6 Major Moments From 2017 MTV VMA's: Pastor Urges People to Answer God's Call

By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter
Monday, August 28, 2017

6. Linkin Park, Soundgarden lead singers remembered

Jared Leto pays tribute to Linkin Park lead singer, Chester Bennington, at the MTV Video Music Awards on August 27, 2018. | (Photo: MTV video screencap)

Oscar winner and "Thirty Seconds to Mars" singer Jared Leto paid tribute to Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell, the lead singers of Linkin Park and Soundgarden, respectively, who both committed suicide earlier this year in separate incidents.

"Chester was my friend as he was to so many," said Leto, according to The Telegraph. "And witnessing his life taught me important things, especially about working relentlessly, pursuing dreams and being kind and caring while doing it."

"When I think about him, Chester, I see his face, which was always smiling," Leto added. "I think about his heart, which he wore on his sleeve. I think how kindly he treated me, my brother, our band."

Leto pointed out that Bennington and Cornell were "close friends."

The actor referred to Bennington's own words about Cornell after the latter's suicide, where he wrote: "Your voice was joy, pain and anger, love and heartache all wrapped into one."