to Wikipedia, "A common misconception about the song is that it was written by lead singer Chester Bennington due to his struggles with substance abuse. In fact, band member Mike Shinoda began writing the song before he met Bennington based on another close friend's drug addiction."
Clutching my cure
I tightly lock the door
I try to catch my breath again
I hurt much more than any time before
I have no options left again
I don't want to be the one the battles always choose
'cause inside I realize that I'm the one confused
4. "Numb" from Meteora (2003)
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow
Just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow
Just caught in the undertow)
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
Become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
5. "Leave Out All The Rest" from Minutes To Midnight (2008)
In a now archived interview about the song, Bennington said, "We knew this was going to be a single from the very beginning, so we worked really hard on making sure it had great lyrics. I'm singing 'Pretending someone else can save me from myself' during it because it's supposed to feel like an apology letter, as though i'm moving on but i want people to remember the good things and not the bad things. A lot of the song is about humility."
I dreamed I was missing, you were so scared
But no-one would listen, 'cause no-one else cared
After my dreaming, I woke with this fear
What am I leaving, when I'm done here?
So, if you're asking me, I want you to know
When my time comes, forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some reasons to be missed
Don't resent me and, when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest
Leave out all the rest
6. "Easier To Run" from Meteora (2003)
According to Genius, "The verse lyrics emerged from a free-writing exercise performed by Chester Bennington: he wrote them to no music, no beat. Mike Shinoda and Don Gilmore liked them a lot, and the guys decided this was the song to work them into."
It's easier to run
Replacing this pain with something numb
It's so much easier to go
Than face all this pain here all alone
Something has been taken from deep inside of me
A secret I've kept locked away
No one can ever see
Wounds so deep they never show
They never go away
Like moving pictures in my head
For years and years, they've played...
Sometimes I remember
The darkness of my past
Bringing back these memories
I wish I didn't have
Sometimes I think of letting go
And never looking back
And never moving forward so
There'd never be a past
7. "In The End" from Meteora (2003)
In an interview with Unco[v]ered, Chester said, "I donโt really participate in picking singles. I learnt that after making Hybrid Theory. I was never a fan of 'In the End' and I didnโt even want it to be on the record, honestly. How wrong could I have possibly been?"
I've put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
For all this
There's only one thing you should know
I've put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
For all this
There's only one thing you should know
I tried so hard and got so far
But in the end, it doesn't even matter
I had to fall to lose it all
But in the end, it doesn't even matter
RELATED:My Never Before Released Audio Interview With Chester Bennington From Linkin Park
8. "Waiting For The End" from A Thousand Suns (2010)
Waiting for the end to come
Wishing I had strength to stand
This is not what I had planned
It's out of my control
Flying at the speed of light
Thoughts were spinning in my head
So many things were left unsaid
It's hard to let you go
(Oh) I know what it takes to move on
(Oh) I know how it feels to lie
(Oh) All I want to do
Is trade this life for something new
Holding on to what I haven't got
9. "By Myself" from Hybrid Theory (2000)
According to Genius, this song "started out under the demo name Sad in 1999 and was also titled SuperXero in the time leading up to the signing of the band and the release of their debut. This song describes a person with no self-confidence as well as a drug problem. Both of these were issues that Chester Bennington faced throughout his lifetime."
What do I do to ignore them behind me?
Do I follow my instincts blindly?
Do I hide my pride from these bad dreams
And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening?
Do I sit here and try to stand it?
Or do I try to catch them red-handed?
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness
Or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?
Because I can't hold on when I'm stretched so thin
I make the right moves but I'm lost within
I put on my daily faรงade but then
I just end up getting hurt again
By myself (myself)
I ask why, but in my mind
I find I canโt rely on myself (myself)
I ask why, but in my mind
I find I canโt rely on myself
I canโt hold on (To what I want when Iโm stretched so thin)
Itโs all too much to take in
I canโt hold on (To anything watching everything spin)
With thoughts of failure sinking in
10. "Crawling" from Hybrid Theory (2000)
Bennington was known to say that this was the most difficult song for him perform live. In the above-mentioned interview with Spin, he also shared that, "My life was falling apart in many ways that I was writing about on this record in terms of getting divorced, in terms of diving very hard into alcohol and drugs throughout this process."
He continued to say that this song "is about feeling like I had no control over myself in terms of drugs and alcohol. That feeling, being able to write about it, sing about it, that song, those words sold millions of records, I won a Grammy, I made a lot of money.โ But, he added, "Itโs not cool to be an alcoholic โ itโs not cool to go drink and be a dumbass... Itโs cool to be a part of recovery."
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There's something inside me that pulls beneath the surface
Consuming, confusing
This lack of self-control I fear is never ending
Controlling, I can't seem
To find myself again
My walls are closing in
Without a sense of confidence
I'm convinced that there's just too much pressure to take
I've felt this way before
So insecure
Crawling in my skin
These wounds they will not heal
Fear is how I fall
Confusing what is real
11. "Final Masquerade" from The Hunting Party (2014)
And one final song as a bonus...
"Hunger Strike" from Temple of the Dog (1991)
Unlike the songs above, "Hunger Strike" was written by Bennington's close friend and lead singer of Soundgarden, Chris Cornell, who also tragically died by suicide earlier this year, and who would have turned 53 on July 20, 2017, the day Bennington passed away.
According to an article in Rolling Stone, "In the summer of 2008, Chris Cornell and Linkin Park toured together as part of the Projekt Revolution tour."
This video of two of them singing "Hunger Strike" together at Atlanta's Lakewood Amphitheatre is the very definition of tragic beauty.
Please remember that there are several options if or someone you know needs help to deal with an immediate crisis. Call 911 if you think a family member may harm themselves or others.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
RELATED:How To Stop Suicidal Thoughts While Social Distancing
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Deputy Editor Arianna Jeret, MA/MSW, has been featured in Cosmopolitan, The Huffington Post, Yahoo, MSN, Bustle, Parents and more. Find her on Twitter and Instagram for more.
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FAQs
What was Linkin Park's last song before Chester died? โบ
...
Talking to Myself (song)
| "Talking to Myself" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Linkin Park | |
| Songwriter(s) | Ilsey Juber Brad Delson Mike Shinoda J.R. Rotem |
Linkin Park has not released a new album since May 2017, two months before its other frontman, Chester Bennington, died by suicide at 41.
Who sang at Chester Bennington's funeral? โบThe concert featured various artists, including Blink-182; members of System of a Down, Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Sum 41, Bring Me the Horizon, Civil Twilight, A Day to Remember, Yellowcard; and Kiiara.
What is Linkin Park's most successful song? โบ- 1 Numb. It makes me feel like WOW. ...
- 2 In the End. I love this song. ...
- 3 What I've Done. Easily their best song, even with stiff competition from New Divide, Numb, and Papercut. ...
- 4 Breaking the Habit. ...
- 5 Faint. ...
- 6 New Divide. ...
- 7 Crawling. ...
- 8 Papercut.
2017โpresent: Hiatus and 20th anniversary reissues
Linkin Park has remained on hiatus since Bennington's death. During an Instagram live chat on December 17, 2017, Shinoda was asked whether Linkin Park would perform with a hologram version of Bennington in the future. He replied, "Can we not do a holographic Chester?
' I think to a lot of that, it's yes,โ he added. Mike Shinoda discusses Linkin Park's new song, the 'Meteora' box set, and reveals new solo track!
Has Linkin Park disbanded? โบWell, the band went on a hiatus, and rightfully so, however, rest assured, they are now going anywhere. Linkin Park has announced that while they are, in fact, working on new music and possibly touring, they still "don't have the math worked out," said band member, Mike Shinoda back on October 29, 2021.
What was 1 of the songs that made Linkin Park famous? โบ1. โ
Well, Linkin Park took โIn the Endโ all the way to No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 2002 โ as the fourth single off Hybrid Theory, incredibly.
LPian. Pronounced El-Pee-in.
Who inherited Chester Bennington's money? โบLinkin Park frontman, Chester Bennington, sadly died in 2017, leaving a large estate. He left a Will, making it clear that his estate would be divided between his six children and his wife, Talinda Bennington.
What song does Chester scream? โบ
"One of our most notorious moments is this big scream on the bridge of "Given Up". I think it's a 17- or 18-second-long scream. I had organized the song, and Chester hadn't gotten familiar with the structure of the song when he was singing it.
Who died the same time as Chester Bennington? โบTwo months after Cornell's death, on what would have been his Cornell's 53rd birthday, Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington took his life in the same manner.
How good was Chester Bennington's voice? โบChester's vocal is simply spine-chilling, stripped back and honest. If there's ever an isolated vocal of the late rocker that garners the most attention, it's his stunning performance on Numb. The 2003 song was already incredibly moving, but its heartbreaking lyrics became even more poignant after the singer's passing.
How many number 1 hits does Linkin Park have? โบLinkin Park has sold 70 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide. The band has produced eleven number-one singles on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and is the second-ever act to have at least ten weeks with three or more tracks on that chart.
Did Linkin Park have a number 1? โบLinkin Park lands its fourth Rock & Alternative Airplay No. 1, after โNew Divideโ ruled for 12 weeks in 2009, followed by โThe Catalystโ (five weeks, 2010) and โBurn It Downโ (11 weeks, 2012).
Is Linkin Park going to replace Chester? โบFor now, the answer is no.
I think it has to happen naturally. And if we find somebody that's a great person that we think is a good personality fit and a good stylistic fit, then I could see trying to do some stuff with somebody.
Their final rebadging saw them take the name Linkin Park, a play on and homage to Santa Monica's Lincoln Park. The band initially wanted the name "Lincoln Park", however they changed it to "Linkin" because they couldn't afford the domain name "lincolnpark.com".
Does Linkin Park have unreleased songs? โบLinkin Park Announce Meteora Box Set, Unveil Previously Unreleased Song โLostโ: Stream. Linkin Park have announced Meteora 20th Anniversary Edition, an expanded reissue of their sophomore album. In advance of its April 7th arrival, the band has unleashed the previously unreleased song โLost.โ
What was Linkin Park's last performance? โบ...
One More Light World Tour.
| No. of shows | 4 in South America 17 in Europe |
| Linkin Park concert chronology | |
|---|---|
It's a truism in the traditional music industry that to succeed, a band needs a โsound.โ Linkin Park's re-use of the same basic song structure makes their music instantly recognizable, and lets their listeners feel immediately comfortable with new material. Again, you may not write or record pop music.
What are Linkin bridge doing now? โบ
The group is currently working on an album and will be performing around Louisville during the holiday season. Although contracts have not be finalized, Davis will share the dates and locations of upcoming concerts when they are available, so check back at courier-journal.com for updates.
Who is the richest member of Linkin Park? โบ...
| Net Worth: | $65 Million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 46 |
| Born: | February 11, 1977 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
The members grabbed the name of nearby Lincoln Park in their home town of Santa Monica, Calif., modified the spelling to secure the Internet domain name, and that was it. They didn't realize the name would connect them to virtually every city in the country.
Is Linkin Park in the Hall of Fame? โบLinkin Park had an incredibly successful career right up to the death of Bennington in 2017 and should be recognized for it. Linkin Park will be eligible in 2025 (or are currently eligible if the Rock Hall counts their 1997 demo tape under the name Xero).
What is the fastest Linkin Park song? โบForgotten is the tenth track on Linkin Park's debut album Hybrid Theory. It is one of the fastest tracks on the song. Mike Shinoda raps the verses, the chorus consists of interplay between Shinoda rapping and Chester Bennington screaming and singing, similar to "By Myself".
Is Linkin Park emo or punk? โบBut what Chester Bennington and Linkin Park created, deliberately or not, was music that could be all things at once: accessible nรผ-metal, catchy pop-rock, earnest emo music, with a proto-woke sensibility about hip hop and street culture. At the time, they were what Latinx wanted to be.
Who has the biggest fandom in the world? โบARMY - BTS Fandom
The ARMY is the most powerful fandom in the world.
Collision Course is a collaborative album from American rapper Jay-Z and rock band Linkin Park, released on November 30, 2004, by Roc-A-Fella, Machine Shop, Warner Bros. and Def Jam records.
Where is Chester Bennington's wife now? โบAlmost three years after the Linkin Park frontman's death, Chester Bennington's widow remarried in Hawaii on Jan. 4 to Los Angeles County firefighter Michael Fredman.
Was Chester Bennington religious? โบBennington does not appear to have been a Christian, instead, according to fellow band member Mike Shinoda, the late singer had โhis own really unique views on religionโ.
What was Chester Bennington's favorite movie? โบ
Chester Bennington on Twitter: "@xikiricosas my fav movie is the Princess Bride my fav song is everything created by the Beatles and Depeche Mode" / Twitter.
What voice type was Chester? โบBennington possessed a three-octave tenor vocal range, beginning at the lowest note of G 2, and reaching its peak at the highest note of G 5. His vocals showed tremendous durability for the entirety of his career.
What song does MGK mention Chester Bennington? โบMachine Gun Kelly Pays Tribute to Linkin Park's Chester Bennington: 'Nights Like Tonight Make Life Worth It'
Who was Chester best friend? โบChester Bennington's tragic hanging 'closely mirrors' best friend Chris Cornell's suicide eight weeks earlier. The tragic death of Linkin Park rocker Chester Bennington closely mirrors that of his best friend Chris Cornell just eight weeks previously, it has emerged.
Who was Chester Bennington Idol? โบChester Bennington was found dead on what would have been the 53rd birthday of his dear friend and one of his idols, Chris Cornell.
How close were Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell? โบBennington counted Cornell as one of his biggest influences; the two later became close friends. Bennington even sang "Hallelujah" at Cornell's funeral. Wilson says the two iconic rockers had similar personalities.
Who has the darkest voice in the world? โบTim Storms (born August 28, 1972) is an American singer and composer. He holds the Guinness World Record for both the "lowest note produced by a human" and the "widest vocal range".
Who has the strongest voice ever? โบ- 1 of 35. Celine Dion. Kevin Winter/Getty Images. ...
- 2 of 35. Barbra Streisand. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for BSB. ...
- 3 of 35. Etta James. ...
- 4 of 35. Nina Simone. ...
- 5 of 35. Aretha Franklin. ...
- 6 of 35. Whitney Houston. ...
- 7 of 35. Smokey Robinson. ...
- 8 of 35. Mariah Carey.
If you try to think of singers with unique voices, a few might come to mind: from Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Axl Rose and Nina Simone to Bjork, Amy Winehouse, Beyonce, Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Jeff Buckley...
What is the biggest number one hit ever? โบ"Old Town Road" holds the record for the longest stretch at No. 1 with 19 weeks. It also became the fastest song in history to be certified diamond.
Who has the most #1 hits in history? โบ
The Beatles, unsurprisingly, lead the way with a record 20 No. 1s, all earned between 1964 and 1970.
Who has the most #1 hit songs of all time? โบThe Beatles have tallied the most No. 1 hits in the 61-year history of the Hot 100, with 20. Their closest competitor is Mariah Carey, with 18.
Which singer has the most number 1? โบThe most modern act on the list is Rihanna, who has released 14 chart-topping singles in her career. The oldest is Elvis Presley, who's had 18 No. 1 songs.
What was the first number one song? โบAl Martino โ Here In My Heart (1952) โ was also the first ever Number 1 single!
Who wrote most #1 hits? โบThe most successful songwriters in terms of number one singles are John Lennon (1940-80) and Paul McCartney (b. 18 Jun 1942). McCartney is credited as the writer on 32 number one hits in the US to Lennons 26 (with 23 co-written), whereas Lennon authored 29 UK number ones to McCartney's 28 (25 co-written).
When did Linkin Park last release a song? โบ"Lost" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. Originally recorded during sessions for their second studio album, Meteora (2003), it was later officially released on February 10, 2023, as the first single from the album's 20th-anniversary reissue.
What is the unreleased Linkin Park song? โบAmerican rock band Linkin Park released an unreleased song โLostโ to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their second album โMeteoraโ on February 10, 2023. The song was originally recorded while writing the 2003 album โMeteoraโ.
What song is dedicated to Chester Bennington? โบ'I want to share it with you. ' Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda has unveiled a new song in honour of Chester Bennington, titled 'Looking For An Answer'. During yesterday's Linkin Park memorial concert at the Hollywood Bowl, Shinoda sat down and told the crowd he had something new in honour of his bandmate.
What was Linkin Park's first hit? โบ"One Step Closer" is the debut single by the American rock band Linkin Park. Released as the first single and second track of their debut album, Hybrid Theory, the song was featured in the 2008 music video games Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades, and the end credits of the 2000 film Dracula 2000.
What is the most massive concert of Linkin Park? โบOn this day in 2005 - Linkin Park and Jay-Z's iconic Live 8 show! This is the largest crowd the band ever played for, estimated at over 1 million people!
What disorders did Chester Bennington have? โบ
Bennington struggled with depression and substance abuse. He overcame his drug addiction and would go on to denounce drug use in future interviews. He later battled with alcoholism during his tenure with Linkin Park, which he overcame following an intervention from his bandmates.