Linkin Park at The O2 Arena

Linkin Park's Chester Bennington dead at 41 — UPDATED

[Photo by: Ricky Swift/WENN.com]

UPDATE: July 20 at 10:04 p.m. ET:

Linkin Park tweeted a tribute around 7 p.m. ET: one stunning image of Bennington surrounded by his fans at a show.

The Twitter header and profile image were also updated to photos of Bennington.

UPDATE: July 20 at 4:15 p.m. ET:

Warner Bros. CEO and Chairman Cameron Strang has issued a statemet following the tragic loss of Chester Bennington.

“Chester Bennington was an artist of extraordinary talent and charisma, and a human being with a huge heart and a caring soul. Our thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful family, his band-mates and his many friends.  All of us at WBR join with millions of grieving fans around the world in saying: we love you Chester and you will be forever missed.”

The Associated Press have reported that coroner spokesman Brian Elias said authorities are currently investigating Bennington’s death as an apparent suicide at Palos Verdes Estates, located outside Los Angeles.

PETA, who Bennington has been a long time supporter of, has also released a statement:

PETA will always remember Chester Bennington as a musical powerhouse and a powerful force for animal rights. He bared his skin to help animals keep theirs in PETA's “Ink, Not Mink” campaign, and he spoke passionately about both the cruelty of the fur industry and the need to adopt homeless dogs and cats, telling PETA, “We need to show our respect for all creatures of this world.” The world lost a kind heart today.

UPDATE: July 20 at 3:11 p.m. ET:

Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda has shared a few words on Bennington’s loss:

Original story:

Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington has died at the age of 41, the Associated Press has confirmed.

It was originally reported by TMZ, who reported that the singer hanged himself at his residence. The report says his body was discovered before 9 a.m. this morning.

Bennington was close friends with Chris Cornell, and today would have been Cornell’s 53rd birthday.

Bennington has been in Linkin Park since 1999 and was part of the band’s massively successful Hybrid Theory, released in 2000. He has been a part of the band’s seven albums: 2003’s Meteora, 2007’s Minutes To Midnight, 2010’s A Thousand Suns, 2012’s Living Things, 2014’s The Hunting Party and their most recent released, 2017’s One More Light.

The band are scheduled to head out on tour next week alongside MGK and ONE OK ROCK and released a music video earlier today for their song, “Talking To Myself,” taken from their new album, One More Light.

We will update as more information becomes available.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, there is help to be found.  Please consider these online resources and talk to your regular doctor about your symptoms:
MentalHealth.gov – Get Immediate Help
ImAlive – Online Crisis Network
International Association For Suicide Prevention – Resources
The Anxiety And Depression Association Of America
The National Alliance On Mental Illness
American Psychiatric Association – Finding Help
National Institute Of Mental Health
American Psychological Association – Psychologist locator