Chester Bennington remembered—and celebrated

Chester Bennington (third from left) and Linkin Park

Fans and loved ones alike marked the second anniversary of Chester Bennington’s death by taking to social media to reflect on the tremendous impact the beloved Linkin Park frontman had in their lives.

“I didn’t really want to post today, but I also thought it would be weird not to,” Linkin Park vocalist and guitarist Mike Shinoda wrote on Instagram.

“I don’t want the day Chester passed to be marked as an ‘event,’” he said of his late bandmate, who had been wrestling with depression before taking his own life on July 20, 2017, in an Instagram post.

“I would rather celebrate his birthday, album anniversaries, and the countless moments all our wonderful LP family has had together. Today, just take care of yourself,” he said.

Keyboardist Joe Hahn posted old photos of Linkin Park with Chester, with a caption that read: “Wish you were here… Let’s remember the good times. Miss you, buddy.”

Chester’s widow, Talinda Bennington, thanked the fans’ unfaltering support. “Those fans, I felt, they were there for me, as well. They were somebody to talk to in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep, somebody who lifted me up,” she said in an interview with HLN.

Meanwhile, Chester’s mother, Susan Eubanks, posted on Twitter a photo of his son giving him a kiss. “There are no words to explain how much I miss him!” she wrote. “Please take care and celebrate Chester’s life today. He would want us to celebrate!” —ALLAN POLICARPIO