How to heal
Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington committed suicide one year ago today. Next month, his co-frontman Mike Shinoda will perform solo in Bangkok. Life talked to him about grief, gigs and post-Chester music.
Last year on this very day, Chester Bennington, 41, committed suicide. Singer and co-frontman to the boundary-pushing, multi-platinum, rap-metal band Linkin Park, Bennington was one of the most revered rock icons of the 21st century.
His death came as a huge shock to the music world. For two decades he used his pain, anger and trauma — masked in his distinctly bright but raspy voice — to ease millions of fans around the world from their own suffering.
Sharing the limelight with him was co-frontman Mike Shinoda, whose solid rapping gave a sense of warmth and bravado to Bennington’s tortured screams of rage. Songs like In The End, Closer To
The Edge and Crawling (which won a Grammy) became instant rock legacies, and the two musicians, working seamlessly together, became the paradoxical voices of a generation.
With Bennington gone, Shinoda — his best friend and stage partner — became “a member of this club that I never asked to be a part of”. For weeks, he could barely find strength to leave the house or continue his passion for drawing (he designed all of Linkin Park’s album art) and making music (he’d created another successful musical project, Fort Minor, on the side in 2004). The idea of getting on stage again was simply impossible to contemplate.
Yet, as time passed, he processed the loss in the only way that he could — by creating. In October 2017, in a memorial concert broadcast online, the world saw Shinoda process his grief for the first time. Debuting Looking For An Answer, he sang to himself and the crowd: “Was there something I could say, or something I should not have done?”, “Is there sunshine where you are, the way there was when you were here? ... ‘Cause I’m sitting in the dark/ In disbelief that this is real.”
Shinoda dropped more singles in the months ahead, accompanied by self-shot music videos to process his pain. His songs
Place To Start, Over Again and Watching As I Fall wrestle with pain, grief and guilt. Continuing to produce songs, Shinoda eventually released a 16-track album titled
Post Traumatic. Now he’s on a world tour, describing it as “a miraculous thing”. Fans in Thailand won’t miss out, as he’ll be back in Bangkok for the first time as a solo artist on Aug 9.
Life talked to Mike Shinoda on processing grief, being a solo artist, and the importance of recognising mental-health problems.
Your songs are extremely honest and raw. Listening to them also helps people process similar feelings and circumstances. Was this one of your goals with the album?
I challenged myself to look at the events that were happening each day, and try to capture the truth in what was going on. That seems obvious, because it’s something I always do. But since this last year has been such a crazy year, it seemed more important than ever not to miss an opportunity to channel things into songs. Every time I felt like I was experiencing something important, I tried to write and record it in that moment.
This is your first solo album. Understandably, it has been your way to heal, but had you ever planned to do a solo album before?
I didn’t have any concrete plans to do a solo album before this. But grief is a very personal experience, so doing a solo album seemed like the best way to express it. By using my name, I also was indicating to people that this sounds slightly different from other music I’ve done.
What did you learn from turning your tragedy into art?
I really believe in the cathartic power of making things. When I’ve had my most difficult times, painting and making music have helped me get through.
Is it strange to be performing as a solo artist?
Performing on my own is a challenge. I made a very personal album, and I feel like I have personal things to say and a personal connection to make with the fans. So a solo show is the thing that makes the most sense.
What have you learned about depression and mental health, and are you involved in any charities or help groups?
I’m not affiliated with any particular mental-health groups. Talinda, Chester’s wife, has started a wonderful effort called 320 Changes Direction, which I support. The band and I continue to support Music For Relief, which we founded over 10 years ago, and [which] focuses on relief in the wake of natural disasters, and efforts to combat climate change.
What would you like to say to people who have gone through similar situations as yourself?
The thing that I’ve learned about mental health is that it should be treated like physical health. If you wake up in the morning and feel pain in your back, you may take it easy that day. You may decide to take the medicine, or if it’s really bad, you may go see a doctor. Mental health is the same way. We need to acknowledge the days when we feel mental pain. Maybe we need to take it easy, maybe we need medication, and maybe we need to see a professional. There’s no shame in acknowledging and dealing with mental health.
You’ve performed in Thailand quite a few times — what are you excited to come back to?
Thailand is a beautiful place, with beautiful people and a wonderful culture. I always enjoy visiting there, and I can’t wait to come back.
What can Thai fans expect from your concert?
I’m playing about one-third solo material, one-third Fort Minor material, and onethird Linkin Park material. And I want the fans to have an amazing time — not a sad show, but a thoughtful and fun show.