At the 2011 iTunes Festival in London, two genres were about to meet each other in a way that not many of us would ever expect. Chester Bennington, the late great lead singer of the revolutionary nu-metal band Linkin Park, was allowed to cover Adele’s classic hit “Rolling in the Deep”. While it may be an unexpected combination, Chester’s soulful voice and Mike Shinoda’s piano playing make this an intimate performance few would easily forget.
Covering Adele’s songs is no easy feat for anyone, and yet in this video, Chester made it his own, with the crowd in full support. He had an incredible voice, both on record and on stage, which many dubbed as ‘revolutionary’ for both metal and music in general. With his performance at the iTunes Festival, he showed that metal can blend with other genres and also demonstrated the true wealth of talent that he possessed. Watch the captivating performance below:
Chester Bennington has been hailed as one of the best vocalists in nu metal’s history. His work with Linkin Park has inspired countless others to pursue their dreams in music, and his memory lives on through the heartfelt songs that he created with the band. Sadly, Chester Bennington committed suicide in July 2017, which sent shockwaves around both the metal community and the entire world. Tributes poured in for him, and his funeral was attended by musicians who had played with the band.
Chester Bennington’s cover of “Rolling in the Deep” is made all the more poignant after his death. His life was riddled with trials and tribulations, and his music with Linkin Park was a source of release for these troubles. Some of the band’s most notable songs cover some rather dark topics, especially those within their 2003 record Meteora. For example, “Easier To Run” tackles the problems we all face in our lives and how it can feel easier to avoid them than to face them head-on.
Amongst the tributes that came in for Chester Bennington following his death was one from Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, who summed up his character: “[Bennington] had a way of making anyone he spoke to feel heard, understood and significant. His aura and spirit were contagious and empowering”. His voice was that of an entire generation due to the impact that Linkin Park had on nu-metal worldwide. Many argue that it was Linkin Park, and Chester Bennington specifically, who made nu-metal universal and catapulted the genre into mass popularity.
Linkin Park entered a hiatus following Bennington’s death, and in 2022 it was confirmed by Mike Shinoda that the band had no plans on returning in any way.
Alongside Linkin Park, Bennington also took part in other musical projects. He co-founded Dead by Sunrise in 2005, an electronic rock band that also comprised members of Orgy and Julien-K. He also joined Stone Temple Pilots in 2013 as their vocalist for a brief period.