July 20, 2017. That was the day we lost the bearer of the voice that nourished so many teenagers, of that anguish that made so many feel like they belonged somewhere in this troubled world. Chester Bennington passed away that day. The frontman of one of the greatest bands of the 21st century lost himself in the difficulties he faced and committed suicide.
Alongside Chester, Mike Shinoda , Joe Hahn , Dave Farrell , Brad Delson and Rob Bourdon have sold over 70 million records in their 17 years together. Under the name Linkin Park , the group released their debut album, Hybrid Theory, in 2000, which has sold 27 million copies worldwide to date.
The albums that followed showcased the band's strength but also exposed all the pain and suffering that surrounded them. With seven studio albums, Linkin Park became the voice of a generation. The band spoke for those who were afraid to express themselves or felt so invisible that they didn't even try.
In their last work, One More Light, released just two months before the death of their vocalist, the band sought to experiment with layers of sounds and feelings they had never shown to the public before. And this brought a wave of misunderstanding accompanied by insults.
Despite criticism, the band, and especially Chester and Mike, defended their vision, challenging the ideal many fans hold that a group's sound should remain the same throughout their career, saying things like "My Linkin Park is dead," "This isn't Linkin Park," and questioning "What happened to them?" Little did we know about the demons haunting Bennington and his need to bring something new to his fans.
Art is subjective, and we cannot point out flaws or qualities in something we don't understand. Despite their different sound, the band maintained its role in music and in the lives of their fans. Many were able to overcome their pain and afflictions by listening to a new Linkin Park album. Many found support in the band and in the lyrics that Chester and Mike sang with such passion. Many used the themes of the songs as inspiration to become a better person, a person who feels good in this troubled world.
His lyrics were influenced by his childhood struggles. Born in Phoenix, the musician was molested at age seven; later, his parents divorced, and he moved to California where he became involved with drugs and alcohol. At 16, he decided to change his life after witnessing a shootout at a friend's house. From then on, his story improved, especially after meeting and joining his Linkin Park bandmates. We are not here to explore the difficulties he faced, but rather to highlight what he created from them.
He sang about overcoming adversity and the accumulated weariness of a life of suffering. From his corroded soul came lyrics that screamed words of pain and anguish. Chester Bennington suffered and helped many who also suffered. The singer was one of the greatest inspirations and voices of a generation, and he remains alive through us. He remains alive through his music, his compositions, and his fans.
"Who cares if one more light goes out? Well, I do." (One More Light)
