The Utilita Arena in Birmingham is set to host a monumental event on Sunday August 18 in honour of Chester Bennington, the late lead singer of Linkin Park. Dubbed 1,000 Lights, the concert will feature a novel fundraising strategy which will allow a staggering ensemble of 1,000 musicians to perform some of the band’s most iconic tracks to remember the eminent vocalist and promote mental health awareness across the rock and alt scene.
Chester Bennington, born on March 20, 1976, in Phoenix, Arizona, was the iconic lead vocalist of Linkin Park. He gained fame with the release of the band’s debut album Hybrid Theory in 2000, which became a massive commercial success and was certified Diamond by the RIAA. Known for his powerful voice and lyrics dealing with themes of loss and depression, hits like “In the End” and “Numb” catapulted the singer to rock stardom.
The 1000 Lights concert sees musicians from renowned bands such as Funeral for a Friend, Holding Absence, The Blackout, and Caskets will join forces with the massive ensemble, creating a powerful tribute to the legacy of Bennington, who died in 2017. Event organisers have also encouraged fans to seek sponsorship to raise money for Uprawr Mental Health Foundation, with the fans raising the most money to take the stage alongside these famous faces to perform the show’s closing songs as part of a thousand-strong band.
“We have 5 categories of players: Singers, Guitarists, Bassists, Drummers, Keyboard players. Whoever raises the most money in each category gets to play on the NIA stage with the famous Artists! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play alongside people from Funeral For A Friend, Holding Absence and more!” concert organisers say.
Throughout his career, Bennington also fronted bands like Dead by Sunrise and Stone Temple Pilots. Despite his professional success, he struggled with depression and substance abuse. On July 20, 2017, Bennington was found dead at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California, and was later found to have taken his own life. The concert’s name, 1,000 Lights, is a nod to Linkin Park’s One More Light tour, which was the last tour Bennington performed with the band. Linkin Park, formed in 1996, skyrocketed to fame in the early 2000s with hits like In the End and Faint. The band has sold over 70 million albums worldwide and has won two Grammy Awards, cementing their place in rock history.
The event, organized by the Uprawr Mental Health Foundation, aims to raise funds for mental health services, including free counselling for the rock and alternative music community. The foundation’s efforts are a poignant reminder of the importance of mental health support, especially in the wake of Bennington’s tragic passing in July 2017.The Uprawr Mental Health Foundation provides free mental health counselling to people aged 18 – 35 who associate and connect with Alt music. The organisation uses custom built counselling rooms in music studios and venues, saying its aim is “to create spaces where people can feel relaxed and at home.” “Over the years we’ve seen mental health become a prominent issue within our musical community and feel strongly that more should be done to offer help and support,” Uprawr says.
