Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington dies in apparent suicide

The American rock singer was found hanged at his home in California shortly before 9am on Thursday morning, according to website TMZ.

Bennington, who also performed with band Dead by Sunrise, was married and had six children.

He died on what would have been the 53rd birthday of his late friend Chris Cornell, the lead singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave, who killed himself in May this year.