Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington found dead in Los Angeles

Chester Bennington performed at Vector Arena in 2007. Photo / Wayne Drought

Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington has died.

TMZ reports the 41-year-old was found dead at a private home in Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles yesterday.

Law enforcement officials say his body was found shortly before 9am.

The singer, a father to six children, had battled drugs and alcohol in the past.

#BREAKING: Chester Bennington of Linkin Park has committed suicide. RIP https://t.co/6kP4N40JcG

— TMZ (@TMZ) July 20, 2017

Formed in 1996, Linkin Park gained international fame with their debut album Hybrid Theory in 2000, for which Bennington was vocalist.

Their next two albums, Meteora, in 2003 and Minutes to Midnight (2007) also topped the Billboard charts.

Initially a nu metal and rap metal band, Linkin Park explored other genres, adding electronic sounds and beats to their fourth album, A Thousand Suns, in 2010 and returning to heavier rock by their sixth album, The Hunting Party, in 2014
Linkin Park has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide and has won two Grammy Awards.

Bennington joined Linkin Park in 2000, and formed his own band, Dead by Sunrise, in 2005. He also worked on material with the Stone Temple Pilots in 2013.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, the son of a nurse and a police detective, Bennington was interested in music from a young age, and dreamed of joining Stone Temple Pilots.

After his parents divorced when he was 11, Bennington started abusing marijuana, alcohol, opium, cocaine, methamphetamine, admitting to NME in 2011 he was a "raging alcoholic".

"I don't drink," he told the publication. "I choose to be sober now. I have drunk over the last six years, but I just don't want to be that person anymore."

Bennington has six children: Jaime, from a relationship with Elka Brand and an adopted son, Isaiah.

Bennington married Samantha Marie Olit in 1996 and their son Draven Sebastian Bennington was born in 2002. Olit and Bennington divorced in 2005. Bennington then married former Playboy model Talinda Ann Bentley. The couple have three children: Tyler Lee Bennington and twins Lilly and Lila, born 2011.

If you need help:

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.

Or if you need to talk to someone else:

• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (Mon-Fri 1pm to 10pm. Sat-Sun 3pm-10pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• Samaritans 0800 726 666

There are lots of places to get support. For others, click here.