It’s Monday and today I want to do something a little different. Even though this particular group has and always will be a Music Crush for me, I don’t want to focus on that. I want to take a look back at some music that helped me growing up and look at some new music. Also, I want to dedicate this to the beautiful soul that is no longer with us.
Now, before you continue reading, I just want to say that this is hardest post I have ever written. I am very emotionally invested in this situation and topic. I will probably have to take a few breaks to get myself together while writing this. I already feel like I’m going to break down and cry right now. There may be some depression triggers in this post but I hope they aren’t too bad and you guys can get through it, hopefully feeling better about whatever it is you are going through…
The Day the Music World Lost Another Legend
On Thursday, July 20th, I was at work and scrolling through my Instagram as usual when I came across several back to back posts about Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington. He had apparently died earlier that day by committing suicide. I don’t want to go into the actual details because it could trigger some people (including myself) and I don’t want to make this post too heavy for you guys. My heart still hurts thinking and talking about this.
Other than the fact that I can relate to people suffering from depression and not feeling like it’s worth it anymore. And it saddens me when anyone decides to take their own life. But when it comes to Chester, it is so much deeper than that. Chester, and his group Linkin Park, helped me get through some of the roughest years of my life during high school.
I remember falling asleep, listening to their music because I needed to distract myself from thinking the worse at the time. I continued to listen to them while in college, and still pull out their music when I’m going through some things now. The music, the lyrics, and the overall emotion that poured into every song was relatable and definitely by everyone who listened to it. The love that poured from the Linkin Park fan community that day was a beautiful thing to see.
Getting Familiar with Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. They formed in 1996 by high school friends Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon, and Brad Delson. After replacing the original lead vocalist with Chester Bennington and making a few changes to their first project, Hybrid Theory (2000) was released, gaining them instant success, the album being certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-Platinum in several other countries. Their 2nd studio album Meteora only increased the band’s success, topping the Billboard 200 album chart in 2003.
Adapting their “nu metal” and “rap metal” sound to more radio-friendly in Hybrid Theory and Meteora, the band was able to explore other genres in their next studio album, Minutes to Midnight (2007). The album topped the Billboard charts and had the third-best debut week of any album that year. The band continued to explore a wide variation of musical types in their fourth album, A Thousand Suns (2010) that included more electronic sounds and beats. Their fifth album, Living Things (2012), combined musical elements from all of their previous records. Their sixth album, The Hunting Party (2014), returned to a heavier rock sound.
Their seventh album One More Light, a more electronic and pop-oriented record, was released on May 19, 2017. It definitely has a lighter mood then the other albums but is still Linkin Park. I love hearing a softer sound from Chester. But trust me, it does not lack the intensity we are used to. It’s just presented to us in a different way. Their musicality has always grown with each album.
Band Members:
- Chester Bennington – lead vocals (1999–2017)
- Mike Shinoda – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboard, synthesizer (1996–present)
- Brad Delson – lead guitar, backing vocals (1996–present); bass (2000)
- Dave Farrell – bass, backing vocals (1996–1998; 2000–present)
- Joe Hahn – turntables, samples, programming, backing vocals (1996–present)
- Rob Bourdon – drums, percussion (1996–present)
Discography:
- Hybrid Theory (2000)
- Meteora (2003)
- Minutes to Midnight (2007)
- A Thousand Suns (2010)
- Living Things (2012)
- The Hunting Party (2014)
- One More Light (2017)
Here’s Their Latest Video for “Talking to Myself” Off of the Album One More Light…
Check Them Out!
Official: www.linkinpark.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/linkinpark
Twitter & Instagram @linkinpark
Youtube: www.youtube.com/linkinparktv
Final Thoughts
Even though it was really hard and heartbreaking to talk about the loss of Chester, it felt good to reminisce about Linkin Park’s earlier music. The positive impact that their music had on my life still means the world to me and I am so thankful for them. My newest friends and I have even bonded even more over our love for them and it’s an awesome feeling. Music really does bring people together and makes you realize how much we really have in common.
If anything, I want you guys to leave here understanding that you never know what someone else is going through. They may be happy and smiling on the outside but fighting horrible demons on the inside. With that thought, I want to mention another special musician who we lost the same way as Chester. I don’t know how familiar you all are with Chris Cornell, lead vocalist for Soundgarden and Audioslave. He was a very prominent figure in music and took his own life a couple of months ago; Chester died on what would have been Chris’ 53rd birthday…
R.I.P. CHRIS CORNELL (July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017)
If you or anyone you know is suffering from serious depression and don’t or can’t see a way out, please talk to someone; whether it be family, friends, a close co-worker… Or contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Official Website: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
God Bless All of You! My inbox is always open if you guys feel comfortable sharing your stories with me…
Mimi
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