Chester Bennington of Linkin Park Has Died: Update

Chester Bennington, the vocalist for rap-rock mainstays Linkin Park, has died, TMZ is reporting. The cause was reportedly suicide. He was 41 years old.

According to TMZ, law-enforcement officials said the singer hanged himself at a private residence in Los Angeles County. His body was discovered Thursday morning.

Update (5 p.m. EST): Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda has confirmed Bennington’s death via Twitter, writing: “Shocked and heartbroken, but it’s true. An official statement will come as soon as we have one.”

Shocked and heartbroken, but it’s true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.

— Mike Shinoda (@mikeshinoda) July 20, 2017

Cameron Strang, the CEO and chairman of Warner Bros. Records, released this statement: “Chester Bennington was an artist of extraordinary talent and charisma, and a human being with a huge heart and a caring soul. Our thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful family, his band-mates and his many friends. All of us at WBR join with millions of grieving fans around the world in saying: we love you Chester and you will be forever missed.”

Bennington, who also fronted the Stone Temple Pilots from 2013 to 2015, was known to have struggled with drugs and alcohol. He was also a close friend of late Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell, who killed himself on May 18. Bennington sang at Cornell’s funeral. Thursday would have been Cornell’s 53rd birthday.

Together with Linkin Park, Bennington scored seven Top 5 albums, starting with 2000’s Hybrid Theory. Their new record, One More Light, was released May 19. The band recently played the title track on Jimmy Kimmel Live in tribute to Cornell.