Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch said Thursday he is “pissed” that friend Chester Bennington of Linkin Park took his own life and he called his suicide “the cowardly way out.”
“This is truly pissing me off! How can these guys send this message to their kids and fans?! I'm sick of this suicide s**t,” Welch wrote on Facebook.
“I’ve battled depression/mental illness, and I'm trying to be [sympathetic], but it's hard when you're pissed! Enough is enough! Giving up on your kids, fans, and life is the cowardly way out!!!”
Welch, who came under fire for his comments, followed up two hours later.
“I didn't mean to sound insensitive about Chester,” he explained. “Just dealing with a range of emotions today. Love you Chester. I'm pissed that you did this, but I know this could have been me back in the day after getting wasted one night.”
MORE: Chester Bennington Gets Emotional Singing "One More Light"
Overnight, Welch recorded a video message which he shared on Facebook. In it, he struggles to process Bennington’s death.
“I just don’t want it to happen anymore,” he said. “Nobody do it anymore. I’m at that point where it’s too much.
“Mental illness is severe and I’ve been through it and thank God that I didn’t do it.”
Welch also appealed to anyone considering suicide. “Do anything you’ve got to do to get past those feelings,” he urged. “Don’t be alone.”
