Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington seemed to live a happy family life but in reality was dealing with his dark and difficult past.
The star struggled with depression and substance abuse for most of his life, starting in his childhood.
In July 2017, he was found dead at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California; the coroner concluded that he had died as a result of suicide by hanging.
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This was just days after his loving wife posted a happy family photo of him with his three children.
Daily Star has decided to look closer into the singer’s tragic life and the events that led up to his death.
Abused as a child
Chester once opened up about the abuse he suffered as a child.
In an interview with Tom Bryant for Kerrang! he said: “I started getting molested when I was about seven or eight.
“It was by a friend who was a few years older than me. It escalated from a touchy, curious, ‘what does this thing do’ into full-on, crazy violations.
“I was getting beaten up and being forced to do things I didn’t want to do. It destroyed my self-confidence.”
Struggle with addiction
Chester was very open about his struggle with addiction.
According to NME, he was a frequent target for bullying when he was younger and this led him towards a life of drugs.
According to an article in Louder in 2016 he said: “I dropped so much acid I’m surprised I can still speak! I’d smoke a bunch of crack, do a bit of meth and just sit there and freak out. Then I’d smoke opium to come down. I weighed 110 pounds.”
Bennington was also sober after battling alcohol issues during his adult years after going to rehab in 2006, but suffered a relapse in the months leading up to his death.
A half-full bottle of alcohol was also found next to his body when it was discovered.
Eerie coincidence
(Image: Getty)
Bennington took his own life on what would’ve been his close friend Chris Cornell’s birthday, using the same method of suicide as the singer.
His friends Ryan Shuck and Sean Dowdell downplayed speculation that Cornell’s death inspired Bennington to take his life, and said it was a coincidence.
Shuck added: “It could be a part of it, but it’s a small part of it,” Shuck says. “I think that it’s just another horrible event that gets put in your subconscious. It’s kindling, but the fire was already burning.”
Divorce
(Image: Francesco Castaldo/Archivio Francesco Castaldo/Mondadori via Getty Images)
According to Rolling Stone, Chester Bennington was just 19 years old when he met and married his first wife, Samantha Marie Olit.
However, the pair sadly got a divorce in 2005 but they did stay on good terms.
Chester told Kerrang! in 2009 that the divorce was very hard for him, and the frustration took a heavy toll on him.
Depression
Chester was open about his struggle with depression. In an interview with the 102.7 KIISFM radio channel, Bennington talked at length about his depression and addiction problems, addressing them in public just as easily as he discussed his children and his music.
He was known to talk about his bad moments as his “dark passenger,” as per Rolling Stone, and discussed them as a kind of second Chester Bennington inside him.
Tragic death
(Image: Burak Cingi/Redferns))
Chester tragically passed away from suicide July 20, 2017 when he was just 41 years old.
His friends were left devastated by the news, with many admitting they didn’t see it coming, as Bennington was sending text messages to his friends about the future a day before his suicide.
Only the day before he returned home. Bennington e-mailed former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum, saying he’d like to perform again with their all-star covers band, Kings of Chaos.
Linkin Park co-vocalist Mike Shinoda soon confirmed the situation. “Shocked and heartbroken, but it’s true.
“An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
