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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 21 July 2017
Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington dies in LA at 41

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY megahit and anthem, “In in the sorrow with all those
and MARK KENNEDY the End.” They sold another who loved him.”
AP Entertainment Writers 6 million with 2003’s multi- When he got his big break
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Linkin platinum “Meteora.” Both in 1999, Bennington was
Park lead singer Ches- albums explored feelings of an assistant at a digital-
ter Bennington, whose frustration and fury. services firm in Phoenix. A
screeching vocals helped The success helped Linkin music executive sent him
the rock-rap band become Park become Billboard’s a demo from the band
one of the most commer- No. 1 act of the decade for Xero, which needed a
cially successful acts in the rock songs and alternative lead singer. (He had been
2000s, was found dead in songs. recommended by his at-
his home near Los Angeles Bennington’s voice could torney.) Bennington wrote
on Thursday, the Los Ange- soar with piercing strength and recorded new vocals
les County coroner said. He or descend to a whisper. over the band’s playing
was 41. Rolling Stone once called and sent the results back.
Coroner spokesman Brian it a “shrapnel-laced howl He soon got the gig and
Elias said authorities are in- that sounds like it comes In this Dec. 13, 2014 file photo, Chester Bennington poses in the the band then changed
vestigating Bennington’s from someone twice his press room at the 25th annual KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas its named to Hybrid Theory,
death as an apparent sui- size.” in Inglewood, Calif. then Linkin Park. Benning-
cide at Palos Verdes Es- The band also sold millions Associated Press ton told The Associated
tates, but no additional de- with its remix album, “Re- fans alike for its embrace of in the face!” Bennington Press in 2010 that because
tails are available. animation,” and its mash- moody pop. One song on told NME magazine. of the sound the band is
Band co-founder and pro- up record with Jay-Z, “Col- the album, “Heavy,” opens Bennington was close known for — fusing sounds
ducer Mike Shinoda said lision Course.” They won with the words: “I don’t like friends with Chris Cornell, from nu-metal, punk, rock,
on Twitter he was “shocked Grammys for best hard my mind right now.” who died by hanging earli- pop and hip-hop — it was
and saddened.” rock performance in 2001 Although the band had er this year, and performed virtually impossible to satisfy
“Chester Bennington was for “Crawling” and best always experimented with Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelu- their many kinds of fans.
an artist of extraordinary rap/sung collaboration for different sounds, some jah” at the Soundgarden “We’re making music for
talent and charisma, and a “Numb/Encore” in 2005. claimed Linkin Park had singer’s memorial in late us, that we like. We’re not
human being with a huge Linkin Park was scheduled sold out, which Bennington May. He was the godfather making music for other
heart and a caring soul. to begin its tour next week. denied. “One More Light” of Cornell’s 11-year-old people,” he said. “We’re
Our thoughts and prayers Bennington struggled with became the band’s fifth son, Chris. Cornell’s 53rd not thinking, ‘Let’s make
are with his beautiful fam- drug and alcohol addic- No. 1 album debut on the birthday would have been a pie-graph of all our fans
ily, his band-mates and his tions at various times dur- Billboard 200. Thursday. “The Cornell fam- and find out how many
many friends,” Warner Bros. ing his life. He said he had “If you like the music, fan- ily is overwhelmed by the people fit in whatever cat-
Records CEO and Chair- been sexually abused as a tastic. If you don’t like it, heartbreaking news about egory and then make the
man Cameron Stang said child and was homeless for that’s your opinion too. Chester Bennington which perfect album for them.’
in a statement. months before the band Fantastic. If you’re saying tragically comes so soon Like, that would be abso-
The Grammy Award-win- found fame. we’re doing what we’re after their family’s own lutely ridiculous.”
ning group sold more than Linkin Park released their doing for a commercial or loss,” said a Cornell family Bennington was married
10 million copies of their most recent album, “One monetary reason, trying to spokesperson. “They open to his second wife, Talin-
2000 debut, “Hybrid The- More Light,” in May. It was a make success out of some up their loving arms to da, and is survived by six
ory,” which featured the CD that divided critics and formula. then stab yourself Chester’s family and share children.q

Rapper Common surprises students

at N.Y. school, donates money

By MESFIN FEKADU that’s inspiring, hit young end — went on to win the
AP Music Writer people with something that Academy Award for best
NEW YORK (AP) — Oscar can motivate them to be in original song in 2015.
and Grammy winner Com- their greatness,” Common, Common, born Lonnie
mon surprised a group of 45, said in an interview with Rashid Lynn Jr., said he
New York students by do- The Associated Press after started writing poetry and
nating $10,000 to help their the event. songs at age 12.
teachers buy supplies like Common encouraged “I was always into writ-
calculators and science the students to keep their ing but I didn’t know how
kits. The rapper-actor part- grades up and to perse- good I was until my mother
nered with the nonprofit vere — in school and in told me that and one of my
AdoptAClassroom.org life. He spoke about push- ex-girlfriends in high school, Musician and actor Common and his mother Dr. Mahalia Hines
visit the Renaissance School of the Arts as Ambassadors for
and Burlington Stores to ing through when setbacks she was like, ‘You always AdoptAClassroom.org and Burlington Stores on Thursday, July
give Renaissance School occur, telling the students used to write good love let- 20, 2017, in New York.
of the Arts in Harlem the about not getting some ters,’” he said, smiling. Associated Press
funds on Thursday. Students acting roles he wanted Two students on Thursday him to keep aiming for his cause (Common) does mu-
cheered loudly after they and competing with other showcased their talents by dreams. “It gave me a lit- sic and he’s an actor, and I
learned the musician was musicians to create a song performing original poems tle bit more hope. It gave really look up to him,” said
at their school. “I always for the film “Selma.” His they wrote. Jadon-Li M. An- me that extra push,” the 12-year-old Khalil Green,
felt like one of my biggest song from the movie about toine, an aspiring musician, 14-year-old said. who wants to be a veteri-
duties and purposes is to hit the Rev. Martin Luther King actor and dancer, said “I thought it was cool be- narian, writer and actor. q
the youth with something Jr. — “Glory” with John Leg- Common’s visit motivates