The wife of Chester Bennington, the Linkin Park singer who killed himself last week, has paid tribute to her husband in an emotional statement.
Talinda Bennington, who was married to the star for 11 years, said that she had lost her soulmate and her three children their “hero”.
“We had a fairytale life and now it has turned into some sick Shakespearean tragedy,” she said. “How do I move on? How do I pick up my shattered soul?”
Bennington, who was 41, was found dead by an employee at 9am on Thursday morning. The coroner has confirmed the cause of death and said it was being treated as a suspected suicide.
The singer had fronted Linkin Park since 1999 and was about to join the band on a US tour to promote their latest album, One More Light, which was released in May.
Fans and friends across the world have spoken of their sadness at his death. In a letter addressed to Bennington posted on the Linkin Park website, his bandmates said he was the “best husband, son, and father; the family will never be whole without you”.
“Our hearts are broken,” they said. “The shockwaves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened.”
His wife said that she and her children had felt the love and support from the Linkin Park community: “We feel your loss as well. And I know that all of you will help keep his memory alive.
“He was a bright, loving soul with an angel’s voice. And now he is pain-free singing his songs in all of our hearts. May God bless us all and help us turn to one another when we are in pain.”
The only answer to her loss was to “raise our babies with every ounce of love I have left” she also said.
Chester Bennington had often spoken of his struggles with addiction and depression, telling the Guardian in 2011 he became a drug addict as a result of his abusive childhood.
The statement on the Linkin Park website directly addressed Bennington’s “demons”, saying they were what made the singer such a beloved performer and artist.
“We’re trying to remind ourselves that the demons who took you away from us were always part of the deal. After all, it was the way you sang about those demons that made everyone fall in love with you in the first place.”
He is survived by six children: Jaime; Isaiah; Draven; Tyler Lee; and twins Lily and Lila.
- In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here
