Jared Leto gave a heartfelt tribute to musicians Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.
The lead singers’ sudden and unexpected deaths – almost three months apart – sent shockwaves throughout the music community and left legions of fans mourning.
‘Witnessing his life taught me many things, like working relentlessly, pursuing dreams and being kind and caring while doing it,’ Leto said of Bennington as he took to the stage at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Heartfelt: Jared Leto, 45, gave a heartfelt tribute to Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell at the MTV VMAs on Sunday
‘When I think about him, Chester, I see his face, which was always smiling. I think about his heart, which he wore on his sleeve.
‘I remember his voice, at once both ferocious and delicate. That voice will live forever,’ he continued.
Leto spoke of his relationship with the two musicians – who both committed suicide – remembering Bennington for playing Hallelujah at Cornell’s funeral.
The 30 Seconds To Mars rocker, 45, then reached out to those struggling with suicidal thoughts, adding: ‘The absolute biggest breakthroughs in life lie just beyond the darkest days.’
Tragic: Soundgarden’s Cornell, 52, was found dead in May after hanging himself in his Detroil hotel room, hours after performing a concert with his band (Cornell pictured in 2016)
Gone too soon: Linkin Park’s Chester, 41, died by suicide – also hanging himself – in July at his home in Palos Verdes, California (pictured in March)
Soundgarden’s Cornell, 52, was found dead in May after hanging himself in his Detroil hotel room, hours after performing a concert with his band.
Linkin Park’s Chester, 41, died by suicide – also hanging himself – in July at his home in Palos Verdes, California.
The rocker was laid to rest earlier this month at an funeral with a few hundred people in attendance.
Big night ahead: Jared arrived at The Forum in Inglewood, California, with his Thirty Seconds To Mars bandmates
Last week, Jay-Z took to the stage at the V Festival – held at Weston Park, Staffordshire, in the UK – to pay tribute to the late Linkin Park frontman as he ended his set with their 2004 chart-topping collaboration Numb/Encore.
The remaining members of Linkin Park have said they could never replace Chester after his suicide as the band acknowledged that his ‘demons’ had fed his music.
‘While we don’t know what path our future may take, we know that each of our lives was made better by you. Thank you for that gift. We love you, and miss you so much,’ the statement said.
Another tribute: Last week, Jay-Z took to the stage at the V Festival in the UK to pay tribute to the late Linkin Park frontman as he ended his set with their 2004 chart-topping collaboration