Singer Chester Bennington of Linkin Park has died at age 41, in what is being investigated as a possible suicide. "Shocked and heartbroken" is how Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda described his state, confirming the news in a tweet.

Poignantly, the death took place on what would have been the 53rd birthday of Bennington's longtime friend Chris Cornell, who died earlier this year.

Bennington released seven albums with Linkin Park, with the most recent — this year's One More Light — debuting at the top of the Billboard 200. The band became massively popular with the release of their 2000 debut Hybrid Theory, which has sold over 11 million copies. Merging rock, rap, and pop, Linkin Park's dark sound resonated widely and became core to the musical movement known as "nu-metal," along with peers like Korn and Limp Bizkit.

Over the years, the singer was open about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. "I have been able to tap into all the negative things that can happen to me throughout my life by numbing myself to the pain," he said in 2009, "and kind of being able to vent it through my music." (New York Times)

Chris Cornell Music Therapy Program announced

On the occasion of the late Chris Cornell's 53rd birthday, Childhaven, a Seattle nonprofit announced the establishment of a Chris Cornell Music Therapy Program. Cornell's widow Vicky Cornell contributed $100,000 to the program, which will use music to help children and their families recover from trauma.

"Chris and I always shared a strong belief in the healing and inspiring power of music," said Vicky Cornell, "and through Childhaven's establishment of this program, we are able to keep the promise for Chris by continuing to protect the world's most vulnerable children." (Rolling Stone)

NIN cover Bowie

At their first live show in three years, Nine Inch Nails performed a cover of the David Bowie song "I Can't Give Everything Away," from Bowie's final album Blackstar. The band previously leaked, anonymously, a studio version of their take on the track. Nine Inch Nails' newest EP, Add Violence, comes out Friday. (Rolling Stone)

The National announce Boxer reissue

Big news for fans of The National: the band will celebrate the tenth anniversary of their acclaimed album Boxer with a vinyl reissue that will include a bonus 7" featuring tracks from their forthcoming album Sleep Well Beast. You won't be able to buy the reissue at your local record store, though: it's exclusive to the subscription service Vinyl Me, Please. You'll get the National release if you sign up by Aug. 15. (Pitchfork)

Radiohead release eco-friendly backpack

For that Radiohead fan who has everything: the band are partnering with the company Millican to release an eco-friendly backpack featuring artwork from their latest album A Moon-Shaped Pool. Each bag is made from 40 recycled plastic bottles, and can be purchased for $110 at Radiohead's website. (Pitchfork)