Read the testimony.
In an interview with Variety magazine, Limp Bizkit vocalist Fred Durst spoke about the death of Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, which occurred on the 20th. Bennington was 41 years old and committed suicide by hanging.
Read Durst's testimony:
“I’m sitting here with my brother Cory and we were talking about when Linkin Park played before us at their first show in Europe. They came to our dressing room and they were clearly excited and shy. Wes [Limp Bizkit guitarist], my brother and I went to see their show and opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate and congratulate them after their performance.
I remember watching them from the side of the stage while they were playing and thinking to myself, 'Chester's voice is going to blow these guys away.' It was a great moment and I'm glad I was there.
I could say so many good things about Chester that I knew him. He had a way of making everyone feel heard, understood, and significant. His aura and spirit were contagious and empowering. Usually, this type of person has so much pain and torment inside that the last thing they want to do is contaminate or break the spirit of others.
He always did his best to show that he truly cared. No matter how real and transparent our conversations were, he always sought light in the darkness. In my last conversation with him, he was holding two adorable puppies and giving me totally selfless and motivational compliments about Limp Bizkit and myself, thanking me for paving the way for bands like Linkin Park.
And I told him that if it weren't for him, for his voice and his words, the genre would never have reached the masses and affected so many lives. I thanked him for being brave and humble and for always being so polite. We laughed, hugged, and joked as if there would always be a tomorrow to see each other again.
I wanted to hug him right now and tell him that we all experience pain and cope in our own way. I know his torment was unique to him, but I would always be here to listen and help however I could. But I won't have another hug or another moment like that, which makes me sad.”
