Chester Bennington (1 year later) (***Nothing to do with Anime but Important***)

As you may know last year July 20, 2017 we lost a member of the music community. Chester Bennington of the band Linkin Park was found dead in his home, the cause of death was suicide by hanging. Bennington was 41 years old and left behind a wife and six children (from two different marriages). Also, Bennington's friend and fellow musician Chris Cornell died by suicide by hanging just two months prior at age 52. Bennington's death would've been on the day of Chris Cornell's 53rd birthday. I'm a Linkin Park fan and have been hooked on them since I heard the song "In the End" about 10 years ago. Linkin Park's music often reflected many difficult situations I've been in my life and situations I'm facing which helped me move forward (there were others who helped me too). I've suffered from depression myself. I'm sick of hearing people talk about how Chester was a coward and selfish to leave behind six kids and I'm going to clarify some things about what depression, mental illness and suicide. I'm no psychologist but anyone who's suffered and been in that dark place knows that SUICIDE IS NOT SELFISH! Plus I want to say that he's receiving some pretty unfair backlash but also some good support as well. I'm thinking have are any of you who are bashing him not familiar with the music industry? He's not the first to commit suicide and leave behind family! While I do feel for his wife and kids but do you think his family wants to hear you call him names while they're grieving? How would you feel if it were one of your family members? What if he didn't have kids or a family? The judgement is why people don't get help! How do you think saying this s*** about their dad is going to help them? Now this may cost me viewers but I must get the word out and this will probably be my longest post yet. Honestly at this point I DON'T CARE ABOUT HATE or the backlash you give me for this and if you do talk s*** I will assume you didn't read my page and take your time to understand, and any bullies or trolls will be blocked and removed.  And because of this content I will leave a...

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He Wasn't the First (Unfortunately He probably Won't be the Last)
To all you who don't know much about Chester or the music community in general let me give you some history. Chester Bennington WAS NOT THE FIRST to commit suicide and leave behind a family! But oh what just because he receives more attention due to f***ing social media in the 21st century he gets more backlash for it! Now I know there's more people who committed suicide and left behind a family but I will list these 3 I know best.

Kurt Cobain
As I recall another musician suicide that got as much attention as Chester Bennington was Kurt Cobain. Kurt Cobain was the legendary front-man and founder of the band Nirvana. Nirvana was very popular and had a good run until 1994. Kurt Cobain committed suicide by gunshot April 5, 1994. Like Chester, Kurt also left behind friends and family. His wife Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean Cobain who was just short of turning 2. Cobain's had about as an impact on the music community as Bennington's but he didn't get as much backlash for leaving behind Courtney and Frances probably because it wasn't the age of social media. I'm guessing those of you who criticize Chester know very little about the rock industry.

Brad Delp
Brad Delp is another rock musician known for being the lead vocalist of the rock bands, Boston and RTZ. On March 9, 2007 committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning at the age of 55. He left behind a wife and two kids. His reason for suicide seemed to be that he was the subject contradictory news reports and lawsuits.

Chris Cornell

 

One of the reasons behind Chester Bennington's death was possibly Chris Cornell's death just two months prior. Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington were close friends and like Bennington, Cornell also suffered from depression. Chris Cornell was known for being the lead vocalist in the bands Audioslave and Soundgarden. Cornell was one of the chief architects in of the 1990s grunge movement and known for his four-octave vocal range and extensive catalog as a songwriter. Chris Cornell suffered from depression for most of his life. On May 18, 2017, Cornell was found unconscious in his hotel room. Like Chester Bennington's death Chris Cornell's was also suicide by hanging. Cornell was 52 years old and left behind a wife and three kids, Lillian Jean (age 16 at the time), Toni (age 12 at the time), and Christopher Nicholas (age 11 at the time). Chester Bennington was deeply affected by this as he was both a friend of Chris Cornell and suffered from depresion. In this video Bennington's bandmate Mike Shinoda explains what went down after Cornell's death.

 

Chris Cornell & Chester Bennington

How Suicidal People Feel

 

No person thinks about their friends and family before committing suicide, they are just focused on making the pain stop. Anyone who's experience this kind of depression before (including myself) know that SUICIDE IS NOT SELFISH. In fact, most of suicidal people feel we are a burden to our loved ones and that things would be better off for them if they were gone. Obviously, this is far from the truth but maybe Chester felt his family would be better off without him. Obviously I don't if this is true or not! I felt this way too when I was suicidal; I felt I burden my parents and doomed my family to a horrible life, I actually started to think that I was a horrible person. I know now that this was far from the truth but Chester probably wasn't thinking about the negative repercussions on his family maybe he felt he was doing them a favor instead. (Again IDK if this is really how he felt!) but people who are suicidal feel like no one will miss them and nobody cares which also might be how Chester felt. In their minds they must've felt, "no one missed me when I was alive, what's the point in living then?" People who commit suicide don't do it to hurt or harm their friends and family, they're suffering from something inside themselves and just want the pain to stop. Most don't commits suicide, to harm others or ruin their lives! It's also a myth that suicidal or depressed people look or act depressed on the outside, in fact many go through many different emotions. In these two videos Dr. Phil explains suicide and how suicidal people feel.

Dr Phil explains more about how to deal with someone who's depressed or suicidal in this video.

Chester Bennington's History
Chester Charles Bennington was born March 20, 1976 in Pheonix, Arizona. Bennington took interest in music at a young age. At 7 years old suffered sexual abuse from an older male friend. He was afraid to ask for help because he did not want people to think he was gay or lying, and the abuse continued until he was 13. His parents divorced when he was 11. He felt the urge to run away because of his home situation. His father gained custody of him. He developed an addiction to drugs and was physically bullied in school. At age 17 Chester moved in with his mother and was banned from leaving the house when his mother discovered his drug activity. Eventually he overcame his drug addiction and would denounce drugs in the future. Years later he revealed his abuser's identity to his father but did not continue the case after realizing the abuser was a victim himself.

It seems music was a way for Chester to escape his pain and suffering. Many musicians and other celebrities too had this kind of rags to riches story (Ex. Demi Lovato, Eminem, Oprah Winfrey). His depression was from both scars that ran deep and the pain he felt after his good friend Chris Cornell which as I think was ultimately the straw that broke the camels back. He lost his battle with depression and committed suicide May 2017. Depression and suicide IS NOT AN EASY THING TO RESOLVE! Yes he could've gotten help but "Help" doesn't always work! Some counseling works for some people, some counseling doesn't! Many of you complaining "claim" to know about depression but let me remind you, EVERYONE'S BRAIN WORKS DIFFERENTLY!

Mike Shinoda & Chester Bennington

Also, every you all are judging him when you didn't even know him as a person and never met him. Plus it's even more appalling that he's not even alive to defend himself. Chester was a great person anyone who knew him would say that just ask his wife, his kids, the rest of his family, his band-mates; Mike Shinoda (and close friend), Brad Delson, Dave Farrell, Joe Hahn, or Rob Bourdon, or any fellow musician who knew him Jonathan Davis (Korn), Jay-Z, Bert McCracken (The Used), or Dave Grohl (Nirvana & Foo Fighters). And if I were his Talinda Bennington or any of his kids I'd speak out and tell everyone to stop scrutinizing Chester.

I know Korn's guitarist Brian "Head" Welch has said some nasty things but has apologized and Linkin Park has forgiven him, unfortunate many of you agree with him and if you do please keep reading. On the other hand, Korn's lead vocalist Jonathan Davis has only said great things about Chester.

Jonathan Davis & Chester Bennington

Also, Ex-Marilyn Manson keyboardist, Madonna Wayne Gacy (aka. Pogo aka. Stephen Gregory Brier Jr.) said some pretty nasty and repulsive things about Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, and Chester Bennington and he's not sorry for them either and he has a history of being a douche. Dear Madonna Wayne Gacy (and anyone else who agrees with him even after reading my post) go f*** yourself. He allegedly stated, "Well everything comes with a f*** price, and if you can't handle the rock world and depression or drugs or whatever, don't get into it to start." Well Pogo many musicians who suffer from depression use music as an escape as it is their way to express themselves. I can't believe you haven't noticed that! Most importantly if no one with depression or life trauma became a musician or used music as an escape or to express themselves, the grunge rock industry and probably music industry as a whole WOULDN'T EVEN EXIST! If you want to help the families of the suicide victims, first start by not rubbing more salt in their wounds while they are f***ing grieving by talking s*** about their loved ones. Second, just because I want to honor Chester or any other celebrity, doesn't mean I honor those with PTSD or are starving from poor countries, I feel for them too, anyway money doesn't buy happiness. It may make life easier but it doesn't mean happiness. Third, you're the one who is selfish for complaining about how their pain inconveniences you and others and wants them to live through misery just because you don't want to yourself or others to mourn. Fourth, everything you said is exactly why people don't get helped because they're afraid of getting judged and shamed for their problems. Fifth, oh so it's wrong for men to commit suicide but it's okay for women to do it then? Sixth, say that about one of my family members and you'll wish you'd never opened your damn mouth. I hope someone teaches you a lesson verbally and physically. You will never live up to the legacy of Chester Bennington or Linkin Park. And with what you said about legends Kurt, Chris, Chester, F*** You back, Madonna Wayne Gacy/Stephen Gregory Brier, I'll say the same about you when it's your time to go. If anyone else agrees with me Madonna Wayne Gacy is just another famous asshole who will never be missed. I don't regret saying this either and hey I, Chris, nor Chester also don't named ourselves after a serial killer.

Veteran & Soldier Suicide
Soldiers, both active duty and veterans are faced with traumatic events that can affect them for life. It is a fact that 22 veterans and active duty service men and women commit suicide EVERY SINGLE DAY. That's 8030 a year and almost 1 every hour! Many of them were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, and friends. Yet no one says they are selfish or cowards. In fact they are our heroes who put their lives on the line or laid down their lives for our country and freedom.

Judgement
I feel there are several reasons why Chester Bennington is being judged over suicide which are each f***ing ridiculous in their own way so I will explain them.

1. It's the age of social media so he gets more attention and more backlash especially from those not familiar with the music community. First, if anyone of you know anything, Chester wasn't the first (like I mentioned above). Other musicians passed before him; Kurt Cobain, Brad Delp, and Chris Cornell and left behind family but they didn't get much criticism over it. But what because you see the news because of the media you want to bash him for it when you know almost nothing about the music community? Ok I know that still doesn't make it okay but I still find it unfair Chester gets scrutiny but not Kurt, Brad, or Chris
2. He's a Man. I believe we judge suicidal and depressed people by their gender more than we should. You may not agree with me and that's fine. But I feel men are always expected to man up and take things "like a man" and if he steps out of this norm he gets bashed criticized and picked on for it, while it is acceptable for a woman to show her pain. Almost 2x more men die from suicide than women but I will acknowledge that it may be because men use more lethal methods. Anyway depression and suicide is a problem regardless of gender. Also' here's a video about Ryan Halligan that everyone should watch as well.

1. He has a wife and 6 kids. So What? What if he didn't have kids or a family? Would it still be okay? What if he was a college or high school dropout with not job and lived with his parents? Would that still be okay? You're judging him because he's a father, well guess what no matter who dies, there will always be people left behind. I won't mention a name but I do know someone who committed suicide about week before Chester did. He worked as a police officer and formerly served in the Marines. His wife divorced him 3 years prior and while she feels bad about it but he did have other issues which mainly contributed. He was also a father but none of his 3 daughters lived with him or depended on him at the time. All 3 of his daughters are also Linkin Park fans too! His eldest lives with her boyfriend and the other two live with their mom but regardless they will miss him. He was a genuinely a nice guy in the few times I've met him. None of them seem to hold any anger or grudge against their dad and most of them blame themselves for their loss. I'm sure his family would be extremely upset towards anyone who criticized or scrutinized him in any way. My point is regardless if they are a parent or not there will be someone left behind! Also, what if he didn't have kids or a family? What if he was a college or high school dropout who still lived with his parents? Or a homeless person? Would it still be okay?
2. He's wealthy with lots of money from being a musician. So what? Having more money doesn't mean anything. It may make life easier but it truly does not buy happiness. It is shown that wealthiest countries are not the happiest. Chester Bennington himself was suffering from the loss of his friend Chris Cornell along with the trauma from the abuse and bullying he experienced as a child. That does not go away, yes you go through stages of grief to recover, but PTSD and anything like it doesn't go away!

He could've gotten help

I've heard people say depression and mental illness is a disease and needs treatment but let me say this. Not all treatment or help works. Let me repeat some counseling works for some people, some counseling doesn't. EVERYONE'S BRAIN WORKS DIFFERENTLY! While you may think it's easy to get treated guess what not all diseases can be cured (there's this thing called a terminal illness) and while I'm not sure, it's probably the same with depression. While you can do the best you can to help some people, not everyone who seeks treatment will follow through. People die from terminal illnesses and unfortunately people will take their own lives! Also not to mention it's hard to ask for help. I know that personally. Telling someone about your pain and suffering is not easy. Telling someone you want to end your life is a difficult thing to do especially if you don't know the person well, even if they are a qualified therapist and it's hard to those you're close to you want to kill yourself. It was hard for me to ask for help too when I was suicidal. Also, many people don't get help because they are afraid of being judged. So calling suicidal people cowardly or weak is more reason they don't get help! That's why I was reluctant to ask for help because I didn't want to be judged for my problems. Judging suicidal or depressed people only makes them not want to get help and does nothing to help them. Jay-Z can explain it more in this video

How His Family and Friends Must Feel
Chester Bennington's family probably feels devastated at the loss of a father and husband! His band and friends have lost a good friend too. I doubt that any of them want to hear the crap that is being said about their dad while they're f***ing grieving. If it were one of my family members or friends I would make anyone who said anything like that about them wished they'd never opened their mouth! I mean how would you feel if it were your friend or family member and someone said something like that? Also if you claim your prayers are only with Chester's family, then you might want to start by not saying bad things about their dad which basically makes you guys criticizing him yet claiming your condolences to his family are gigantic HYPOCRITES.

It's too late to say this but I would refrain from posting anything negative on another musicians tribute page! I mean if I were posting something to honor a fallen comrade and some a**hole said anything bad about them, well I'd probably first give them a piece of my mind then report them, block them, and never talk to them again. I mean I don't think Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Korn, Evanescence, Jay-Z, or anyone else who posted a tribute would not want to see this type of s*** being said about him.  Again, it's also pretty f***ing hypocritical that your prayers are only with Chester's family and yet you continue to talk s*** about their dad while they're f***ing grieving. Ask yourselves this how would you feel if it were one of your friends or loved ones and someone talked s*** about them? Probably not good and very offended! (I would feel that way too!) And what does saying this s*** about their dad do anything to help them? NOTHING! It doesn't help his family!

Who is really selfish
So everyone keeps calling people who commit suicide "selfish", "weak", or "cowardly" without regards of what their own logic really is. I believe people who think suicide are really the ones who are selfish and I don't care if you hate me for saying this. It's selfish to force someone to live through their pain and misery for your own benefit. It's also selfish to say that a person escaping their pain or how their suffering is somehow an inconvenience to you. You're making someone else's pain about you! Seriously stop berating, shaming, and blaming suicidal people and actually start helping them! Plus depression and suicidal people don't really want to die but they want the pain to stop, if they live the pain continues. Choosing to end one's life is a difficult decision and is not an easy one to make! So stop saying he took the "easy" way out. People who are suicidal have lost all hope and just want the pain to end, they don't mean to harm others in the process and they felt no one else would care or miss them and may have even felt they'd be doing everyone around them a favor.

How Would You Help?
Experiments
With these video experiments I will tell you this. If you judge Chester negatively but would've been someone to just walk by a guy contemplating suicide please STFU! If you wouldn't do anything to stop them before committing suicide then you have no f***ing right to judge!

Here both cab drivers intervened and did and a great thing. However, if they did nothing and just let the guy there, they'd probably face pretty big backlash but they did the right thing.

I would like to know what if it weren't a father? What if it was a college or high school dropout with no job, no wife or kids, and still dependent on parents? I wonder if that would make the circumstances different.

Kevin Hines
Kevin Hines grew up in foster care for much of his childhood until he finally came into care of Patrick and Debra Hines. Additionally, also suffered from depression and had manic depression or bipolar disorder. At the age of 19 Kevin went to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. He stood there wondering if someone would help him. Then he threw himself over the handrails and into the bay! At the moment he left the bridge, he instantly regretted it! Kevin hit the water in a sitting position and struggled to stay afloat. He remembered seeing a gray object circling around him which he thought was a shark. That gray object was actually a sea lion helping him stay afloat. He was picked up by The Coast Guard because a woman who saw him jump immediately called them. Kevin made a full recovery in the hospital and had several psych wards stays for the next few years. Kevin Hines now has no visible scars from his suicide attempt and is fully mobile. Kevin made an appearance in Eric Steel's 2006 documentary The Bridge (a film about Golden Gate Bridge suicide jumps) where he talks about his experience. Here is the part of where Kevin talks about his jump.

Kevin Hines now spends his time giving motivational speeches and helping others that are also suicidal and in the dark place he was once in. Now he says he's grateful for getting a second chance and is happy to be alive. Kevin has also advocated for a suicide barrier at The Golden Gate Bridge. He tells his story in this video.

I had the pleasure to see Kevin speak when he came to my college. He was truly amazing and inspirational. What I like about Kevin is that he doesn't not berate the victim or force them to "man up" or "get over it" but he gives them motivation and helps them get through something difficult. He understands what it is like to be suicidal and that IT IS NOT SELFISH as he's been in that place before which is why he doesn't blame the victim but offers them hope. Overall, he helps suicidal people the right way. If you want to know how to help depressed or suicidal people, there is probably no one better at it than Kevin. Here is the trailer for his 2018 documentary film Suicide: The Ripple Effect.

Anyway there is a link to an article that most of you should read.
Please Stop Calling Suicide Victims Selfish or Weak

Other Countries Reactions
Now a common response to this is "he's a celebrity" or what about the "poor people" or "what about our soldiers" from other parts of the world. Now just because I want to honor him DOES NOT mean I don't honor our soldiers (I mentioned veteran suicide above) or feel bad for the other poor people. (& What about the celebrity we elected in office who inherited a fortune?) Anyway from the looks of this other countries honor Chester and will miss him and they seemed to love his music nor berate him. Not that I hate my country but this just proves the America has the most disrespectful people.

Linkin Park's Music helped many
The last thing I want to mention is that Linkin Park's music and Chester helped many people out of their dark place. It seems that while Chester suffered he didn't want others to suffer and I've noticed that with many people who suffer from depression. Many have come out to talk about how Linkin Park's music helped them and I find it unfortunate that Chester helped many people but no one was able to help him when he needed it.

Bert McCracken
The Used vocalist Bert McCracken spoke out and about how he was deadly suicidal and Chester helped him. Bert had a difficult upbringing as a kid and became addicted to meth. He was homeless for some time before finding his place with The Used. In 2004, Bert's high school sweetheart and then girlfriend died while carrying their unborn child. This drove Bert to the edge but Chester gave him the strength to carry on. "There’s a lot of stigma surrounding depression, we know there’s no cure. And to speak of suicide with any connotations to selfishness makes me sick and so angry that I end conversations immediately,” McCracken says. "Chester was there for me at a time where I was deadly suicidal and he saved my life in 2004." The fact that nobody was able to be there for him in those moments is something we all should think about.” McCracken then says, "How I’ve chosen to deal with the death of Chester the opposite way I dealt with death in the past and that’s not internalize anything and maybe speak about it all the time, put it out there to fans, strangers even. And in that way I kind of feel more connected to what depression might be, more a problem of humanity, a problem with American entitlement and boredom." There is a summary in this Loudwire video. Unfortunately I can't find the longer one which explains this more.

Social Media
Many people have come out to say how Chester had helped them with Linkin Park's music on social media including most of my friends. Below are some screenshots from Twitter.

My Experience
Chester Bennington has also helped me when I was depressed. Obviously Linkin Park weren't the only ones who helped me as I also had much support from my friends and family but they played a part. When you're depressed and suicidal you often feel alone, though this is far from true. Much of Linkin Park's music has described my life situations which helped me realize I wasn't alone and there were others out there can we can support each other. I learned as well that depressed people don't want others to suffer which are more ways we can help each other.

My Thoughts
On the plus side I think more and more people are now honoring Chester Bennington now that he's dead and that's the same with many other people (including Kurt Cobain). People even had mixed feelings about Abraham Lincoln but after he was shot he was then seen as a savior and hero. AND I do feel for his family but whatever he was going through was nothing anyone could probably imagine as the same with any other suicide victim. Anyone to about the death of someone with connotations of selfishness, weak, or cowardly is disgraceful especially to the family and friends of that person. Linkin Park was one of my favorite bands. I've grown up with their music, still listen to it today, and will not stop listening to it. I often listened to them when I was depressed or down and like I said they helped me through some rough years and their songs often reflected what I've been through. Linkin Park was one of my passions and like I said, their music often reflected my experiences. Their music videos were pretty underrated as well and each looked like a work of art. Chester Bennington was one of the few who could sing like an angel and scream like a demon. He truly had an amazing voice and a legend who can never be replaced. Mike Shinoda said the band would continue but they won't really ever be the same without Chester. I would put my favorite songs at the end but if I did there would be at least 20 videos so I'm going to end it with 2 videos; a compilation of Chester and the rest of Linkin Park and RocknMob performing Numb.