MENTAL TURMOIL & FASHION

MENTAL TURMOIL & FASHION OF A Y2K ICON

CHESTER - LINKIN PARK

Chester Bennington of Linkin Park Mental Turmoil & Fashion of a Y2K Icon. Article
On October 24th 2000, an album would release. An Album that would not only become the bestselling album of 2001, but the best debut by a new artist or band since Guns N Roses. It would become the best-selling debut album of the 21st Century.

 Another one of the “Nu Metal” Rap Rock bands to some, the icons of a generation to others. They would adapt and change as the times went. Making Fashion Statements every step of the way. They went from Exchanging Jnco jeans & chain wallets of their day for a more professional look. Chester would wear a flashy blazer for red-carpet appearances, and during performances a leather jacket or crewneck and would progressively take more off revealing his tattoos & leaving him with a tank and black brim hat. hiding behind the scenes of all the glamor and circumstance that comes with platinum selling album success, across the one and a half decade of the Band’s run.

 And behind the best-selling singles tied to Transformer blockbuster movies (What I’ve Done, New Divide & Iridescent), lies the mental health of a man many would assume had life made. Success begets happiness after all, does it not? Beyond the blazer, the hat and glasses lye a man in turmoil. Human. Like the rest of us, with his own trials, tribulations, self-doubts and disturbances. 

but lets focus for a moment on one thing he loved fashion. It is written that the upstairs walking closet of his California home was packed with more of his stuff, then it was his wife’s.  He had a very eclectic style, fitting of a man whose band would take musical influences ranging from Metal and Hard Rock to Electronica, Dubstep, Alt Rock, Pop and Hip Hop. Like his music, his fashion sense seemed to run the gambit of styles. 

This month is brain injury awareness month, and as such why not tie it a little to mental health? Chester struggled with mental health for most of his life. He had a dysfunctional childhood and went in and out of rehab when he got a bit older.  Tried numerous drugs, including cocaine and alcohol. For many people he was relatable. Linkin Park’s music was cathartic for the many who grew from the late 90s throughout the new Millennium. Some were introduced to their music through the albums and hit songs. Others perhaps found them when they released singles tied to the blockbuster Transformers movies. Whether it was through, music, fashion, or movies. Chester Bennington was always upfront singing about a lot of his troubles. 

Many found relation and a way to get through whatever it is they were going through. Through Linkin Park, through Chester’s music. Music is after all a great outlet; it is therapeutic and the musicians themselves can become trendsetters. Showing off the latest fashion of the time, they’re in the spotlight. From 2000 to 2017. Linkin Park & Chester Bennington were front, and center be it at the center of the early aughts Nu Metal scene, or on the Red Carpet for the Michael Bay Transformer movies singing What I’ve Done in 2007, New Divide in 2009 for Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen. In 2011, for the 3rd Transformers movie they released the song Iridescent tied to Dark Side of the Moon. During red carpet premiere for the 2nd Transformers movie in 2009 Chester would wear a button-down white shirt, with a black tie, black skinny jeans, with aviator sunglasses, his hair cropped short. With a black overcoat sport jacket over it. Whether it was by album sales during the early aughts, or by tying their music to a Blockbuster movie series Linkin Park was always the most front and center “Rock” band of the 21st century bringing mental health awareness to legions of people. Their fashion as eccentric as their musical style.