Phoenix Of Linkin Park Remembers The Late Chester Bennington – “Such A Warm, Caring Guy”
Last week I interviewed Dave “Phoenix” Farrell from Linkin Park. Their 20th anniversary of the Meteora album dropped last Friday. You can watch that interview here.
During our conversation I asked him about the late Chester Bennington. They “found” a track that they had forgotten about called “Lost”. I asked him what it was like to hear Chester’s voice on the track. “For me, I’m definitely kind of conflicted about it. I’ve always loved his voice and it’s so cool to hear it on a track like this…I mean, I might not have heard this song for twenty years, when we finally dug it back up. It almost sounded brand new to me in that sense as well.” He went on “And coupled with that excitement, is the fact that I miss Chester every day. It’s just sad not to have him with me.” He said that he feels the fan base is conflicted with those set of emotions as well, hearing “new” Linkin Park, and knowing Chester isn’t with us anymore.
For the fans that never met the late singer, Phoenix talked about what he was like. He said most band’s singers put forth a one dimensional viewpoint, not Chester. “Chester was a very three, if not four dimensional person. He was awesome! He had a great sense of humor. He was incredibly good with kids.” According to Phoenix, his kids, who are now grown, remember him as one of their favorite people in the world. “Such a warm, caring guy. And also super fun loving. He had a great laugh. He always wanted to be kind of loud and having a good time, so. Just an awesome guy”
I had the chance to meet and interact with Chester on several occasions. The first was before the debut album even came out. We were playing “One Step Closer” and from my perch behind the mic, playing the song, you could tell it was going to be a huge hit. Him and guitarist Brad Delson came by the station to promote the album. As it turned out, it sold 40,000 units it’s first week. That was a ton for a band that was brand new. Phoenix told me that the band was taking bets to see who could get the closest guess as to how many they’d sell. He said everyone scoffed when Chester predicted 8,000, as that was way too many. LOL
Hard to believe that this July Chester will have been gone for six years.
-Meltdown-
Linkin Park: Their 20 Best Songs, Ranked
Linkin Park’s debut full-length, Hybrid Theory arrived at a pivotal point in rock music’s sidewinding trajectory. In 2000, grunge had long worn out its welcome. Nu metal was having its moment. Indie rock had become diluted in the mainstream spotlight. Cue Linkin Park, who rewired the machine to build something completely new.
This album was the first to expertly balance the trifecta of hard rock, hip-hop and electronic music. It’s in the name: a hybrid of sounds. It could have easily dissolved into a pretentious, self-serving mess. However, the band used their collaborative chemistry and pop sensibilities to create huge, hooky songs. It became a gateway album for music lovers who were confined to one corner of the record store until this LP made it acceptable to examine other genres. The album has gone on to rack up 32 million units sold – huge for any album, especially a debut.
October 24th is the 20th anniversary of Hybrid Theory, but Linkin Park is so much more than their iconic debut. The introspective fury of vocalists Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda rejected the macho I-hate-my-ex narrative of much of late ‘90s rock, and provided space for self-examination. Along with bandmates Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell and Joe Hahn, they welcomed the weary, cultivating a massive fan community and prioritizing community outreach.
Linkin Park has aged gracefully over two decades. Far outpacing their nu metal contemporaries in album and ticket sales, their crossover appeal and wide influence make them deserving of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame status, (they won’t be eligible until 2025). They’ve made a conscious effort to avoid becoming sonically stagnant, and that’s especially clear on their latest release One More Light. (It was the last album they created before the passing of Chester by his own hand in 2017passing of Chester by his own hand in 2017. )
To celebrate Hybrid Theory and the music that followed, we’ve ranked 20 of Linkin Park’s best songs. We left remixes out of the running, but you can find plenty of those on the brand new Hybrid Theory box set.
Meltdown started on the mighty WRIF on the evening of Halloween, 1995. Technically, his first on-air shift was the morning of November 1st. Moving to the Motor City from Buffalo, N.Y., he has built a career and family. Over his almost three-decade stint at RIFF, he's had the privilege to work with some of the biggest personalities in Detroit radio history. He boasts of being just the second-afternoon drive jock in the station's illustrious 53-year history.
Along with his love for rock music and attending concerts, he's also an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast and hockey player. He plays year-round and manages to squeeze in a few charity games throughout the year. Meltdown writes about the Detroit Red Wings, rock music, and Detroit concert venues.
