Machine Gun Kelly Pays Tribute to Chester Bennington with 'Numb' Cover

Just one week after Chester Bennington’s tragic death at the age of 41, Machine Gun Kelly honors his late idol with a cover of Linkin Park’s “Numb.”

Debuting his version in a studio-shot video, the Cleveland rapper sings the vulnerable track somberly over a piano-laden instrumental. The song and visual also act as a symbolic and emotional farewell to an inspirational force in MGK’s life.

Upon hearing the news of Bennington’s passing, Kelly tweeted in disbelief. “ive accepted a lot of things, but this one is too much…not Chester. not like this,” he said. “love you Chester. love you more than you know. music will never be the same without u…I’m honored to have shared these moments.”

In March, Linkin Park announced their “One More Light World Tour” with Machine Gun Kelly as a special guest. The run was scheduled to begin this week before being canceled.

Released in 2004, “Numb” went on to become the fourth highest-charting single in Linkin Park’s storied discography, ranking as high as No. 11 on the Hot 100. The band’s other smashes include “In the End” (which peaked at No. 2), “New Divide” (No. 6), and “What I’ve Done,” which topped off at No. 7. The group also scored six No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, including their latest project, which arrived in May.

Earlier this week, Linkin Park issued a statement regarding their late lead singer. “Our love for making and performing music is inextinguishable,” they wrote in a moving joint letter. “While we don’t know what path our future may take, we know that each of our lives was made better by you. Thank you for that gift. We love you, and miss you so much.”