Linkin Park band member Mike Shinoda took to Twitter to express his feelings about the death of his longtime friend and lead singer, Chester Bennington.
Bennington was found dead at his home in the Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles, California in an apparent suicide by hanging, reports TMZ.
News scene at Palos Verdes Estates home of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington pic.twitter.com/zh3Y1Ag5Iw
— Brad Graverson Photo (@BradGraverson) July 20, 2017
The 41-year-old’s family was reportedly out of town at the time of his death and he was found alone upstairs by an employee. He is survived by six children.
“Shocked and heartbroken but it’s true,” he tweeted just moments after the news broke out.
Shinoda co-founded the nu-metal band in 1996 and became the rhythm guitarist, primary songwriter, keyboardist, producer and lead vocalist for the band.
Bennington, who would later join the band in March 1999, eventually became Linkin Park’s lead vocalist, occasionally sharing the role with Shinoda.
Bennington’s “higher-pitched” and “emotional” vocals and Shinoda’s hip-hop-style delivery, would eventually become Linkin Park’s signature sound, according to All Music.
The pair also worked together to write lyrics for the band’s songs.
Linkin Park has remained active over the years and recently released an album, titled “One More Light,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in May.
The band was due to perform a concert with Blink-182 at New York’s Citi Field on July 28 in what was billed as the “Welcome to Blinkin’ Park” tour.
Linkin Park sold over 70 million albums worldwide and won two Grammy Awards throughout their career.
Featured image via Promotion for One More Light, Linkin Park’s seventh studio album.
