Dead by Sunrise

Lore & Background

Dead by Sunrise formed in 2005 during a break in Linkin Park's touring cycle after the Meteora album. Chester Bennington had written songs that he felt were too dark and moody for Linkin Park, so he decided to develop them separately. The foundation for the band was laid earlier when future bandmate Ryan Shuck met Bennington during the recording of Linkin Park's debut album Hybrid Theory. Bennington had performed the song "Morning After" acoustically at a few Linkin Park shows in 2001. The band originally operated under the name Snow White Tan, reflecting Bennington's self-described vampire-like lifestyle during the album's creation, before changing to Dead by Sunrise.

The band's debut album, Out of Ashes, was recorded between 2005 and 2009. The album was finished by December 2005, but Bennington delayed its release to focus on Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight. Recording resumed in October 2008 and concluded in January 2009. The album was produced by Howard Benson and featured Bennington writing most songs on acoustic guitar before reshaping them with the band. Two singles were released: "Crawl Back In" (September 8, 2009) and "Let Down". The band toured with Linkin Park in Europe, Japan, and America, performing a few songs during Linkin Park's sets.

After 2010, the band became inactive. Brandon Belsky left in summer 2010, and Elias Andra left in December 2010. The band's final performance was an acoustic show at the 2011 Stars of the Season Gala event. Following Bennington's death by suicide on July 20, 2017, surviving members participated in tribute concerts. In 2024, a deluxe edition of Out of Ashes was released on vinyl and digitally, including an acoustic show from July 4, 2009.

Reader's Guide

Dead by Sunrise occupies a unique place in Chester Bennington's career as his primary creative outlet outside Linkin Park. The band allowed Bennington to explore a more personal, darker sound that he felt did not fit his main group. The album Out of Ashes was described by critics as grunge, pop rock, and punk rock, and its title reflected Bennington's journey away from a self-destructive lifestyle. Though the band released only one studio album, it demonstrated Bennington's versatility as a songwriter and performer. The band's legacy is intertwined with Bennington's broader musical identity, and the 2024 deluxe reissue of Out of Ashes has renewed interest in the project. The band's members, primarily from Julien-K and Orgy, continued to honor Bennington's memory through tribute performances after his death.

Did You Know?

• The band was originally named Snow White Tan before changing to Dead by Sunrise.
• Chester Bennington wrote most of the songs on an acoustic guitar before reshaping them with the band.
• The band performed three songs at the 13th anniversary party for Club Tattoo in Tempe, Arizona on May 10, 2008.
• In 2024, Dead by Sunrise released a deluxe edition of Out of Ashes containing an acoustic show from July 4, 2009.