Shortly after word began to spread, Bennington's Link Park bandmate Mike Shinoda took to Twitter to confirm the news, writing, "shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one." Other tributes have already begun to pour in from the likes of Rihanna, Imagine Dragons, Chance the Rapper and longtime producer/A&R Jeff Blue, who signed the band to Warner Bros. Records in 1999, the beginning of a label relationship that would last the band's entire career.
On Thursday afternoon, WBR's current chairman/CEO Cameron Strang released a statement to Billboard mourning Bennington's loss.
“Chester Bennington was an artist of extraordinary talent and charisma, and a human being with a huge heart and a caring soul," Strang said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful family, his bandmates and his many friends. All of us at WBR join with millions of grieving fans around the world in saying: we love you Chester and you will be forever missed.”
Read Billboard's obituary for Chester Bennington here.
