When Chester Bennington took his own life in 2017, his wife Talinda thought he was in a good place. And ever since, she's been using her platform to raise awareness for others struggling with mental health and provide tools for them and their loved ones by launching 320 Changes Direction— an organization that honors the late Linkin Park frontman, whose birthday was March 20.
Now, she's culminated her efforts to launch the first ever 320 Festival alongside Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman. The one-day event is set to take place at Los Angeles' LA Live on May 9 and will feature a mental health summit, community festival, film festival, and the Songs That Saved My Life benefit concert. The free community festival will feature artists like Bruce Wiegner, Dylan Dunlap, Rouxx, Evaride, HolyWars, Vaines, X.ARI, Atarah Valentine, Blue Midnight, and more to be announced. The ticketed benefit concert lineup has yet to be announced. All of the proceeds will be donated to participating nonprofits.
"The idea for 320 was born out of my personal experience and the recognition that we can do better to address the needs of those who are suffering with mental health concerns and addiction," Talinda wrote in a statement. "For 13 years I watched my husband Chester struggle with depression and substance use. I often felt scared and alone. I was uneducated about the challenges he faced and I wanted information – but finding answers to my questions and available help for our family was very difficult."
"After my husband lost his battle with depression and addiction, I knew I had to make a change to the mental health landscape," she continued. "I began speaking to as many mental health groups as I could find. Whitney Showler and Music For Relief have been very supportive and helpful on this journey."
“It is a true honor to be involved with the 320 Festival,honoring the legacy of Chester Bennington and bringing together so many wonderful organizations in the mental health and resource space together," Lyman said. "It has always been a belief of mine that it if you empower today’s youth and create experiences where a community can have fun and come together it will create a melting pot for true societal change. The 320 Festival embodies that thinking.”
Check out Talinda's Instagram announcement below.
Before Linkin Park, Chester was in a group called Grey Daze. The band recently announced Amends, a tribute album to the late singer, which is slated for an April 10 release. Talinda is moving forward in her personal life after losing her husband. In January, she remarried after publicly announcing her engagement in September.
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