Chester Bennington’s ability to share his struggles through music made him a unique voice in rock, and his connection with Linkin Park’s “Breaking The Habit” is one of the most emotional examples of his cathartic artistry. The late singer’s raw honesty about mental health and addiction drew fans closer, and this particular track from the 2003 album Meteora offered a powerful, unfiltered look at inner battles, making it his favorite Linkin Park song.
“Breaking The Habit” captures a protagonist’s fight against self-destructive urges. With lyrics like “You all assume I’m safe here in my room unless I try to start again,” the song is a direct portrayal of hidden struggles. Though Bennington did not write the lyrics himself—Mike Shinoda actually penned them based on a friend’s battle with addiction before even meeting Bennington—the song became profoundly personal to him.
Shinoda initially envisioned “Breaking The Habit” as a ten-minute instrumental, but bandmates encouraged him to rework it into a full song. After years of refining the lyrics to accurately reflect the weight of addiction, Shinoda finally brought the lyrics to the studio, where Bennington saw them for the first time. The lyrics struck him deeply, and he felt as though Shinoda had written about his own life.
Bennington later shared in an interview with MTV that recording the song was incredibly challenging. “The song that really got me straight to the core was ‘Breaking The Habit’ off of Meteora,” he recalled.
“Mike had written the song and he hands me a sheet with the lyrics on it, and I’m reading them and listening to them and it was like waterworks. I felt like he was writing about my life.”
He described how he would start crying after a few lines, leave the room, and return, struggling to get through the vocal takes. “I’d have to stop, gather myself. I’d get through two lines, start crying, leave the room, come back in. I was like, ‘I can’t do this.’”
The result, however, was a hauntingly powerful recording that allowed Bennington to convey his experience with visceral authenticity. Reflecting on the process, Shinoda also praised Bennington’s performance on the track, calling it one of his best: “Lyrically, it’s kind of just about getting away from the parts of you that you do not like. Chester’s performance is one of his best,” he said.
Although “Breaking The Habit” isn’t one of Linkin Park’s most popular hits, it holds a distinct place in Bennington’s legacy. The song’s genuine portrayal of struggle has resonated with countless listeners who see their own lives reflected in its lyrics, cementing it as a deeply significant track for those who, like Bennington, battle similar challenges.
