Chester Bennington was facing one of the worst relapses of his addiction battle before he took his own life.
In his new book, It Starts With One: The Legend and Legacy of Linkin Park, author Jason Lipshutz delves into the late Linkin Park fontman’s struggles in the months leading up to his suicide, revealing how his fight with addiction resurfaced during the press run for the band’s final album, One More Light.
Despite speaking publicly about his difficulties with life, Bennington confided in loved how “the urge to drink had consumed his thoughts once again,” per an excerpt via People Magazine.
“He was describing an hour-by-hour battle with addiction,” recalled Bennington’s close friend Ryan Shuck, who had been in regular contact with Bennington in the weeks before his death.
When toxicology reports confirmed that Bennington had traces of alcohol in his system at the time of his passing, Lipshutz shares that his widow Talinda Bennington wasn’t shocked.
“I knew instantly that that drink triggered that shame,” she said, reflecting on his “relapse” and the deep-rooted mental health challenges he’d faced.
Bennington was only 41 years old when he passed away on July 20, 2017.
Months after his death, Linkin Park honored Bennington with a tribute concert in October 2017 before stepping away from the spotlight.
Recently, the band returned to performing, with new members Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain joining the lineup alongside Mike Shinoda and other original members.
