CHESTER BENNINGTON Early life
Bennington was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He took interest in music at a young age, citing Depeche Mode and Stone Temple Pilots as early inspirations. Bennington's parents separated in the late 1980s, while he was still a child. He was sexually abused during his youth, and later struggled with cocaine and methamphetamine addictions. Bennington eventually overcame his drug addiction, and would go on to denounce drug use in future interviews. He worked at a Burger King restaurant before starting his career as a professional musician.
Professional career
Before joining Linkin Park, Bennington was a vocalist in Grey Daze, a now defunct grunge band from Phoenix, Arizona. He left Grey Daze in 1998, but struggled to find another band to play in. After nearly quitting his musical career altogether, Jeff Blue, then the vice president of A&R at Zomba Music in Los Angeles, offered Bennington an audition with Linkin Park. Bennington quit his day job, and took his family to California, where he had a successful audition with Linkin Park, who were then called “Hybrid Theory”. Bennington and Mike Shinoda, the band’s other vocalist, made significant progress together, but failed to find a record deal. After facing numerous rejections, Jeff Blue, now a vice president of A&R at Warner Bros., intervened again to help the band sign with Warner Bros. Records.
Bennington was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He took interest in music at a young age, citing Depeche Mode and Stone Temple Pilots as early inspirations. Bennington's parents separated in the late 1980s, while he was still a child. He was sexually abused during his youth, and later struggled with cocaine and methamphetamine addictions. Bennington eventually overcame his drug addiction, and would go on to denounce drug use in future interviews. He worked at a Burger King restaurant before starting his career as a professional musician.
Professional career
Before joining Linkin Park, Bennington was a vocalist in Grey Daze, a now defunct grunge band from Phoenix, Arizona. He left Grey Daze in 1998, but struggled to find another band to play in. After nearly quitting his musical career altogether, Jeff Blue, then the vice president of A&R at Zomba Music in Los Angeles, offered Bennington an audition with Linkin Park. Bennington quit his day job, and took his family to California, where he had a successful audition with Linkin Park, who were then called “Hybrid Theory”. Bennington and Mike Shinoda, the band’s other vocalist, made significant progress together, but failed to find a record deal. After facing numerous rejections, Jeff Blue, now a vice president of A&R at Warner Bros., intervened again to help the band sign with Warner Bros. Records.
Despite having prodigious success in the early 2000s, Bennington has had personal problems outside of the limelight. He suffered a severe spider bite while touring with the OzzFest in 2001, which caused his arm to swell. Bennington was plagued with poor health during the making of Meteora, and struggled to attend some of the album’s record sessions He fell ill during the summer of 2003, and eventually underwent surgery Bennington’s relationship with his first wife, Samantha, also declined during his years with Linkin Park, leading to their divorce in 2005
Personal life
Bennington married his first wife, Samantha, on October 31, 1996. They had one child, named Draven Sebastian, who was born on April 19, 2002. After his divorcing his first wife, Bennington married Talinda Bentley, a former Playboy model, whom he has since had a child with, named Tyler Lee. Bennington made a cameo in the film Crank. He lives with them in a 6,000-square-foot house in Orange County when he is not on tour. He is also an avid tattoo enthusiast. In addition to sporting many tattoos and piercings all over his body, he has done work with Club Tattoo, a tattoo parlor in Tempe, Arizona. The parlor has received recognition from many magazines such as, College Affair and Skateboard Mag, while also spawning an art show in New York City.
Personal life
Bennington married his first wife, Samantha, on October 31, 1996. They had one child, named Draven Sebastian, who was born on April 19, 2002. After his divorcing his first wife, Bennington married Talinda Bentley, a former Playboy model, whom he has since had a child with, named Tyler Lee. Bennington made a cameo in the film Crank. He lives with them in a 6,000-square-foot house in Orange County when he is not on tour. He is also an avid tattoo enthusiast. In addition to sporting many tattoos and piercings all over his body, he has done work with Club Tattoo, a tattoo parlor in Tempe, Arizona. The parlor has received recognition from many magazines such as, College Affair and Skateboard Mag, while also spawning an art show in New York City.
No comments:
Post a Comment