Linkin Park celebrated the life of Chester Bennington with a special tribute concert
Three months have come and gone since the suicide of Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington. Although the pain is still lingering, the band is starting to move forward. On Friday night, Linkin Park honored Bennington in a moving tribute concert. It was the first time they had taken the stage since his death.
Loved ones, friends, and fellow musicians alike came together to mourn the loss during a heartbreaking memorial service for Bennington at the end of July. And last month, his son talked about his death during National Suicide Prevention Week. So Friday’s concert was a very emotional night for many.
The event took place at the Hollywood Bowl and featured a number of other artists who paid their tributes alongside Bennington’s bandmates. Blink-182, Machine Gun Kelly, and Jonathan Davis from Korn were among those who rocked the stage.
We will be playing, laughing, and crying together at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on October 27th, in honor of Chester. Love you guys.
— Mike Shinoda (@mikeshinoda) September 18, 2017
Tickets sold out quickly and fans gathered to celebrate the life of their favorite frontman.
Already so many fans at the @HollywoodBowl for #ChesterBennington and #LinkinPark. So full of life and so much to see. #CelebrateLife pic.twitter.com/Sgs13Wudim
— LPAssociation (@LPAssociation) October 28, 2017
“I know it’s going to be a rollercoaster of emotion, but when we talk about this, when we’re focusing on the show, it’s really about celebrating life,” said Mike Shinoda, a longtime bandmate of Bennington’s, in an interview of KROQ, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Many musicians took the stage to honor their late friend.
@fogagainpic.twitter.com/R2dj7tC8RN
— blink-182 (@blink182) October 28, 2017
#castleofglass love you @mikeshinoda @linkinpark @chesterbe #onemorelight ✨✨✨❤️ pic.twitter.com/y1ShWXx5xH
— Alanis Morissette (@Alanis) October 29, 2017
It was an incredible honor for myself and @fzummo to be a part of such a special night for @ChesterBe and @linkinpark. pic.twitter.com/l9TAbd2U61
— Sum 41 (@Sum41) October 29, 2017
❤️❤️❤️
Hope I could #MakeChesterProud— Sydney Sierota (@sydneysierota) October 29, 2017
Truly an honor to celebrate the life of such an incredible human being with so many amazing people we are lucky to call friends - M&S pic.twitter.com/aPrGBrDpzb
— Avenged Sevenfold (@TheOfficialA7X) October 29, 2017
During their own set, Linkin Park let the crowd get involved as much as possible.
#MakeChesterProud
Crowd singing Chester`s part of "In the end" pic.twitter.com/k5Z6IqP6rI— Soleil
(@rocksij) October 28, 2017
William Ryan Key, a former vocalist for Yellowcard, perfectly summed up how special the night was.
Tonight was one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The family of artists and fans showing their love for @linkinpark was nothing short of magical, and being a part of it was an honor to say the least. Forever grateful. #MakeChesterProud
— William Ryan Key (@williamryankey) October 28, 2017
Linkin Park streamed the entire concert live on YouTube.
The full 3-hour video is available in full for anyone to watch. At one point, it was the #1 trending video on YouTube. Everyone set out to #MakeChesterProud, and they definitely succeeded.
In memory of Bennington, Linkin Park members donated their fees from the event to Music for Relief’s One More Light Fund. The fund supplies solar electricity kits to health clinics that operate without electricity. Additionally, it shines a light on mental health and helps people cope with mental and emotional struggles.
If you or someone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. For additional resources, you can visit the Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.
