50 years ago today, the late Chester Bennington was born on 3/20/76. As the lead singer for Linkin Park, his tremendous ability to move seamlessly between melodic vulnerability and explosive screaming helped define the sound of early 2000s alternative metal. Bennington joined Linkin Park in 1999, and everything changed with their 2000 debut album, Hybrid Theory. The record became a generational touchstone, blending heavy guitar riffs, hip-hop elements, and deeply personal lyrics. Bennington was open about his battles with depression, trauma, and substance abuse, which deeply informed his music but led to his tragic death in 2017. In honor of Chester, let’s watch this pro-shot 2003 video from the old Texas Stadium in Irving, TX while opening for Metallica, where even Linkin naysayers might agree these guys were damn good live…
