Breaking Benjamin
Breaking Benjamin | |
|---|---|
| File:New-breaking-benjamin.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Years active | 2000 – present |
| Members | Benjamin Burnley Aaron Fink Mark Kapleski Chad Szeliga |
Breaking Benjamin is a modern rock/post-grunge band from Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
Band history
Formed in 1999 under the moniker "Plan 9," the band quickly garnered a local following before changing their name to "Breaking Benjamin" in late 2000 and signing to Hollywood Records, where they released their first major-label record, Saturate, in 2002. The record had clear influences and touches of Tool, KoЯn, and Nirvana. The first single "Polyamorous" received much radio airplay, and propelled the band to stardom.
Ben Burnley says that he taught himself the guitar by listening to Nirvana's Nevermind. He also explained in an on-air radio interview of the band (Tucson, AZ station KFMA) that he's written most songs at least half-drunk, with one exception. Aaron Fink pointed out that his father joined the band on tour, and that his father's music collection is what originally turned him on to music. Gary Fincke is a professor at Susquehanna University and wrote Amp'd: A Father's Backstage Pass about his travels with the band.
Breaking Benjamin's roots are clearly alternative rock/metal band, but they are definitely heavier than their peers. Sticking to the genre's symbolistic downtuned guitars, which creates a haunting and overwhelming heaviness in their songs, they manage to keep their melodies prominent. The songs seem to have a feeling of strength and youth despite a distinct pessimism. During live shows, they also often cover Nirvana and Tool songs and Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence."
On June 29, 2004, the band released We Are Not Alone, which featured the first single "So Cold." They also created an original cut for the immensely popular video game Halo 2 entitled "Blow Me Away." "So Cold" had two music videos made for it, one of which was made for the movie Hellboy. Paul Marino of the Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences produced, directed, and edited a music video to the song "So Cold" by "Breaking Benjamin" using the Source engine and Half-Life 2 content. This video is called 'Still Seeing Breen' and it is notable for it's achievements with lip syncing. The video caused a stir at Valve and was even shown on MTV.
On November 30, 2004, the band released the So Cold EP. The EP contains live recordings of We Are Not Alone's "So Cold (acoustic recording)," "Breakdown," and "Away," as well as studio recordings of "Blow Me Away" and an additional track entitled "Lady Bug."
Since Jeremy Hummel was fired from the band in 2004, Breaking Benjamin has hired Chad Szeliga as the band's new drummer. Chad Szeliga is the ex-drummer of the band Sw1tched. To add to the credibility of the band, their first single "So Cold" has spent 37 weeks in the top 20 of the Billboard charts (as of February 3, 2005).
On September 28, 2005, Hummel filed a federal lawsuit against the remaining members of Breaking Benjamin, as well as its management, claiming he was not paid for songs he helped write. Hummel's lawsuit asks for more than $8 million in damages.
When asked to comment on the recent lawsuit the band faces, close friend of Ben, Tim Rogers replied "I hope that both sides can work it out, they all have great talent and we don't need a lawsuit like this to interfere with the band's progress"
The band was accused of selling illegal cherry bombs in Levelland, Texas in March of 2006.
Line-up
Former members
- Jeremy Hummel (Drums) (2001-2004)
- Jonathan "Bug" Price (Bass) (2000 - 2001) Plays for Headplug
Discography
Albums
- Saturate (2002)
- We Are Not Alone (2004)
EPs
- "Breaking Benjamin EP" (2001)
- Live EP (2004)
- So Cold (2004)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
| US Hot 100 | US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK | |||
| 2002 | "Polyamorous" | - | #31 | #19 | - | Saturate |
| 2003 | "Skin" | - | #37 | #24 | - | Saturate |
| 2004 | "So Cold" | #76 | #3 | #2 | - | We Are Not Alone |
| 2005 | "Sooner or Later" | #99 | #7 | #2 | - | We Are Not Alone |
| 2005 | "Rain" | - | #39 | #23 | - | We Are Not Alone |
See also
Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen