A man so talented he fronted one of the biggest rock bands in history (Linkin Park), one of his biggest influences (Stone Temple Pilots), a band that was heavily influenced by said idols (Grey Daze), and performed a 17-second scream on “Given Up”, the late Chester Bennington deserves all the accolades he continues to receive. No doubt.
Every generation and era of music has their own voice(s) of the generation. Generation X had Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, and countless alt-rock and grunge legends. Millennials grew up with pop-punk, nu-metal, post-grunge, and hip-hop dominating most listening preferences.
Linkin Park, and more specifically, Chester Bennington, was a huge part of the millennial experience. What’s really interesting about the band, though, is that their music crosses so many generations. It’s probably only a matter of time before the band goes viral on TikTok, and Bennington was the perfect vocalist to convey the complicated emotions that many impressionable kids, teenagers, and even adults face while growing up.
As their fans matured, Linkin Park did too – exploring new genres and influences that went far beyond their comfort zone. Never afraid to confront difficult (yet relatable) subjects like abuse, relationship struggles, mental health, and confronting the past, his vocal techniques were also as brilliant as most people say. Able to turn on a dime from vicious screaming (“Given Up”, “Keys To The Kingdom”) to emotionally-driven melodic stylings (“Leave Out All The Rest”, “One More Light”), one of the keys to Bennington’s talent was also being able to combine those skills in certain songs. “Blackout” and Hybrid Theory cut “With You” embody these skills quite well.
Chester Bennington’s own personal struggles with mental health (he and Linkin Park were one of the first major bands to really address this) also were relatable to so many people of different races, religions, and upbringings. The lines between rich and poor, old and young, were all torn away when his voice would explode on record or at a live show. With his obvious musical talent being a major talking point for many, it was (and still is) easy for almost everyone to find some sort of solace in his voice.
When you combine the fact that Linkin Park’s fanbase was literally worldwide (seriously, even tiny countries had street teams for the band and fan meetups), the fact that they’ve sold (and continue to sell) millions of albums, and the “everyman” spirit of their lyrics, there’s little doubt that Chester Bennington – and LP as a whole – represent the voices of a generation. Multiple generations, in fact. How many bands do you see fan-made murals of in countries even in Eastern Europe, for instance? It’s pretty incredible, and what a dynamic talent Chester Bennington was.
