How's it going my gumdrops? Above is a gif of Soundgarden's Chris Cornell with Linkin Park/Stone Temple Pilots' Chester Bennington.
Before dying, both had performed Temple Of The Dog's "Hunger Strike." "Hunger Strike" was originally sung by Chris Cornell and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.
After publishing last Thursday's blog, Jesse asked in the comments section:
"The lead singer of Linkin Park has been found dead. What are your thoughts of him and his band?"
I was going to publish my answer in the latest Song Saturday blog, but changed my mind.
Even though Jesse's question is music related, I will answer it in today's Q&A blog.
Personally speaking, I did enjoy listening to some of Linkin Park's songs, when the band debuted with their album Hybrid Theory.
At the time, Linkin Park debuted, when I was on my way out of high school; I became of age in 2000.
If you were someone, who grew up and enjoyed listening to both Rock and Rap Music, you had a chance to enjoy "the best of both worlds" so to speak. Because I listen to more than 1 music genre and sub-genre, I was open-minded to Rap-Rock.
Most older Gen Xers (currently in their late 40's to mid 50's), Baby Boomers, and some Millennials despised "Nu Metal" because they were not fans of Rap, Hip-Hop, Alternative Rock, or Grunge Music.
Rock Music containing elements of Rap, Hip-Hop, Funk, Alternative Rock, and Grunge was like the late 1990's equivalent of Glam Rock. Glam Rock became labeled '80s Hair Metal.
The "Hair Metal" branding was a label used to mock Glam Rock much like "Nu Metal" is a label used to mock Alternative Metal bands such as KoRn, Limp Bizkit, Staind, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, etc.
Both Glam Rock and Alternative Metal attracted fans from more than 1 music genre, sub-genre, and sub-culture.
They also attracted more female listeners, which led to some of us soon becoming their fans. In addition, Alternative Metal attracted some from the Goth Rock genre and sub-culture.
Alternative Metal is more aggressive and angsty much like Grunge Music. Alternative Metal is also considered to be "Aggro Metal." Most "Nu Metal" bands were condemned, demonized, and ostracized by narrow-minded critics, who really cannot accept change.
Looking back, KoRn, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park received the most vilification. Those that were Rap-Rock bands, during the late 1990's and early 21st Century began changing their music to sound more like Rock, later in the early 2000's and 2010's, including Linkin Park.
The "Nu Metal" sub-genre reached its pinnacle, when The Deftones, Coal Chamber, Slipknot, KoRn, Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, and many others became more popular among younger Gen Xers, Millennials, and Xennials (those born on the cusp of Gen X and Y) in 1998.
Meanwhile, over the last 3 years or so, I have noticed the amount of hatred directed at Chester Bennington after The DeLeo Brothers from Stone Temple Pilots chose him as Scott Weiland's replacement.
Nearly 3 years ago, I published a Song Saturday blog about Chester replacing Scott.
Song Saturday: Scott Weiland VS. Chester Bennington? You Decide! (2014)
Allow me to reiterate, I NEVER hated Linkin Park's Chester Bennington. As much as I liked listening to Linkin Park as a young adult in my late teens and early 20's nearly 2 decades ago, I was and still am a much bigger fan of the original Stone Temple Pilots. Chester had some HUGE shoes to fill, when it came to replacing Scott Weiland. The late Scott Weiland is irreplaceable as STP's former lead singer.
Now, the same can be said about the late Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. It is so tragic that BOTH frontmen became friends with each other before dying.
After it was announced that Scott Weiland died from a drug overdose in December 2015, I remember reading how upset Chester was as a friend and fan of his.
Because Scott was an idol of Chester Bennington's and was even Scott's replacement for Stone Temple Pilots, Chester took his death really hard; Chester was really grief stricken over Scott Weiland's death. His grief echoed over social media.
Then, Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog, and Audioslave's Chris Cornell died from a supposed suicide, 2 months ago. In case you missed last Song Saturday, I encourage you to read it.
Everything about Chris Cornell's "suicide" feels odd. The same can also be said about Chester Bennington's suicide. After reading Neon Nettle's article about Chris Cornell learning about an "elite" pedophile ring, that he was about to expose, it adds to my suspicions. I believe he and Chester Bennington were murdered.
Neon Nettle: Chester Bennington Was About To Expose The Truth Behind Chris Cornell's Death
The fact that both Chris and Chester were in the middle of trying to save abused children and had evidence, that reveals the truth about an "elite" pedophile ring, makes me believe that they were both murdered.
I believe someone was sent to permanently shut them up by killing them and setting their deaths up to look like suicides.
A few skeptics are laughing, while rolling their eyes at yours truly about such claims, but anything is possible.
Why is everyone so quick to believe, that Chris and Chester's deaths were suicide? Ever have that needling feeling, that something doesn't feel right?
This is how I feel about Chris Cornell's death. His "suicide" has been needling me, since May.
What lead singer happens to be in the middle of working on and releasing a new album, going on tours, and SUDDENLY chooses to commit suicide?
These are questions more people should be asking themselves.
Like I said last Song Saturday, this exact same incident happened with Michael Hutchence from INXS 20 years ago.
It has been claimed, that Chester's depression echoed through his songwriting, along with being grief stricken by Chris Cornell's death, since May. However, people cannot be "happy" and book tours, then suddenly hang themselves the next second.
Call me Nancy Drew, a crazy "conspiracy theorist," or delusional, but my intuition tells me that foul play is being hushed.
Whether or not you were a fan of Linkin Park or Chester Bennington, more people should show not only sympathy, but also empathy.
Family, friends, fans, and band members now must cope with a huge loss of someone very close to them.
1 Godson, 6 children, and 2 widows are also in mourning over the loss of their father, Godfather, husband, and ex-husband.
Hopefully, this answers your question Jesse!
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