Steve Aoki comes to terms with Chester Bennington’s passing with a tribute in every set

The unexpected and sudden death of Linkin Park front man Chester Bennington came as a hard pill to swallow for a multitude of fans all over the world. One artist, in particular, hit especially hard with the news of the nu-metal singer’s passing, is superstar DJ Steve Aoki. The 39-year-old DJ, who collaborated with Linkin Park in both 2013 and 2015 for crossover tracks entitled A Light That Never Comes and Darker Than Blood,  had previously stated that Bennington was a personal inspiration for him, as well as a close friend and his favorite singer.

While Steve Aoki has become well known across the globe for his on stage antics, with a live show that includes his trademark ‘caking’ of fans, crowd surfing in an inflatable raft and all round high energy stage presence, the American DJ has started showing a much more serious side. Since learning of Bennington’s untimely death, Aoki has embarked on a personal journey in tribute to the late singer. Fans have stood in admiration, as Aoki included songs made famous by Linkin Park in shows performed every night in the various cities he plays. Bennington’s lyrics gave a powerful voice to emotions that many of his fans had struggled with, making the loss much more difficult to deal with. Aoki has stated that that playing these songs every night has helped him come to terms with the singer’s death.

Aoki is known for being one of EDM‘s hardest working artists, maintaining one of the industry’s most intense touring schedules. With an impressive list of up coming shows announced in the USA, Asia and Europe. Which means that fans of both Aoki and Linkin Park will soon have the opportunity to take part in the DJ’s transition, as he learns to accept the loss of a musical and personal icon.