Chester Bennington tribute show gave Kiwi fan 'goosebumps'

Chester Bennington tribute show gave Kiwi fan 'goosebumps'
Photo credit: Getty

Thousands of fans gathered at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Friday night (local time) for a show dedicated to late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington. 

The rock singer committed suicide in July, leaving behind six children from two marriages, his wife, Talinda Ann Bentley, and millions of fans all over the world.

Members of No Doubt, System of a Down, Avenged Sevenfold, Sum 41, Bush and Yellowcard all performed at the show with the five surviving members of Linkin Park. Metallica, Paul McCartney, Guns N' Roses' Duff McKagan and Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan all presented video messages . 

For one Kiwi fan, the concert was a chance to move on from a death that felt like a friend.  

"Linkin Park is the one band who means the most to me," Logan Swinkels told Newshub. "I have great memories surrounding their music, so the passing of Chester really shook me.

"Seeing so many fans and artists come together like that to honour his life was special."

He said it "was by pure fate" the concert happened to be on the first night of his American holiday, and he knew he "had to be there". He flew into LA on Friday afternoon, and went straight to the concert off a 12-hour flight, just making it for the opening set by minutes.

Mr Swinkels said there were two moments in particular that gave him "goosebumps". 

"When the band played 'Numb' with Chester's mic standing centre stage lit by a single spotlight, there was no singer on stage, but rather the thousands of fans in attendance sung it together.

"It was incredibly moving, to the point where I definitely cried a couple times while singing my heart out. I definitely needed that moment to move forward and make this a night about fun and celebrating life. 

"The other moment was the performance of 'New Divide', with the band playing while the video screens showed Chester singing the same song at a 2014 a Hollywood Bowl performance, [which] made it feel like he was still there. That was surreal."

Bennington's wife spoke about her late husband at the show, saying he "would have loved all of this". 

"What an incredible show this has been. Chester and I always loved bringing people together and he was filled with joy when our house was full of family, friends, kids, dogs, cats, birds, turtles - the more the merrier. He would have loved all of this tonight." 

She thanked her late husband, management, family members, the band and fans across the world for their support, saying: "And to you, Linkin Park's fans, thank you. Chester always said Linkin Park fans were the best, and you know what? He was absolutely f**king right."

Newshub.