To Chester
I represent a generation which started to listen to rock and roll music thanks to Linkin Park. Back then older rockers and metalheads were making fun of us, as you know “true” metalheads” are not taking seriously the music of Linkin Park. But we are not discussing the quality and style.Â
I was 12-13 (approximately 10 years ago) a difficult teenager, nobody could understand me, and there was Chester and Linkin Park. I don’t remember how I found out the band, but after finding them I started saving my pocket money, as I didn't have any income, and bought all the recordings (in form of cassettes) that were available in my country. 10 years ago I wasn't so advanced English speaker and didn't have access to the Internet. I didn’t really understand the meaning of their songs and tried to level up my English to understand what he is screaming about.Â
Here started all my problems. My parents started to think that I have some psychological problems as I am listening to this abnormal, “heavy” and satanical music. I did my best to convey them that there is nothing wrong, no one worships or preaches satan, but no. I gave up and started my fight against all my relatives. Chester was my motivation, he did not give up, he fought, why shouldn’t I?
Finally, one of the Russian magazines “All-stars” (Vse Zvezdi) published the lyrics and translation of “Breaking the habit”. This was one of my motivations not to give up and fight all of them who thinks that I am on the “wrong way”. Voice of Chester cured all my soul wounds. He was always there always screaming to me not to give up. At that time he was the only person whom I have listened to.Â
After some time, to be exact after “Minutes to Midnight”, I started to “ignore” Linkin Park, as I didn’t like their new style. I didn’t listen to their music maybe for years. And one day when I was traveling and chitchatting with some strangers BBC’s article terrified me - Chester committed a suicide. I was cynical at first, but then I realized that friend of my hardest days was gone.Â
My universe turned upside down. I didn’t have an opportunity to thank Chester, didn’t even have an opportunity to see them live, I am sorry for it. “Couse you don’t know what you got until it’s gone”. Thank you, Chester, for everything that you have done to me, you are one of the people who has influenced me (next to Kurt Cobain). You helped me to create my identity, I wouldn’t have been the one who I am now without you.Â
Thank you, Chester.