Chester Bennington’s wife, Talinda Bennington, is questioning how to move on after the Linkin Park singer died last week.
“One week ago, I lost my soul mate and my children lost their hero — their Daddy. We had a fairytale life and now it has turned into some sick Shakespearean tragedy. How do I move on? How do I pick up my shattered soul? The only answer I know is to raise our babies with every ounce of love I have left,” Talinda Bennington said to E! News in a statement. “I want to let my community and the fans worldwide know that we feel your love. We feel your loss as well. My babies are so young to have lost their daddy. And I know that all of you will help keep his memory alive.”
She added that the 41-year-old singer “was a bright, loving soul with an angel’s voice. And now he is pain-free singing his songs in all of our hearts. May God bless us all and help us turn to one another when we are in pain. Chester would’ve wanted us to do so. Rest in peace, my love.”
Bennington was found dead in his home on July 20 at the age of 41 as a result of hanging. According to the coroner’s office, Bennington hanged himself from a bedroom door.
He was good friends with Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, who was found dead in May. His death was also ruled a suicide by hanging. July 20 would have been Cornell’s 53rd birthday.
News of Bennington’s death came just hours after Linkin Park released its latest music video, “Talking to Myself.”
After releasing their new album, “One More Light,” in May, the band was scheduled to hit the road again later this month but the tour has since been canceled.
Remembering Chester Bennington: Linkin Park's 14 Biggest Songs (Videos)
"One Step Closer" (2000)
The first single off the band's debut album "Hybrid Theory," "One Step Closer" still stands as one of Linkin Park's most recognizable songs nearly two decades later.
"Crawling" (2001)
In 2002, Linkin Park won their first Grammy Award for "Crawling," one of the first singles to establish the band as an alternative radio mainstay.
"In the End" (2001)
An emotionally wrought "Hybrid Theory" standout, "In the End" is frequently hailed as the band's best song. It's also their most successful, peaking at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100.
"Somewhere I Belong" (2003)
After earning critical acclaim and commercial success with "Hybrid Theory," the band returned with "Somewhere I Belong" off follow-up "Meteora" to prove it was no fluke.
"Faint" (2003)
With its driving drum beat and heavy guitars, "Faint" is one of the most rousing singles in the band's catalogue, going on to top the rock charts and become a live show mainstay.
"Numb" (2003) / "Numb/Encore" (2004)
The third single off "Meteora," "Numb" was a hit in its own right. But when it was mashed up with Jay-Z's "Encore" for a collaborative EP its success was only prolonged.
"Breaking the Habit" (2004)
With its ominous electronica-tinged instrumentation, "Breaking the Habit" puts Bennington's vocals to the forefront, proving the band's willingness to experiment with their sound.
"What I've Done" (2007)
Certified three-times platinum, "What I've Done" is Linkin Park's most commercially successful single thanks to its use in Michael Bay's 2007 film "Transformers."
"Bleed It Out" (2007)
The second single off "Minutes to Midnight" marked a return to form, bringing back the vocal interplay between Bennington and rapper Mike Shinoda that was a hallmark of the band's earlier work.
"Shadow of the Day" (2007)
Linkin Park took a sonic left turn on "Shadow of the Day," with Bennington giving a Bono-esque vocal performance for the band's take on an arena rock single.
"New Divide" (2009)
Thanks to another successful collaboration with the "Transformers" movie franchise, "New Divide," a standout from the band's post-"Meteora" discography, went to No. 6 on the Hot 100.
"Waiting for the End" (2010)
Though Linkin Park never matched the chart success of the early 2000s, the band continued steadily releasing music and experimenting with their sound into the new decade.
"Heavy (Feat. Kiiara)" (2017)
In May 2017, just months before Bennington's death, the band's final album "One More Light" was released, featuring a new pop-oriented sound and a guest turn from Kiiara.
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Lead singer died of apparent suicide on Thursday
"One Step Closer" (2000)
The first single off the band's debut album "Hybrid Theory," "One Step Closer" still stands as one of Linkin Park's most recognizable songs nearly two decades later.
