Report: LINKIN PARK Singer CHESTER BENNINGTON Commits Suicide

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According to TMZ, LINKIN PARK frontman Chester Bennington has committed suicide. Los Angeles County coroner confirmed Chester's passing to the Associated Press. He was 41 years old. Law enforcement sources tell the site the singer hanged himself at a private residence in Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles county. His body was discovered Thursday just before 9 a.m. Chester wed Talinda Bentley in 2006. The couple share three children, and he has three children from previous relationships. The singer struggled with drugs and alcohol for years. He had said in the past he had considered committing suicide because he had been abused as a child by an older male. After Chris Cornell died in May, Bennington wrote a heartfelt message paying tribute to the SOUNDGARDEN frontman. In the message, Bennington wrote he couldn't imagine the world without his late friend in it. TV show host Jimmy Kimmel tweeted earlier today that Bennington was one of the kindest people he's had on his show. LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia wrote that she was at a "loss for words," adding, "why, why, why." SKILLET's John Cooper tweeted: "Absolutely no words. Speechless and so sad. I am such a fan." HALESTORM drummer Arejay Hale wrote: "OMFG I just heard the horrible news about Chester Bennington, how awful! My heart goes to the LP families, I was shocked to hear this today!" Bennington last year opened up in an interview with Metal Hammer about his lengthy battle with drug addiction some years back, which came to a head when his bandmates decided to stage an intervention. Bennington said that at one point he was smoking crack and using crystal meth, explaining: "I was on 11 hits of acid a day. I dropped so much acid I'm surprised I can still speak! I'd smoke a bunch of crack, do a bit of meth and just sit there and freak out. Then I'd smoke opium to come down. I weighed 110 pounds. My mom said I looked like I stepped out of Auschwitz. So I used pot to get off drugs." He continued: "In 2006… I did some counseling with the guys and they really opened up and told me how they felt. I had no idea that I had been such a nightmare. I knew that I had a drinking problem, a drug problem and that parts of my personal life were crazy but I didn't realize how much that was affecting the people around me until I got a good dose of 'Here's-what-you're-really-like.' It was a shock. They said that I was two people — Chester and then that fucking guy. I didn't want to be that guy." Bennington told The Pulse Of Radio a while back just how bad even his drinking problem got. "I lived on alcohol," he said. "It was either beer, or Jack and Coke, or Jack Daniel's in a pint glass with ice. And then it got to the point where my wife said to me about seven months after we got together, she goes, 'I don't think there's been a day since I've known you that you haven't drank.' And I was like, 'What are you talking about? That's crazy' — as I'm drinking a Jack and Coke. That was where my life went." Bennington told Metal Hammer that he's pleased to be in a band now where everyone has their act together, saying: "We're not a clichéd rock band where everyone is messed up on drugs. We're all decent people, so that makes me proud too." LINKIN PARK's most recent album, "One More Light", topped the Billboard 200 earlier this year. This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.

BREAKING: Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington dies at 41, Los Angeles County coroner says.

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 20, 2017

Chester was one of the kindest men I've had on my show. My heart breaks for his family and friends. He will be missed terribly.

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) July 20, 2017

I'm loss for words.... why, why, why. Rest in peace, Chester. https://t.co/tzbJ91kIq3

— Cristina Scabbia (@MissScabbia) July 20, 2017

Absolutely no words. Speechless and so sad #RIPChesterBennington . I am such a fan.

— John Cooper (@johnlcooper) July 20, 2017

OMFG I just heard the horrible news about Chester Bennington, how awful! My heart goes to the LP families, I was shocked to hear this today!

— AREJAY HALE (@AREJAYHALE) July 20, 2017

https://t.co/caPn5zSTfm!!!!! Can't believe this!!! Why??? Rest in Peace Chester B...All of Thoughts and Prayers go out to ur family???

— BulletBoys (@TheBulletBoys) July 20, 2017

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