Dear Chris,
I dreamt about the Beatles last night. I woke up with Rocky Raccoon playing in my head and a concerned look on my wife’s face. She told me my friend has just passed away. Thoughts of you flooded my mind and I wept.
I’m still weeping, with sadness, as well as gratitude for having shared some very special moments with you and your beautiful family. You have inspired me in many ways you could never have known. Your talent was pure and unrivaled. Your voice was joy and pain, anger and forgiveness, love and heartache all wrapped up into one. I suppose that’s what we all are. You helped me understand that.
I just watched a video of you singing "A day in the life" by the Beatles and thought of my dream. I’d like to think you were saying goodbye in your own way.
I can’t imagine a world without you in it. I pray you find peace in the next life. I send my love to your wife and children, friends and family. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life.
With all of my love.
I dreamt about the Beatles last night. I woke up with Rocky Raccoon playing in my head and a concerned look on my wife’s face. She told me my friend has just passed away. Thoughts of you flooded my mind and I wept.
I’m still weeping, with sadness, as well as gratitude for having shared some very special moments with you and your beautiful family. You have inspired me in many ways you could never have known. Your talent was pure and unrivaled. Your voice was joy and pain, anger and forgiveness, love and heartache all wrapped up into one. I suppose that’s what we all are. You helped me understand that.
I just watched a video of you singing "A day in the life" by the Beatles and thought of my dream. I’d like to think you were saying goodbye in your own way.
I can’t imagine a world without you in it. I pray you find peace in the next life. I send my love to your wife and children, friends and family. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life.
With all of my love.
Your friend,
Chester Bennington
Chester Bennington
Κάποια πράγματα ίσως είναι όντως αδύνατο να τα ξεπεράσεις. Φυτεύονται και ριζόνουν μέσα σου, μέχρι που σε τρώνε, σαπίζεις και τελειώνεις. Κάποια πράγματα ίσως είναι όντως αδύνατο να τα ξεριζώσεις από μέσα σου, από το μυαλό και την ψυχή σου. Ίσως συνέβη όντως και κάτι αντίστοιχο στην περίπτωση του Chester Charles Bennington...
Την Πέμπτη, στις 20 Ιουλίου τα τραγικά νέα πλυμμήρισαν το διαδίκτυο. "Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington died by hanging, the Los Angeles County coroner has confirmed. The 41-year-old was found by an employee on Thursday in the bedroom of his house and while a note has not been found, the death is being treated as a suspected suicide. An autopsy is pending." Ένας ακόμη μεγάλος καλλιτέχνης ακολούθησε το ίδιο μονοπάτι που χάραξε ο Chris Cornell, δύο μήνες μετά. Δύο μήνες. Τόσο άντεξε απ' ό,τι φαίνεται το βάρος του θανάτου ενός πολύ καλού φίλου, ή τόσο περίμενε -όπως είπαν πολλοί- μιας και καθόλου τυχαία δεν φαντάζει η ημερομηνία που διάλεξε να φύγει. Εκείνη την Πέμπτη, θα ήταν η μέρα των γενεθλίων του Cornell.
Τα νέα της επόμενης ημέρας κατέγραψαν: Bennington had spoken about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as depression. “My whole life, I’ve just felt a little off,” he said in an interview earlier this year with Music Choice. “I find myself getting into these patterns of behaviour or thought – especially when I’m stuck up here [in my head]; I like to say that, this is like a bad neighbourhood, and I should not go walking alone.”
The singer had been close friends with Chris Cornell, who killed himself earlier this year; Thursday would have marked his 53rd birthday. Bennington performed at his funeral singing Leonard Cohen's song "Hallelujah" and honored him via a post on social media after his death, saying that he “can’t imagine a world” without him in it. Mike Shinoda noted that Bennington was very aggrieved when the band performed "One More Light" in his honor, where he could not finish singing the song, be it in rehearsal or in a live performance setting. Cornell’s widow, Vicky Cornell, tweeted yesterday: “Just when I thought my heart couldn’t break any more.....I love you.”
Το wikipedia συμπληρώνει: Chester was also the godfather of Cornell's son Christopher..
Τα νέα της επόμενης ημέρας κατέγραψαν: Bennington had spoken about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as depression. “My whole life, I’ve just felt a little off,” he said in an interview earlier this year with Music Choice. “I find myself getting into these patterns of behaviour or thought – especially when I’m stuck up here [in my head]; I like to say that, this is like a bad neighbourhood, and I should not go walking alone.”
The singer had been close friends with Chris Cornell, who killed himself earlier this year; Thursday would have marked his 53rd birthday. Bennington performed at his funeral singing Leonard Cohen's song "Hallelujah" and honored him via a post on social media after his death, saying that he “can’t imagine a world” without him in it. Mike Shinoda noted that Bennington was very aggrieved when the band performed "One More Light" in his honor, where he could not finish singing the song, be it in rehearsal or in a live performance setting. Cornell’s widow, Vicky Cornell, tweeted yesterday: “Just when I thought my heart couldn’t break any more.....I love you.”
Το wikipedia συμπληρώνει: Chester was also the godfather of Cornell's son Christopher..
Οι Linkin Park ήταν η πρώτη μπάντα (μαζί με τους H.I.M.) της οποίας έγινα πολύ γρήγορα fan και αγόρασα το πρώτο μου cd. Όταν άκουσα για πρώτη φορά το Crawling, απλά έπρεπε να μάθω ποιο είναι το κομμάτι και ποιοι το λένε.. Μετά ξεκίνησαν όλα. Αφίσες, μπλούζες, αυθεντικά cd... Ακόμη θυμάμαι την περίοδο που όλοι είχαν στα κινητά τους τη μελωδία του Numb -που μόλις είχε κυκλοφορήσει- σε 16bit για ήχο κλήσεις.
The news of Chester Bennington‘s tragic suicide has shocked the world of rock fans and musicians alike. As the loss of the Linkin Park singer sinks in, artists have been reflecting on the life and career of their friend and Disturbed‘s David Draiman has written a lengthy, heartfelt note, in remembrance of when he first met Chester and the band while Linkin Park opened for Disturbed around the time Hybrid Theory was released.
Recalling how the bands were on tour when “One Step Closer” was dominating the radio, Draiman described, “I remember sitting in our dressing room and hearing that song start during their set. It drew me out of the dressing room and I stood side stage and watched, in awe of his ferocity, precision and power. I walked back to the dressing room and said to the guys, ‘Uh oh…we’d better step up our game tonight, these guys are GOOD!'” Offering a humorous anecdote, the Disturbed frontman remembered a red-faced moment where he changed the opening lyrics to “Crawling,” singing, “I don’t know why I have to sing like such a p–sy…it hurts me…my p–sy,” to himself as a joke, unaware that Bennington was standing directly behind him. “I turned around and noticed he was there and turned white,” stated Draiman. “Um…sorry brother! I didn’t mean anything by it! I have mad respect for you! Just playing around!!”, he said. Bennington dished out a quick-witted response, saying, “Well at least I actually sing, not just make noises like ‘Oooh wah ah ah ah’ and ‘Ugh, ugh!!! [laughing].” Admitting defeat, Draimain told him, “You got me brother… [laughs] much love.” Having met Bennington’s family, Draiman also added that the singer was a “loving father” and adored his children.
Recalling how the bands were on tour when “One Step Closer” was dominating the radio, Draiman described, “I remember sitting in our dressing room and hearing that song start during their set. It drew me out of the dressing room and I stood side stage and watched, in awe of his ferocity, precision and power. I walked back to the dressing room and said to the guys, ‘Uh oh…we’d better step up our game tonight, these guys are GOOD!'” Offering a humorous anecdote, the Disturbed frontman remembered a red-faced moment where he changed the opening lyrics to “Crawling,” singing, “I don’t know why I have to sing like such a p–sy…it hurts me…my p–sy,” to himself as a joke, unaware that Bennington was standing directly behind him. “I turned around and noticed he was there and turned white,” stated Draiman. “Um…sorry brother! I didn’t mean anything by it! I have mad respect for you! Just playing around!!”, he said. Bennington dished out a quick-witted response, saying, “Well at least I actually sing, not just make noises like ‘Oooh wah ah ah ah’ and ‘Ugh, ugh!!! [laughing].” Admitting defeat, Draimain told him, “You got me brother… [laughs] much love.” Having met Bennington’s family, Draiman also added that the singer was a “loving father” and adored his children.
Turning to more recent memories, David recalled being humbled by Bennington’s high praise of Disturbed’s "The Sound of Silence" performance on Conan, exclaiming, “Dude! That was f–king amazing!!! I had no idea you could sing like that!!! Why don’t you sing that way more often???!!”
Returning the favor, Draiman spoke to Bennington about Linkin Park’s divisive new album, One More Light, telling the singer, “It took great courage to break new ground stylistically for the band and that the song "Heavy" was a HUGE HOOK and to pay no mind to the idiots out there who didn’t get it.”
Draiman learned of Bennington’s apparent suicide while his wife and son were swimming outside. “I remember feeling the hot stinging tears streaming down my face as I watched my wife and son playing, with a greater appreciation for them, and my life, than ever…SHOCKED and in disbelief of what I had just been told,” he detailed. In closing, the Disturbed singer said, “I remember Chester Charles Bennington …I cherished and admired him… and for all the reasons I listed above, and many more… I will never forget him.”
Returning the favor, Draiman spoke to Bennington about Linkin Park’s divisive new album, One More Light, telling the singer, “It took great courage to break new ground stylistically for the band and that the song "Heavy" was a HUGE HOOK and to pay no mind to the idiots out there who didn’t get it.”
Draiman learned of Bennington’s apparent suicide while his wife and son were swimming outside. “I remember feeling the hot stinging tears streaming down my face as I watched my wife and son playing, with a greater appreciation for them, and my life, than ever…SHOCKED and in disbelief of what I had just been told,” he detailed. In closing, the Disturbed singer said, “I remember Chester Charles Bennington …I cherished and admired him… and for all the reasons I listed above, and many more… I will never forget him.”
Η προσωπική μου άποψη πάντως, είναι πως τίποτα δεν ήταν τυχαίο. Ήξερε πολύ καλά τι έκανε και ποια στιγμή το έκανε. Η απουσία του Chris Cornell ήταν όντως κάτι αβάσταχτο για αυτόν. Όντας ένας αρκετά ευάλωτος χαρακτήρας, θα μπορούσε να πει κανείς ότι δεν έχασε απλά ένα φίλο, αλλά και ένα στήριγμα για την ίδια του τη ζωή, (μιας και συνέπασχε των προβλημάτων του). Όταν έχεις κάποιο σοβαρό πρόβλημα και κάποιος σημαντικός για σένα άνθρωπος δίπλα σου παλεύει και αυτός κάτι ανάλογο, σου δίνει κουράγιο. Σου δίνει την εντύπωση ίσως ότι το παλεύεται μαζί, κατά μία έννοια. Όταν όμως αυτός ο κάποιος "χάσει" τον αγώνα, τότε αμέσως νιώθεις και εσύ να χάνεις ένα μεγάλο κομμάτι της δύναμής σου. Όταν δε μιλάμε για φίλο, τότε χάνεις και τη διάθεση να συνεχίσεις να το παλεύεις.
Με όλο το σεβασμό, την εκτίμηση και την αγάπη που είχε στο πρόσωπό του, είναι πολύ πιθανό απλώς να έπρεξε κατ' αυτόν το αναπόφευκτο. Και η ημερομηνία, ήταν ένα ακόμη σημάδι για να επιβεβαιώσει τα παραπάνω συναισθήματα και να δώσει εκεί έξω μία πληροφορία που θα ήθελε ο ίδιος, ο κόσμος να θυμάται... Ήξερε πολύ καλά πως διαπράτοντας τέτοιου τύπου αυτοκτονία ο κόσμος θα το συνδύαζε με τον θάνατο του Cornell και έτσι θα ερχόταν στην επιφάνεια και η σύνδεση της συγκεκριμένης ημερομηνίας, τονίζοντας έτσι λίγο ακόμα τη σημαντικότητα αυτού του ανθρώπου.. Όλοι ξέρουμε πως ο Chris Cornell πέθανε στις 18 Μαΐου, αλλά πλέον δύσκολα θα ξεχάσει κανείς πως γεννήθηκε στις 20 Ιουλίου.
Ίσως πάλι το σκέφτομαι πολύ, ενώ αντιθέτως ο ίδιος του έπραξε με βάση τη στιγμή και τα συναισθήματα των δύο τελευταίων μηνών, χωρίς να θέλει να περάσει κάποιο έξτρα μήνυμα, χωρίς βαθύτερες σκέψεις. Απλώς όχι, ο νους μου δεν το χωράει.. Όπως και να έχει, μικρή η σημασία τέτοιων πραγμάτων όταν μιλάμε για την οριστική έλλειψη προσώπων..
Με όλο το σεβασμό, την εκτίμηση και την αγάπη που είχε στο πρόσωπό του, είναι πολύ πιθανό απλώς να έπρεξε κατ' αυτόν το αναπόφευκτο. Και η ημερομηνία, ήταν ένα ακόμη σημάδι για να επιβεβαιώσει τα παραπάνω συναισθήματα και να δώσει εκεί έξω μία πληροφορία που θα ήθελε ο ίδιος, ο κόσμος να θυμάται... Ήξερε πολύ καλά πως διαπράτοντας τέτοιου τύπου αυτοκτονία ο κόσμος θα το συνδύαζε με τον θάνατο του Cornell και έτσι θα ερχόταν στην επιφάνεια και η σύνδεση της συγκεκριμένης ημερομηνίας, τονίζοντας έτσι λίγο ακόμα τη σημαντικότητα αυτού του ανθρώπου.. Όλοι ξέρουμε πως ο Chris Cornell πέθανε στις 18 Μαΐου, αλλά πλέον δύσκολα θα ξεχάσει κανείς πως γεννήθηκε στις 20 Ιουλίου.
Ίσως πάλι το σκέφτομαι πολύ, ενώ αντιθέτως ο ίδιος του έπραξε με βάση τη στιγμή και τα συναισθήματα των δύο τελευταίων μηνών, χωρίς να θέλει να περάσει κάποιο έξτρα μήνυμα, χωρίς βαθύτερες σκέψεις. Απλώς όχι, ο νους μου δεν το χωράει.. Όπως και να έχει, μικρή η σημασία τέτοιων πραγμάτων όταν μιλάμε για την οριστική έλλειψη προσώπων..
R.I.P Chester Bennington,
You will be missed.
You will be missed.
