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Hard to believe it has been half of a decade since the tragedy that took place on July 20th, 2017 when Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington took his own life at the age of 41. Eerily, the suicide took place on his good friend Chris Cornell’s (lead vocalist of Soundgarden) birthday, who also took his own life just two months earlier.

The loss of Bennington is still a shock to us all. Chester was known by all those around him as a humble, down-to-Earth, kind and friendly human who treated everyone, including his fans, with so much love and respect.

Prior to Linkin Park, Chester was a member of the post-grunge band Grey Daze and caught the eyes and ears of Xero (Linkin Park’s original band name) because of his unique and dynamic singing voice. Chester’s versatile voice flowed flawlessly throughout the massive range he could sing through. Bennington then officially joined Linkin Park as their lead vocalist in 1999, three years after they formed. With Chester providing his extraordinary talent to the band, it was obvious Linkin Park was about to go far. Bennington and the rest of Linkin Park became adored by the world when they released their debut album Hybrid Theory on October 24th, 2000. From then on, Chester would be a prominent figure in alternative rock and influence the genre’s course for the rest of time.

During the past five years, the world has truly felt a sting without Chester Bennington. Fortunately, we have his music to carry on the impactful legacy he left behind. Let’s celebrate the life of Chester Bennington by watching Linkin Park perform In The End live in 2005 here: