LINKIN PARK's MIKE SHINODA Opens Up About CHESTER BENNINGTON

According to The Pulse Of Radio, LINKIN PARK co-vocalist Mike Shinoda opened up about his relationship with late singer Chester Bennington in a new interview with Kerrang! magazine. Shinoda revealed: “I spent more time with Chester than anyone else in my adult life, except for my wife. We were always around each other. People would say we were like brothers, but we were different because brothers are bound by blood. Technically we were dudes in a band who could break up and walk away from each other if we wanted to. I think it’s more exceptional that we never did that.”

Shinoda said that Bennington was devoted to his family, remarking: “He deeply loved his wife and all his kids. His family is really complicated in terms of blood relation, adoption, and whatever… I’m not a perfect parent, nobody is, but Chester had the very best intentions. He had such a huge heart and he loved his family more than anything.”

Shinoda also spoke about Bennington‘s efforts to work on his life and sobriety, saying: “I know he worked really hard to do what he did. He woke up in the morning and spent time with his family. He worked out for two hours. He went to AA meetings, or therapy, or whatever worked that part of his brain. He warmed up his voice. He did all of those things just to exist in everyday life… I know he worked so hard to be the guy that everybody saw. It didn’t come easily for him at all.

LINKIN PARK paid tribute to Bennington last Friday night (October 27) with an emotional three-hour show that featured numerous guests joining the band onstage at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Among the artists who performed with the band throughout the show were BUSH‘s Gavin Rossdale, Jonathan Davis of KORN, Alanis Morissette, the instrumental members of NO DOUBT, Oli Sykes of BRING ME THE HORIZON, BLINK-182, M. Shadows and Synyster Gates of AVENGED SEVENFOLD and many more.