Linkin Park - In The End

The first time I heard Hybrid Theory was after school in the 5th grade on my friend's dad's stereo. I then remember hearing "Crawling" non-stop on the radio months after that. My brother burned me a CD of that album and my life was never the same after that. In the 6th Grade, a friend gave me a copy of Reanimation shortly after it came out and the way I perceived music chemically changed.

The first live show I ever went to was Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution Tour in August 2004 just before I turned 14. It was there where I discovered ska music, smelled weed for the first time (Thanks, Snoop), and felt the rush of hearing my favorite songs live for the first time in my life. I entered the 7th grade thereafter feeling like I had been re-born from finally witnessing live music. I've been chasing live music ever since.

My brother gifted me Meteora for my birthday and that was on my CD player consistently either on my way to school and for car rides to hockey practice and family trips. As my mind underwent transformation at a delicate age, I had Linkin Park in the passenger seat guiding me and giving me a medium to channel my sensations about living life.

In reminiscing their teenage years, people from across countries and cultures can claim Linkin Park and Chester Bennington's voice gave their emotions the fuel they needed to positively project themselves. On this day, people across the world are reflecting on what Linkin Park has done for their lives. "In The End" comments on the concept of hindsight as a valuable aspect to our humanly navigation. I felt it was fitting for this unfortunate event.

Despite the deep sadness of Chaz's passing, events like this remind us of how powerfully music connects us to ourselves. I amazes me that millions of people share memories like this from just one person inside of one band. I couldn't feel more thankful today.

Rest In Peace, Chester.