Like all Linkin Park fans, Machine Gun Kelly was left utterly devastated by the tragic death of Chester Bennington.
MGK already honoured his late mate with a heartfelt cover of Linkin Park’s ‘Numb’, and now he’s paid tribute to Chester again in the music video for his new single ‘Hollywood Whore’.
The clip that accompanies the first cut of the rapper’s forthcoming album, Hotel Diablo, features kaleidoscopic visuals of MGK performing as the words “R.I.P. CHESTER BENNINGTON” flash across the screen.
Kelly joined Chester and Linkin Park onstage to perform ‘Bleed It Out’ at Poland’s Impact Festival back in 2017, and was supposed to be joining them on tour as main support.
The following month, prior to tour kicking off, Chester died at the age of 41.
“My heart hurts in ways i never thought it could,” Kelly wrote on Facebook after learning of the nu metal legend’s tragic suicide. “I heard the news when i was driving in the car with my daughter and i couldn’t even finish the drive. i pulled over and lost my shit.
“I remember watching u perform ‘Crawling’ stripped down with just Mike Shinoda playing the keys in Poland when we did that show together the other week, and your voice spoke to my soul,” he reminisced. “I’m re-living that moment now because that’s how u deserve to be remembered: a voice for those who wanted to scream out, who had pain and no way of expressing it.
“U were that for me since 11 years old and i had the honor to become friends with u and share the stage with you, but i never got to say thank you.
“You guys invited me on tour this summer and it was the happiest I’ve felt in my career, I’m sad to not be able to see it happen, but mostly just sad for music, the linkin park family, and the fans – u were one of the greatest frontmen of a band to ever live and i just want u, wherever u are, to feel loved and to be happy. thanks for everything Chester. love.”
Watch MGK pay tribute to Chester in his new music video below.
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