Elka Brand is the ex-wife of late American singer Chester Bennington, a lead singer for the rock band Linkin Park. Elka’s late former boyfriend, Chester Bennington, had also, at a certain point in time, been the lead vocalist for other bands like Grey Daze, Stone Temple Pilots, and Dead by Sunrise.
Who is Elka Brand?
Elka Brand is an American citizen. She rose to fame for her relationship with Chester Bennington as his girlfriend. Before the two former lovers met, Elka used to live a low-profile life, far away from media drama and controversies.
The two former lovers started dating in 1995 and went their separate ways after dating for a year in 1996. They have yet to disclose how and where they first met. Elka had a son named Isaiah from a previous relationship. Chester adopted Isaiah and added his surname Bennington to his name. The adoption process was finalized in 2006, according to Heavy.com.
Elka Brand and Chester Bennington also had a biological son together. He was born on May 12, 1996. His name is Jamie Bennington, and he is 27 years now. Isaiah Bennington and Jamie Bennington were the two children Chester had with Elka. It is also noted that Isaiah was still close to Chester after the breakup between the two lovers.
During the period when Elka was dating Chester, the former couple were usually seen together. They were seen after the singer’s shows and in public places, enjoying themselves together. The relationship lasted for a year, from 1994 to 1995. The reason for the break up was not disclosed to the public.
After the breakup, Elka went out of the limelight. Nothing has been seen or heard about her. There needs to be more information to confirm whether she ever got married or had any more children aside from Isaiah and Jamie.
On the other hand, Chester went to marry his first wife, Samantha Marie Olit, on October 31, 1996. The marriage could not last because Chester spent most of his time with his then-band, Linkin Park. They divorced in 2005 after having a child together. The name of the child is Draven Sebastian. He was born on April 19, 2002.
Elka Brand’s ex-boyfriend, Chester, married for the second after the failure of his first marriage. He got married to a woman named Talinda Ann Bentley in 2006. Talinda was a former Playboy model, and together with Chester, they had three children. The children were Tyler Lee Bennington, born on March 16, 2006, and a set of twins, Lily Bennington and Lila Bennington, on November 9, 2011. The couple lived together till Chester’s demise in July 2017.
Elka Brand’s ex-boyfriend, Chester, was abused as a child
According to Chester Bennington’s Wikipedia profile, it is revealed that he was a victim of abuse as a child. Though his father was a policeman who investigated cases of child sexual abuse, Chester became a victim of the same issues his father was fighting against.
From age 7, an older male friend abused him sexually. He could not tell his parent because he thought they would not believe him. The abuse continued till he was bold enough to reveal his parent at age 13. His father, to whom he disclosed the situation, refused to press legal charges against the offender.
When his parents divorced, Chester was in the custody of his father. The treatment he had from his father made him suicidal and depressed. He had wanted to kill everyone and run away. This got him addicted to illegal drugs and substances like Marijuana, cocaine, opium, and Lysergic acid diethylamide.
Elka Brand’s ex-boyfriend, Chester Bennington, was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born on March 20, 1976. His interest in music came at an early age, and he disclosed that Depeche Mode and Stone Temple Pilots were some of his early inspirations. He started his musical career in 1992 and was active till his death in 2017. He was found dead at age 41 in his Palos Verdes Estate home, and his death was ruled a suicide.