Linkin Park says Chester Bennington’s death leaves them in ‘waves of grief and denial’

Linkin Park said their hearts are broken following the death of lead singer Chester Bennington, who died by hanging last week.

The rock band said on Monday that the “shock waves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened.”

Bennington, who was 41, hanged himself from a bedroom door in his home near Los Angeles. The band started the statement with, “Dear Chester.”

“You touched so many lives, maybe even more than you realised. In the past few days, we’ve seen an outpouring of love and support, both public and private, from around the world. Talinda and the family appreciate it, and want the world to know that you were the best husband, son, and father; the family will never be whole without you,” the statement said.

Bennington was one of two lead vocalists for Linkin Park, which became one of the most commercially successful acts of the 2000s. They won countless awards, including Grammys, and their hits include “In the End,” ‘’What I’ve Done“ and ”Numb.“

The group also includes Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, Joe Hahnand and Rob Bourdo. They said Bennington’s “absence leaves a void that can never be filled — a boisterous, funny, ambitious, creative, kind, generous voice in the room is missing.”