Saturday would’ve seen Linkin Park arrive in Tampa on its “One More Light” world tour.
The show was cancelled after lead singer Chester Bennington committed suicide less than one month ago. The world went on to mourn Bennington in countless memorials (coordinated via Google Doc), but that hasn’t stopped a Bay area fan from arranging her own tribute.
“Hybrid Theory coincided with the height of my high school and teenage angst…[it] resonated with me,” Krystle Hunt told CL in a message, citing the band’s year 2000 breakthrough, “[that] music has helped me through many tough times.”
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Hunt, 33, says she met Chester once and that his lyrics made it seem like they were friends. Unfortunately, many of the friends she had when Hybrid Theory dropped have faded away, which made Bennington’s death that much harder.
“I felt alone in my sadness after his death,” Hunt wrote, adding that turning to Twitter helped her realize that there were millions of others hurting. That online community is why she decided to organize a memorial on August 19 at St. Pete’s Vinoy Park.
“I did not want anyone else to feel alone,” Hunt said.
There will be LED candles (the city says no open flame) and no lanterns will be released to protect sea life. Fans are encouraged to bring pictures and (real, biodegradable) flowers. A GoFundMe started to help offset the cost of permitting and has already met its goal. Any extra funds will be donated to Music for Relief, the charity that Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda is recommending fans donate to in Chester's name.
More information on the event is available via local.cltampa.com.
This article appears in Aug 10-17, 2017.