httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm8LGxTLtQk
As Linkin Park prepare to pay tribute to late lead singer Chester Bennington next month, rapper/guitarist Mike Shinoda has opened up about to Los Angeles radio station KROQ about his friend and bandmate.
Shinoda appeared on the station on Monday to talk about the Oct. 27 concert celebration of Bennington at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles as well as how super producer Rick Rubin convinced the group to get up on stage for the first time since they lost Chester.
“I had gone to [producer] Rick Rubin as a source of guidance,” Shinoda said in the interview.
Bennington, 41, committed suicide at his home in Palo Verdes Estates, California, on July 20 and while Shinoda said the loss was tragic and hard to handle, he also had fond, bright memories of his friend and longtime musical conspirator.
“With something like this, and it was the same at his funeral I know that the circumstances of his passing were really dark, and as we said at the time, the darkness that he had was always t and was kind of part of the package, but what was so unique and special about this guy is that he used it as fuel to do so many positive things,” said Shinoda, who also had high praise for the group’s fans, who have put on hundreds of tribute events all around the globe to honor Bennington.
“The fans have been incredible. I don’t think we could have ever expected such an outpouring of love and all these tributes,” he said.
The moving video dropped on Monday and Shinoda said it was a gift to those hardcore fans who have supported them in so many ways over the years.
While the band’s lyrics and Bennington’s performances could often be dark, Shinoda said the singer had a lighter side that was equally important to highlight at the upcoming tribute show.
“His overall… the way he was, he was such a happy guy, he was such a fun guy,” said Shinoda.