Following their formation in 1996, Linkin Park went on to become one of the most popular bands of the late 90s and 00s. They were trailblazers and a band that helped launch the garage rock band movement that dominated the early to mid-2000s. Some of their notable tracks include “In The End”, “What I’ve Done”, and “Numb”, which all reached the Top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100 following their release.
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Linkin Park is one of the most successful and decorated 2000s rock bands of all time. They’ve won Grammys, scored several no. 1 hits, and will likely receive an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the near future. However, despite this success, the most memorable moment in the group’s history is when their lead singer, Chester Bennington, passed away in 2017.
Chester Bennington was not an original member of Linkin Park, but he was the lead singer who helped the band reach the peak of its success. Consequently, the masses know him as the lead singer of Linkin Park. That being said, his death shook the band and the general public. And today, on May 19, 2017, Linkin Park unknowingly released their final album with their beloved frontman.
Behind Linkin Park’s ‘One More Light‘
On May 19, 2017, Linkin Park released their seventh studio album, One More Light. Prior to this album’s release, Linkin Park hadn’t released an album in three years. So, in a sense, this album was a way of reintroducing themselves to the world. The album seemingly achieved just that, as it debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200.
One More Light was the group’s sixth chart-topping album. However, this album’s success was overshadowed by a large cloud of melancholy. Roughly two months after the release, Chester Bennington took his own life on July 20, 2017. Officials found Bennington in his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California. Unbeknownst to the band at the time, One More Light was the last album they would record and release with Bennington.
Since his passing, Linkin Park has made sure Bennington’s legacy lives on in several different ways. Following his death, the group put on a tribute show and took the earnings to start the One More Light Foundation. Since Bennington’s passing, Linkin Park has replaced him with lead singer, Emily Armstrong. Armstrong officially replaced Bennington after the band reunited in the fall of 2024.
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