Chester Bennington's Real Name: Chester Charles Bennington

Quick answer: Chester Bennington's real name was Chester Charles Bennington. He was born on March 20, 1976, in Phoenix, Arizona, and died on July 20, 2017, in Palos Verdes Estates, California, at age 41. He was the lead singer of Linkin Park (AP News; BBC).

Early life

Bennington grew up in Arizona and sang in local bands before joining Linkin Park (then evolving from the group Xero/Hybrid Theory) in 1999. He has spoken in past interviews about a difficult childhood, including his parents' divorce and personal trauma; those accounts come from his own public statements and should be read as such.

Linkin Park

With guitarist/MC Mike Shinoda and bandmates, Bennington helped make Linkin Park one of the biggest rock acts of the 2000s. Landmark releases:

• Hybrid Theory (2000) — multi-platinum debut; hits included "In the End" and "Crawling."
• Meteora (2003) — continued the rap-rock / nu-metal crossover peak.
• Later albums such as Minutes to Midnight, A Thousand Suns, Living Things and One More Light showed the band moving toward broader alternative and electronic textures (Rock Hall context; Billboard).

Bennington's tenor scream-and-melody range became the band's emotional signature. Linkin Park won Grammys and filled arenas worldwide.

Side projects and death

He also fronted Dead by Sunrise and briefly sang with Stone Temple Pilots during a mid-2010s lineup change. On July 20, 2017, he died by suicide. Authorities and major news organizations reported the cause; this page does not describe methods. Bandmates, family and fans mourned publicly, and Linkin Park later resumed activity with a new singer while continuing to honor Bennington's catalog (AP News; BBC).

If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact local emergency services or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US).

Voice and influence

Bennington's mix of melodic choruses and high-intensity verses influenced a generation of rock and metalcore singers. Tribute concerts and the band's later decision to continue with a new vocalist kept the catalog alive while acknowledging that Hybrid Theory–era Linkin Park is inseparable from his performance style. Official statements after 2017 asked fans to celebrate the music and to seek help when struggling.