Chester Bennington PHOTO from YouTube/@JimmyKimmelLive
Deceased Soundgarden and Audioslave vocalist Chris Cornell certainly meant a lot to Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington.
This undeniable bond may or may not have been a factor in 41-year-old Bennington’s decision to take his own life on the same day Cornell would have turned 53.
The rock icon was found lifeless inside his home in Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday (Friday in Manila).
READ: Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington dies in LA at 41
Authorities believe Bennington took his own life by hanging himself—the same manner by which Cornell died last May.
READ: Lauded rocker Chris Cornell killed himself by hanging
The two enigmatic musicians created a lasting friendship after touring together in 2008.
News of Cornell’s suicide struck Bennington pretty hard, according to Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda.
In an earlier interview with Radio.com, Shindoda shared how Bennington performed in a televised show with a heavy heart during the time of Cornell’s passing.
“He was getting halfway through and getting choked up,” Shinoda said. “And even when we did play the whole song and it was taped for TV he kind of just stopped towards the end.”
In honor of Cornell, Linkin Park dedicated a live performance of “One More Light” during an appearance in “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” while Bennington performed a rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” at his private funeral.
WATCH: Linkin Park pays tribute to Chris Cornell with emotional song
He also bared his soul in a touching open letter to his fallen comrade.
“Thoughts of you flooded my mind and I wept,” Bennington wrote. “I’m still weeping, with sadness, as well as gratitude for having shared some very special moments with you and your beautiful family. You have inspired me in many ways you could never have known. Your talent was pure and unrivaled. Your voice was joy and pain, anger and forgiveness, love and heartache all wrapped up into one.”
Two months removed from Cornell’s death, no one anticipated Bennington would die in a similar manner.
In the wake of the tragic incident, Chris’ widow, Vicky Cornell, tweeted: “Just when I thought my heart couldn’t break any more…..I love you.”
Just when I thought my heart couldn’t break any more…..I love you T
— Vicky Cornell (@vickycornell) July 20, 2017
Meanwhile, Bennington was open about his countless struggles with drugs and alcohol addiction in the past.
His never-ending battle with his personal demons is mirrored in each of the band’s songs, particularly the sexual abuse he experienced during his youth. /ra
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