Linkin Park singer dead in apparent suicide

Chester Bennington had history of alcohol, drug abuse; was close friends with Chris Cornell, who hanged himself in May

LOS ANGELES: Chester Bennington, the lead singer of the chart-topping hard rock band Linkin Park, was found dead on Thursday at his southern California home in an apparent suicide, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office said.

Coroner's office spokesman Brian Elias said his office had been notified by law enforcement of the death of Bennington, 41, on Thursday morning. Elias said the death was being handled as an apparent suicide.



Celebrity news website TMZ, citing law enforcement sources, said Bennington had hung himself at his Palos Verdes home near Los Angeles. Representatives of the band did not immediately return calls for comment.

Bennington had a history of alcohol and drug abuse. He had spoken openly in the past about his struggles to overcome his demons when Linkin Park first found success in 2000 with the album "Hybrid Theory." But in 2011 he said he had been sober for six years.



The band's latest studio album, 'One More Light', was released in May, and Linkin Park embarked on a world tour. Bennington's death came a week before the band was due to kick off the US leg of its tour on July 27 in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

His death also came on the birthday of fellow rockstar and close friend Chris Cornell, who committed suicide in May.