The backstage area is a hive of activity, alive with workers on radios (many of whom are volunteering), musicians, content creators, mental health professionals. But perhaps the most special group of people K! are introduced to are tonight’s biggest fundraisers, who will all have a rightly-deserved spot onstage.
Vocalist Kian Brookes is one of five, and remembers Linkin Park as one of the first bands that really hooked him into alt. music. “Chester was a big influence on me to start singing and performing. I think without Linkin Park, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today,” he explains. “I write songs about mental health, about my personal experiences, so I wanted to show everyone that it’s okay to struggle, and pay tribute to an absolute legend who’s inspired me to do music in the first place.”
Scott Mangnall, who’s raised over £3,000, is here honouring his son, Tyler. “He was a die-hard Linkin Park fan. He was a great guitarist, an absolutely phenomenal pianist, and he could sing like you would not believe. He would have absolutely adored this event.
“When Chester passed, he was beside himself for weeks. My son always struggled with mental health, but when he was happy, he was happy. How I like to remember him is happy,” he shares, while proudly sporting a Linkin Park shirt. Tonight, he’ll be playing with Tyler’s guitar.
Harry Gordon raised the most money among the drummers, and is also playing in memory of a loved one, Charlie. “My brother took his own life last year. For all of this money to help and hopefully save just one life is why I’m here.”
We’re in for an emotional ride, but Harry reasons this is exactly the point of us showing up. “Twenty years ago, if I went onstage and cried, people would be looking at me like, ‘Man up.’ I don’t care. I’ll cry. So what?” he says. “It’s good that people can talk about [how they feel] because if we don’t, it’s gonna keep happening.”