Photo: Miikka Skaffari/FilmMagic
Born in Phoenix, Chester Bennington’s interest in music was sparked at an early age. The son of a nurse and a police detective, he loved bands like Depeche Mode and Stone Temple Pilots — which he would one day become a member of.
01of 09
A Tough Start
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02of 09Breaking InMiikka Skaffari/FilmMagicAt age 17, in 1993, he joined a band called Sean Dowdell and His Friends?, with whom he released three songs. He then went on to perform with a new band, Grey Daze. They released three albums, but he left the group in 1998. And in 1996, during his Grey Daze days, he married his first wife, Samantha Marie Olit.
02of 09
Breaking In
Miikka Skaffari/FilmMagic
At age 17, in 1993, he joined a band called Sean Dowdell and His Friends?, with whom he released three songs. He then went on to perform with a new band, Grey Daze. They released three albums, but he left the group in 1998. And in 1996, during his Grey Daze days, he married his first wife, Samantha Marie Olit.
03of 09Linkin ParkThough Grey Daze never made an impact on the music industry, his next endeavor — Linkin Park — did. He joined the already-formed group in 1999, accordingtoRolling Stone.Their first album,Hybrid Theory, debuted in 2000, and shot to the top of the charts, becoming the best-selling album of 2001. Their next album,Number One, came out in 2003 and reached similar levels of success.
03of 09
Linkin Park
Though Grey Daze never made an impact on the music industry, his next endeavor — Linkin Park — did. He joined the already-formed group in 1999, accordingtoRolling Stone.Their first album,Hybrid Theory, debuted in 2000, and shot to the top of the charts, becoming the best-selling album of 2001. Their next album,Number One, came out in 2003 and reached similar levels of success.
04of 09Family TroublesJon Kopaloff/FilmMagicThough his music career was thriving, his personal life took a downward turn. Three years after Bennington and his wife welcomed son Draven Sebastian together in 2002, the couple divorced.
04of 09
Family Troubles
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Though his music career was thriving, his personal life took a downward turn. Three years after Bennington and his wife welcomed son Draven Sebastian together in 2002, the couple divorced.
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06of 09Doting DadSource: Chester Bennington/InstagramBennington entered a relationship with formerPlayboymodel Talinda Ann Bentley, with whom he had three children: Tyler Lee, who was born in 2006, and twins, Lily and Lila (pictured here), who were born in 2011.
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Doting Dad
Source: Chester Bennington/Instagram
Bennington entered a relationship with formerPlayboymodel Talinda Ann Bentley, with whom he had three children: Tyler Lee, who was born in 2006, and twins, Lily and Lila (pictured here), who were born in 2011.
07of 09Stone Temple PilotsChris Pizzello/Invision/APAnd in 2013, a dream came true for Bennington: He was offered the opportunity to become the lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots, and recorded several songs with the band. “Every band has its own kind of vibe,” he said. “Stone Temple Pilots has this sexier, more classic rock feel to it. Linkin Park is a very modern, very tech-heavy type of band. I grew up listening to these guys. When this opportunity came up, it was just like a no-brainer.”
07of 09
Stone Temple Pilots
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And in 2013, a dream came true for Bennington: He was offered the opportunity to become the lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots, and recorded several songs with the band. “Every band has its own kind of vibe,” he said. “Stone Temple Pilots has this sexier, more classic rock feel to it. Linkin Park is a very modern, very tech-heavy type of band. I grew up listening to these guys. When this opportunity came up, it was just like a no-brainer.”
08of 09Staying TrueTheo Wargo/WireImageThrough it all, however, he remained the lead singer of Linkin Park, and was forced to leave Stone Temple Pilots in 2015 because of his commitments to the other band.
08of 09
Staying True
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Through it all, however, he remained the lead singer of Linkin Park, and was forced to leave Stone Temple Pilots in 2015 because of his commitments to the other band.
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Shocking News
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On July 20, 2017, Linkin Park bandmate Mike Shinodaconfirmed on Twitterthat Bennington had died, writing, “Shocked and heartbroken, but it’s true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.”
source: people.com
