RIP

Chester Bennington bought his new family home about 2 months before he hanged himself there ... adding another layer of mystery to his death.

The Linkin Park frontman bought the Palos Verdes Estates house for $2.5 million back in June. The 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom house is in an affluent part of L.A. County famous for pristine neighborhoods and an excellent public school system.

Everything about the 3,956 square foot pad says family home -- special nook perfect for game night, 3 outdoor decks, an expansive backyard with a spa and swimming pool.

The purchase falls in line with what Chester's LP bandmates said -- that he'd spoken excitedly about future plans. Buying the perfect place for his family, but then taking his life there a month later just doesn't add up.

The Benningtons closed on the house 8 days after Chris Cornell's suicide ... leading some close friends to believe Chester's suicide decision was sudden and fueled by his grief.

Chester Bennington's housekeeper cried and screamed in the background as a driver for the Linkin Park frontman made the 911 call to report his suicide.

Cops just released the 911 call made by the driver, who was most likely there to pick up Chester for a scheduled photo shoot. He told the operator, "I just got to the location and his housekeeper came out and said he killed himself ... he hung himself."

As the driver relayed more details, the housekeeper was absolutely distraught in the background ... crying hysterically as she spoke to Chester's wife on another phone.

TMZ broke the story ... Bennington hanged himself in his bedroom, in an eerily similar way to his friend, Chris Cornell. Chester's family was out of town, and Thursday morning the housekeeper found his body.

Chester Bennington's bandmates are remembering him for his musical talent ... and also the demons that ultimately led to his suicide.

Linkin Park posted an open letter to Chester in which they thank the fans for the outpouring of love and support, and say of the singer ... "You touched so many lives, maybe even more than you realized." It sounds like they didn't see any warning signs before Chester took his own life because they say, "Talking with you about the years ahead together, your excitement was infectious."

The band addressed their frontman's demons too -- "You fearlessly put them on display, and in doing so, brought us together and taught us to be more human."

The memory of "Mob Wives" star Big Ang lives on in mural form on the side of her sister's boutique, but it's in danger of being washed away ... TMZ has learned.

Big Ang's sister, Janine, tells us she got permission for the hand-drawn mural from the landlord of the Staten Island building last year ... shortly after Ang died. She says the tribute was well-received in the neighborhood, until a few weeks ago ... when her landlord said it had to go.

She says the landlord claimed people find it offensive, but she has no idea why and hasn't gotten more of an explanation. She says the landlord wants the mural removed before the new school year, and she'll be devastated if that happens.

She's started a petition for the community to show love for her sister and the mural.

Chester Bennington's suicide -- and also Chris Cornell's -- has Gavin Rossdale wondering about what he describes as a "bad scene" in music right now.

He and his band Bush performed Thursday night in Hammond, Indiana ... and addressed the crowd about what had happened earlier that day -- Linkin Park's frontman killing himself. As TMZ first reported ... Chester took his life in an eerily similar way to his dear friend Chris Cornell.

Gavin talked about the last time he'd seen Chester -- singing "Hallelujah" at Cornell's funeral.

It was obvious, he was struggling to make sense of the deaths, saying it was "impossible to know what" Chester was going through. Still, he tried to inspire his fans ... before launching into "Glycerine."

John Heard, the beloved star of several huge 80s and 90s movies, died Friday in Palo Alto, CA ... TMZ has learned.

Heard was found dead in a hotel by the maid service ... according to family sources. Police were called to the hotel for a report of a medical emergency, but he was pronounced dead on the scene. The coroner is investigating, and cause of death is unclear at this time ... but police do not suspect foul play.

We do know this ... according to his rep, John had "minor back surgery" Wednesday at Stanford Medical Center, and he was staying at the hotel while he recovered.

Heard's most iconic role was as Peter McCallister, the dad in the "Home Alone" movies.

He also had roles in "Big," "Beaches," "Gladiator" and "Pelican Brief" -- to name just a few -- and also a slew of TV roles on "Miami Vice," "The Sopranos" ... and even the first "Sharknado."

John was 71.

Linkin Park's Chester Bennington might get an eternal resting spot right next to his dear friend, Chris Cornell.

TMZ has learned the burial plot beside Cornell at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery is available ... and a source at the cemetery tells us they expect Chester's family to call about buying it.

Chester was very close with the Soundgarden frontman ... he performed "Hallelujah" at his funeral, and had a difficult time coping with his death.

We broke the story ... Bennington may have mimicked Cornell's suicide -- they died in eerily similar ways. Bennington also killed himself on what would have been Chris' 53rd birthday.

Chester Bennington's wife was seen out in public for the first time since her husband's suicide, and got a comforting hug.

Talinda Ann Bentley visited a local market in Palos Verdes, CA Friday with her daughter and another young girl. She was holding hands with one of her daughters ... it's unclear who the girl is hugging Talinda.

Bennington died at their home in Palos Verdes Estates Thursday from hanging himself. His family was out of town at the time.

Linkin Park has officially canceled its North American tour ... TMZ has learned.

The cancellation comes just a day after frontman Chester Bennington committed suicide at his Palos Verdes Estates home. The band's rep told us immediately following the news, the group was so devastated they couldn't think about the tour's future, which was set to kick off next week.

But now it's official -- the tour's a no-go ... and Live Nation tells us refunds will be available to fans.

Chester was 41.

Linkin Park's impending tour has obviously hit a wall -- and we're told the band has not yet made a decision on whether to pull the plug in the wake of Chester Bennington's suicide.

The "One More Light" world tour is set to kick off next week in Mansfield, Massachusetts. A rep for the band tells us the guys are so devastated they can't think clearly enough to make a decision.

The Xfinity Center in Mansfield is fielding hundreds of calls from ticketholders, who are being told to "standby."

Fans might not have to wait long ... we're told the decision will likely come today.

Stay tuned ...

Chester Bennington may have mimicked the suicide of his close friend, Chris Cornell, because they died in virtually identical ways.

Law enforcement sources tell us, the Linkin Park singer was found hanging from a door separating his bedroom from his closet. TMZ broke the story, Chris Cornell died hanging from a hotel door separating the bedroom from the bathroom.

We're also told Chester was found with a belt around his neck. Chris was found with an exercise band around his neck.

Our sources say there was a partially empty bottle of alcohol in the room where Chester died, but no evidence of drugs.

And we're told Chester did not leave a suicide note in the room. Neither did Chris.

TMZ broke the story ... Chester killed himself on Thursday, which would have been Chris Cornell's 53rd birthday.

Even the guy who plays "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at Dodgers Stadium was affected by the death of Chester Bennington ... and honored the Linkin Park singer with a musical tribute on the stadium organ.

Just before the Dodgers took the field against the Braves, team organist Dieter Ruehle played his own version of "Numb" over the loudspeakers.

That's not all ... during the game Dodgers pitcher Brandon McCarthy used LP's "Figure.09" as his walkout music when he took the field.

While Chester was from Arizona, the band was especially big in L.A. -- where the founding members are from.

Joe Hahn -- the DJ for Linkin Park -- just showed up at Chester Bennington's home, and fans are beginning to flock there too.

Several friends and family member were arriving at the house Thursday afternoon in Palos Verdes Estates, CA. Some fans have left flowers at the end of the driveway.

As we reported ... Bennington's suicide was a shock to his bandmates, because the group had a photo shoot planned just hours after he was found dead in his home from hanging himself.

Linkin Park coincidentally released a music video the morning of Chester's suicide.

Chester Bennington's suicide was a shock to bandmates, because the group had plans for a photo shoot in Hollywood just hours after the Linkin Park singer was found hanging at his home.

Multiple sources tell us ... Chester hanged himself in his bedroom. His body was discovered shortly before 9 AM PT Thursday by a housekeeper.

We're told Chester arrived back in L.A. Wednesday from Arizona, where he and his wife were spending time. She stayed in AZ, but his return suggests the singer took his life Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Our sources say one of his bandmates showed up at Chester's Palos Verdes Estates home shortly after police arrived. He said he was driving Chester to the photo shoot and was "absolutely shocked."

The band also has plans to tour in 1 week, which made the suicide all the more shocking.

TMZ broke the story of Chester's suicide, and that he was profoundly affected by the suicide by hanging of his close friend, Chris Cornell. By the way, today would have been Cornell's 53rd birthday.

12:32 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Bennington was home alone at the time of the suicide. We're told his family was out of town and he was found upstairs by an employee.

Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington has committed suicide ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us the singer hanged himself at a private residence in Palos Verdes Estates in L.A. County. His body was discovered Thursday just before 9 AM.

Chester was married with 6 children from 2 wives.

The singer struggled with drugs and alcohol for years. He had said in the past he had considered committing suicide because he had been abused as a child by an older male.

Chester was very close with Chris Cornell, who himself committed suicide by hanging in May. Today would have been Cornell's 53rd birthday. Chester wrote an open letter to Chris on the day of Chris' suicide.

Cornell's wife, Vicky, tweeted out a message following the news of Chester's death, saying, "Just when I thought my heart couldn't break any more ... I love you T."

The band has had a string of hits over the years, including "Faint," "In the End" and "Crawling." Linkin Park crossed music genres, collaborating with Jay-Z.

The band's album, "Meteora," was one of the biggest alternative albums in music history.

Bennington was 41.

RIP

Musicians from all genres and several other celebs were stunned by the sudden, devastating news that Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington had committed suicide, and his own bandmates also tweeted their shock.

TMZ broke the story ... Chester hanged himself Thursday morning at a private residence in Palos Verdes Estates. The news of Chester's death comes on what would've been Chris Cornell's 53rd birthday. Cornell and Bennington were close friends, with Bennington even performing at Cornell's funeral in May.

Bandmate Mike Shinoda tweeted an official statement would be coming from Linkin Park soon.

Bennington is survived by 6 kids. He was 41.