What’s a song that changed your life?

View all responses

Believe it or not the song is “In the End” by none other than Linkin Park. I discovered Linkin Park when I was in my last years of high school and was intrigued by this band when I saw “One step closer” on Mtv. Now I first saw Chester in 1998 in that video and I was hooked. It was probably the one album that I bought when I had off time in Korea when I got there. If it wasn’t for Chester I would have not made it as far as I have mentally. Because I won’t lie to you, but I have been through shit that I would never wish on anyone. Many times before finding Linkin Park I was already attempting to take my life since I was 12. Let’s just say that I was raised by an Army man and was treated like a son, so I took my beatings. Pretty much I grew up hating my dad, because I got beat for things that were not even meant to be punished for, but I clawed my way into living. 

No matter what I have always been alone, my parents didn’t really help me, they just shattered dreams and put me down or compared me to other kids in the family. Eventually I got used to the fact that I would always be alone. The lone wolf, of course I am the only child and I didn’t live in the city, so I grew accustomed to being by myself and looking after myself as well. However, when I would listen to Chester it would seem like I had someone that understood even though I never knew him. I understood the whole mentality of staying out of the inside of my mind, because even with me I have a negative version of me inside that will tell me things like, “you deserve to be alone, you are worthless, you’re MST means nothing… Eventually I had to train myself to not think that way. 

Hybrid Theory was the first album that I bought and it helped me through all the dark days I faced and even to this day Chester is still keeping me sane for now. After I got out of the Army I saw the music video “in the end” and when I saw Chester with the lower lip labret, I knew that was what I needed, so I got that piercing and it was like I had discovered that if I do not have my piercing I lose my mind. Believe me I have tried to go without it, but could never do so and eventually I would have to figure out a way that I could keep the piercing without fucking up my teeth on the inside. Since a normal reaction with a labret is to chew and bite the ring. I finally said I need to just pierce my lip horizontally and the ball bearings are visible on the lips.  So that is a needle through about half an inch  of your bottom lip and let’s just say I now know how a fish feels, but totally worth it. 

Linkin Park, Chester and their music is what has kept me going all these years. I just wish I could share that with my friend Dio who I think gave up and just left. Overall music is what saved my life, because I have always been dedicated to what Chester creates. His music makes me want to sing and scream. Expressing all my feelings through my voice and words. Chester will always be missed, but I will continue to listen to his music.