The tragic news of the death of Chester Bennington broke my heart. It is the first celebrity death that felt personal. I never imagined that the demise of someone I’ve never even met could affect me so much.
Growing up, Linkin Park was my favorite band. It still is. LP was pretty much all I listened to when I was in my early teens. Listening to Hybrid Theory now brings back so many memories. Every song in the album still gives me goosebumps and makes me feel nostalgic. I will always regard it as the greatest album of all time.
Linkin Park is the reason I fell in love with rock music. I still remember the first LP song I listened to. It was “Crawling” from the album Hybrid Theory. “Crawling” was the load screen background music of Counter strike 1.6, a game I played a lot during my teenage years. I instantly fell in love with the song and Googled it. That’s how I discovered Linkin Park.
Linkin Park has faced a lot of criticism lately for experimenting with their style. Although I was surprised at how much they’ve changed, their songs always grew on me, regardless of the genre. “Heavy” and “One More Light” quickly became two of my favorite Linkin Park songs. One of my favorite things about LP has always been their lyrics. The deep, meaningful, and relatable lyrics, coupled with the passionate voice of Chester, make every Linkin Park song so special.
Scrolling through social media and reading Chester Bennington tributes will make you realize how much of an impact Linkin Park and Chester have had on so many people. LP’s music has helped countless people cope with emotions during the darkest days of their lives. Chester’s death has left a void that can never be filled. However, Chester’s legacy will live on through his music.
“Who cares if one more light goes out?”
We all do, Chester. We all do.
Rest in peace, you legend!