anotherarbitraryblog

[anotherarbitraryblog]

I know this is long overdue, it took me awhile to emotionally process this. I'm still fazed, seeing a massive part of my childhood disappear. I still remember stumbling across them back in 2007 and obsessively scouring YouTube for more.

As a kid, one of my biggest obsessions was Dragon Ball. My friend started showing me a bunch of Dragon Ball AMVs, and as we all know Linkin Park was the turn to music for this. The moment I heard "In the end", I knew I found something special. I was always impressed by how confident they were at expressing themselves.

As I got older I came across "Meteora" and "Minutes to Midnight". I slowly started to become that fan boy, that I started finding out as much as I could; backstories, days as Xero, Underground Tracks (It's criminal that "What we don't know" didn't get an official release).

When I felt down, Linkin Park was what I turned to. It felt like someone understood me and I had someone to relate to. I loved the band as a whole, the music, the lyrics, the energy they could generate at live concerts. I remember watching "Road to Revolution" and seeing how smoothly they got the crowd involved with "In the end".

Around 2010, I was so excited hearing that they were releasing a new album. For the first time, a new album after I was a fan. I eagerly awaited their mobile game "8 bit rebellion" avoided any spoilers on what their new promotional track was. Upon beating the game, I was awarded with "Blackbirds" and was just blown away. Sadly, this over hyped "A Thousand Suns" and I was let down. I respected the band for evolving and making music they enjoyed over making something that others wanted.

I still regarded them as my favourite band and kept listening to them. After "Living Things", I began to enjoy their new music; once again. However, this time my taste in music changed; I grew into punk and other genres and picked up Rise Against, One OK Rock, There for tomorrow and etc.

I no longer listened to Linkin Park. But, they had a special place in my heart. "Hunting Party" came and went.

"Heavy" never really clicked with me. However, my taste in music begun to change once again. I got into the "Starset" and wanted to listen to lighter music. Then it struck me, the news read loud and clear "Chester Bennington dead, 41". I honestly didn't know how to feel, I just felt empty. I stopped listening to his voice, yet the pain cut deep. I couldn't stop watching Live performances, studio recordings just felt depressing and dead (I'm over this now). Songs like "Until it's gone" and "Iridescent" made me tear up. I haven't done this since the family dog died.

Seeing the voice of my childhood just disappear, just made me feel depressed. But in the end, it really did matter. I regret never seeing you and the band Live. Currently, "Leave out all the rest" is my coping mechanisms; I even learnt to sing it.

"Dead by Sunrise" was a way you let us in and I enjoyed it for what it was; "Let down" is the only song I remember.  

I really hope Linkin Park can recover, Mike Shinoda has an amazing voice and the rest of the band is just as amazing.

Chester you saved me and a generation of fucked up teens. We can never repay that debt. I really want to resent you for leaving your family, friends and fans behind. But, I really can't. You left too many reasons to be missed and you'll always be in my memories.

#rip chester bennington #linkin park #RipChesterBennington