Chester Bennington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chester Bennington
|
|
|---|---|
Bennington in 2014
|
|
| Born |
Chester Charles Bennington
March 20, 1976 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
|
| Died | July 20, 2017 (aged 41) |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1992–2017 |
| Spouse(s) |
Samantha Olit
(m. 1996; div. 2005)Talinda Bentley
(m. 2006) |
| Children | 6 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
|
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Signature | |
 |
|
Chester Charles Bennington (March 20, 1976 – July 20, 2017) was an American singer. He was best known as the lead singer for the rock band Linkin Park. He also sang for other bands like Grey Daze, Dead by Sunrise, and Stone Temple Pilots.
Bennington became famous after Linkin Park released their first album, Hybrid Theory, in 2000. This album was a huge success around the world. It sold millions of copies and became one of the bestselling debut albums of its time. He continued to be the lead singer for Linkin Park's next six studio albums. All of these albums reached the top of the music charts.
In 2005, Bennington started his own band called Dead by Sunrise. They released their first album, Out of Ashes, in 2009. Later, in 2013, he joined Stone Temple Pilots as their lead singer. He released an album called High Rise with them. He left Stone Temple Pilots in 2015 to focus only on Linkin Park. Bennington also appeared in a few movies, including Crank (2006) and Saw 3D (2010).
Chester Bennington was found dead at his home on July 20, 2017. He was 41 years old. Many music publications have called him one of the greatest rock singers of his generation.
Contents
Early Life of Chester Bennington
Chester Charles Bennington was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 20, 1976. His mother was a nurse, and his father was a police detective. From a young age, he loved music. He was inspired by bands like Depeche Mode and Stone Temple Pilots. Bennington even dreamed of joining Stone Temple Pilots one day. He later achieved this dream.
His parents got divorced when he was 11 years old. This time was difficult for him. He started drawing, writing poetry, and creating songs. After the divorce, he lived with his father. When he was 17, in 1993, Bennington moved in with his mother. He worked at a Burger King before becoming a professional musician.
Chester Bennington's Music Career
Starting Out in Music
Bennington began singing with a band called Sean Dowdell and His Friends? in 1993. They released a short cassette tape. Later, Bennington and Sean Dowdell formed a band called Grey Daze. This band recorded a demo in 1993 and two albums: Wake Me (1994) and ...No Sun Today (1997). Bennington left Grey Daze in 1998.
Joining Linkin Park
Bennington was almost ready to give up on music. Then, Jeff Blue, a music executive, offered him an audition. This was for a band that would become Linkin Park. Bennington left his job and traveled to California for the audition. He successfully joined the band. He even left his own birthday party early to record his audition.
Bennington and Mike Shinoda, another singer in the band, worked hard. They faced many rejections from record labels. But Jeff Blue, who now worked at Warner Records, helped them sign a deal.
On October 24, 2000, Linkin Park released their first album, Hybrid Theory. Bennington and Shinoda wrote the lyrics for the album. Shinoda said the songs were about common feelings and experiences. Bennington later explained that songs like "Crawling" were about taking responsibility for one's own feelings.
Bennington was mainly the lead singer for Linkin Park. Sometimes, he shared this role with Shinoda. Critics described Bennington's voice as "higher-pitched" and "emotional." This was different from Shinoda's hip-hop style. Both singers also wrote lyrics for the band's songs.
Hybrid Theory (2000) sold millions of copies. It was certified "diamond" in 2005. The band's second album, Meteora (2003), reached number one on the charts. Their third album, Minutes to Midnight (2007), also hit number one. Linkin Park has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. They have won many awards, including two Grammy Awards.
Dead by Sunrise
In 2005, Bennington started a side project called Dead by Sunrise. It was an electronic rock band from Los Angeles. He formed the band with Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck. Dead by Sunrise first performed live in May 2008.
The band released their only album, Out of Ashes, on October 13, 2009.
Singing for Stone Temple Pilots
In February 2013, the band Stone Temple Pilots needed a new lead singer. They asked Bennington to join them in May 2013. On May 18, 2013, Bennington performed with the band for the first time. They played old Stone Temple Pilots songs and a new song called "Out of Time."
Bennington and the band announced that he was officially their new frontman. They also talked about making a new album and going on tour. The song "Out of Time" was on their album High Rise, released on October 8, 2013.
Bennington said that joining Stone Temple Pilots was a dream come true. He grew up listening to their music. He left the band in 2015 to focus on Linkin Park. He was replaced by Jeff Gutt two years later.
Other Music Projects
Chester Bennington also worked with other artists. In 2005, he was featured on a song called "Walking Dead" by Z-Trip. He also sang with Mötley Crüe on a charity song for victims of Hurricane Katrina. In 2006, he performed with Alice in Chains. Bennington also joined Kings of Chaos for a concert tour in 2016.
Chester Bennington's Personal Life
Family
Bennington had a son named Jaime (born 1996) from a previous relationship. In 2006, he adopted Jaime's brother, Isaiah (born 1997). He married his first wife, Samantha Marie Olit, in 1996. They had one child together, Draven Sebastian (born 2002). They divorced in 2005.
In 2006, he married Talinda Ann Bentley, a former model. They had three children: Tyler Lee Bennington (born 2006) and twins Lily and Lila (born 2011).
Bennington was a big fan of sports teams from his home state of Arizona. These included the Phoenix Suns (basketball) and the Arizona Cardinals (football).
Death of Chester Bennington
.jpg)
On July 20, 2017, Chester Bennington was found dead at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California. He was 41 years old.
After his death, Linkin Park canceled their One More Light World Tour. Bennington's funeral was held on July 29. Many musicians who had worked with Linkin Park attended the service. Linkin Park went on a break after Bennington's death. Mike Shinoda said in 2022 that the band has no plans to record new music or tour.
Chester Bennington's Artistry
His Voice
Chester Bennington's voice was described as a "warm tenor." His voice was known for being very strong throughout his career. He could sing with great emotion. He could also switch quickly between singing softly and powerful, belted screams. This showed the wide range of feelings in his songs.
Musical Style and Influences
Bennington said he was influenced by many bands. These included Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Metallica, and Nirvana. He also mentioned that he was a huge fan of Madonna. He said she inspired him to become a musician.
Discography
With Linkin Park
- Hybrid Theory (2000)
- Meteora (2003)
- Minutes to Midnight (2007)
- A Thousand Suns (2010)
- Living Things (2012)
- The Hunting Party (2014)
- One More Light (2017)
With Grey Daze
Grey Daze released albums like Wake Me (1994), ...No Sun Today (1997), Amends (2020), and The Phoenix (2022).
With Dead by Sunrise
- Out of Ashes (2009)
With Stone Temple Pilots
- High Rise (2013)
Other Album Contributions
Chester Bennington also contributed to songs by other artists. These included DJ Lethal, Z-Trip, Mötley Crüe, Chris Cornell, Santana, and Mark Morton.
Images for kids
-
Chester Bennington's signature
See also
In Spanish: Chester Bennington para niños
