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Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington dies at 41

TMZ reports that Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington has died at his L.A. County home. He was 41. According to them, law enforcement sources tell us the singer took his own life. "His body was discovered Thursday just before 9 AM."

The band was scheduled to play in Dallas at the Starplex Pavilion next month.

Billboard and other major news outlets have also reported the news, all initially citing TMZ. The Associated Press has since confirmed the news with the Los Angeles County coroner.

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Coroner spokesman Brian Elias says they are investigating Bennington's death as an apparent suicide but no additional details are available.

The group sold 10 million copies of their 2000 debut, "Hybrid Theory," and then another 4 million with 2003's multiplatinum "Meteora." Both albums explored feelings of frustration and fury.

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Bennington, who sported piercings and tattoos, struggled with drug and alcohol addictions at various times during his life. He was married and is survived by six children.

Bennington was close friends with Chris Cornell, who died by hanging earlier this year, and performed Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" at the Soundgarden singer's memorial in late May.

When he got his big break in 1999, Bennington was an assistant at a digital-services firm in Phoenix. A music executive sent him a demo from the band Xero, who needed a lead singer. (He had been recommended by his attorney.) Bennington wrote and recorded new vocals over the band's playing and sent the results back. He soon got the gig and the band then changed its named to Hybrid Theory, then Linkin Park.

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Bennington told The Associated Press in 2010 that because of the sound the band is known for, it's virtually impossible to satisfy their many kinds of fans.

"We're making music for us, that we like. We're not making music for other people," he said. "We're not thinking, 'Let's make a pie-graph of all our fans and find out how many people fit in whatever category and then make the perfect album for them.' Like, that would be absolutely ridiculous."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.