Chester Bennington Leaves Stone Temple Pilots

Chester Bennington has announced that he is departing Stone Temple Pilots to focus on his other group, Linkin Park. Bennington and STP members Robert DeLeo, Dean DeLeo and Eric Kretz issued statements suggesting the split was amicable.

"The last few years have been an amazing experience," Bennington said. "I got to create and perform with one of the greatest rock bands of our generation..." In a separate statement, the three remaining STP members noted that "scheduling and time was working against us," but remained optimistic that the band will continue making music.

Bennington joined the group in 2013 shortly after Scott Weiland's departure. Bennington and STP released an EP, High Rise and performed live numerous times. Linkin Park released their last album, The Hunting Party in June 2014.

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