Top 10 Music Artists and Bands that Expressed Their Sadness About Chester Bennington's Death

I must say that while I have heard of several deaths of artists I liked very much, this particular one hit me hard. I guess that was because of how long I have listened to this band. Ten years, half of my life.

Linkin Park was a great source of inspiration to many people of my generation, as well as several older ones. And yes, their last album may not have had that spark anymore, but their legacy is huge. Chester's legacy is huge. Albums like "Hybrid Theory" and "Meteora" are influential milestones in music, and their status will only increase over time. To me, those albums, along with "Minutes to Midnight," were my first contact with rock music.

Back then, I didn't care about the meaning. I thought it just sounded really cool. Then, as I grew older, I dug deeper into the emotional energy, both lyrically and musically, and I realized how rich they were. They will always be among my favorite albums. And Chester's authentic vocal catharsis is a big part of the reason for that.

Chester ended his life. It was simply too much for him to handle. Depression is a serious issue, and everyone, from a teenage girl to a legendary music star, can suffer from it. Chester was definitely a visionary music legend, an idol of his generation.

This list is to show how many music artists from all kinds of genres, with all kinds of reputations, from different backgrounds and careers, were emotionally touched by the death of this great musician. It is meant to show how he inspired the modern music landscape, and how deeply respected this man was.

The Top Ten

Within Temptation

Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded in April 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. They gained widespread popularity with their second album, Mother Earth, released in 2000. The band is known for blending metal with symphonic and gothic elements.
Nickelback

Nickelback is a Canadian post-grunge band formed in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta, Canada. The band consists of guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kroeger, and drummer Daniel Adair.... read more
Insane Clown Posse

Insane Clown Posse is an American hip-hop and horrorcore duo consisting of rappers Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. The group formed in Detroit in 1989.
They are known for violent, supernatural, and horror-themed lyrics that often incorporate religious symbolism within the fictional Dark Carnival... read more
My Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance is an American rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The lineup since the band's 2019 reunion includes lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way, with Jarrod Alexander serving as a touring drummer. Bob Bryar was the drummer from 2004... read more
Pusha T

Terrence Thornton, better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American hip-hop recording artist. He is a member of the hip-hop duo Clipse alongside his brother No Malice. Pusha T served as president of Kanye West's GOOD Music label from 2015 until his departure in 2022 and has released several critically... read more
Kool Savas

Savaş Yurderi, better known by his stage name Kool Savas, is a German rapper of Turkish descent who was born on February 10, 1975.
Beginning his rap career in the mid-1990s, his commercial success and nationwide recognition increased with the release of his debut solo album, Der beste Tag meines... read more
I See Stars

I See Stars is an American rock band formed in 2006 in Warren, Michigan. The current lineup includes vocalist Devin Oliver, guitarist Brent Allen, keyboardist and vocalist Andrew Oliver, and bassist Jeff Valentine. The band is known for blending electronic music with metalcore and post-hardcore.
Dahvie Vanity

Jesus David Torres (born September 5, 1984), better known by his stage name Dahvie Vanity, is an American singer-songwriter and rapper. He is best known as one half of the crunkcore duo Blood on the Dance Floor and as the face and creative mind behind the industrial project Sinners are Winners. He is... read more
Green Day

Green Day are an American pop-punk and punk rock band formed in East Bay, California, in 1987. The core members are Billie Joe Armstrong on vocals and guitar, Mike Dirnt on bass, and Tré Cool on drums, with Jason White often performing live on guitar. They blend punk rock, pop-punk, and alternative rock... read more
Corey Taylor

Corey Todd Taylor was born on December 8, 1973. He is an American musician, author, and actor best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the nu-metal band Slipknot and the hard rock/alternative metal band Stone Sour. Taylor has also published books and appeared in films and on television.... read more

The Newcomers

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Muse

Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The members are Matt Bellamy (lead vocals, lead guitar, piano, keyboards), Dom Howard (drums, percussion), and Chris Wolstenholme (bass, backing vocals). They have won numerous awards, including five MTV Europe Music Awards... read more

They were one of the first bands to give condolences to the other members of the band on social media.
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Steve Aoki

Steven Hiroyuki "Steve" Aoki is an American DJ, record producer, and music executive. He is widely known for his energetic live shows and collaborations with artists across numerous genres. Aoki is also the founder of Dim Mak Records, a label that has supported electronic, indie, and punk artists.

The Contenders

Mike Shinoda

Michael Kenji "Mike" Shinoda (born February 11, 1977) is an American musician, rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, graphic designer, manager, and film composer. He co-founded Linkin Park in 1996 and serves as the band's rhythm guitarist, primary songwriter, keyboardist, producer, and co-lead... read more

The whole Post Traumatic album was about Mike Shinoda's grieving process for Chester. So him being on the list makes a lot of sense given how close the two were for the longest time.
He and other members went on to perform a tribute for him at the Hollywood Bowl in 2017. I'm shocked he's not in the top 10 to be honest.

I mean, of course this makes sense.
Andy Biersack

Andrew Dennis "Andy" Biersack, formerly known as Andy Six, is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is the founder and lead vocalist of the American rock band Black Veil Brides and remains its only original member. Biersack also pursued a solo career under the name Andy Black, releasing the album... read more
Skillet

Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996. The band has released multiple albums and is known for its energetic live performances and crossover success in both Christian and mainstream rock markets. Skillet was founded by John Cooper and Ken Steorts, while Korey... read more
Imagine Dragons

Imagine Dragons is an American pop rock band formed in 2008 and based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The band's current lineup includes lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, and bassist Ben McKee.
They first gained prominence with the release of their single "It's Time," followed by their... read more

They even performed a tribute to Chester.
Motionless In White

Motionless in White, commonly abbreviated as MIW, is a metalcore band from Scranton, Pennsylvania. The band was formed in 2004 and is known for blending metalcore with gothic and industrial influences. The current members are lead vocalist Chris Motionless Cerulli, guitarists Ryan Sitkowski and Ricky... read more
Lars Ulrich

Lars Ulrich is a Danish drummer and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He formed the band in 1981 with James Hetfield and has remained its drummer throughout its career.
In recent years, some have criticized his drumming as less consistent, citing a decline... read more

One of his first posts on Instagram was about lamenting Chester's loss.
Gerard Way

Gerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and comic book writer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and co-founder of the alternative rock band My Chemical Romance, which formed in September 2001, disbanded in March 2013, and reunited in 2019. ... read more
Adam Gontier

Adam Wade Gontier is a Canadian musician and songwriter. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for Saint Asonia, and a co-lead vocalist for Three Days Grace. Gontier initially left Three Days Grace in January 2013 but rejoined the band in October 2024 to share vocal duties with... read more

He did a cover of Breaking the Habit a few months after Chester's passing.
Breathe Carolina

Breathe Carolina is an American electronic music duo formed in 2007 and currently consisting of David Schmitt and Tommy Cooperman. Early in the group's career, its appearance and music were heavily influenced by the scene subculture of the late 2000s and early 2010s. Its music mixed elements of electronica... read more
Disturbed

Disturbed is an American alternative metal, nu metal, and hard rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The band consists of vocalist David Draiman, bassist John Moyer, guitarist Dan Donegan, and drummer Mike Wengren.
They are known for songs such as "Down with the Sickness" and "Stricken," as well as... read more
Daron Malakian

Daron Vartan Malakian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, co-vocalist, and primary songwriter for the rock band System of a Down.
Following the band's hiatus in 2006, Malakian launched Scars on Broadway... read more
Paramore

Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro. They rose to fame with albums like Riot! (2007) and Brand New Eyes (2009), known for blending pop-punk and alternative... read more
Timbaland

Timothy Zachery "Tim" Mosley, known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record executive. He gained prominence in the mid-1990s through his work with Aaliyah and Missy Elliott and has since produced chart-topping hits for Justin Timberlake... read more
Marianas Trench

Marianas Trench is a Canadian rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, formed in 1999. The band consists of Josh Ramsay, Matt Webb, Mike Ayley, and Ian Casselman. They are known for their theatrical style and albums such as Masterpiece Theatre (2009) and Ever After (2011).
OneRepublic

OneRepublic is an American pop rock band formed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2002 by lead singer Ryan Tedder and guitarist Zach Filkins. The band gained early attention and success on Myspace as an unsigned act. Its debut single, Apologize, became a major hit after being remixed by Timbaland.