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Benjamin Burnley

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Benjamin J. Burnley IV
 
Burnley performing in February 2009
BornMarch 10, 1978 (1978-03-10) (age 46)
Atlantic City, New Jersey
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Years active1998–present
Known forBreaking Benjamin
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)[1]
SpouseRhiannon Napier née (m. 2014)
Children1
Musical career
Instrument(s)Guitar, bongo drum

Benjamin Jackson Burnley IV (born March 10, 1978) is an American musician, composer, and producer, best known as the founder and front man of the rock band Breaking Benjamin. As the sole constant of the group, Burnley has served as its principal songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist since its inception in 1999. Since signing with Hollywood Records in 2002, Burnley has released five studio albums under the name Breaking Benjamin, yielding two platinum records, one gold record, and 7 million unit sales[2] in the United States. Outside of Breaking Benjamin, Burnley has also collaborated with acts such as Adam Gontier[3] and Red.[4]

Early life

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Benjamin Burnley was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and was raised in Ocean City, New Jersey.[5] His mother is Sydnee Burnley, the sister of Benjamin Jackson Burnley III, for whom the singer is named.[6] At age 12, Burnley moved to Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania due to an increase in taxes.[5] Burnley "wasn't really into music" during this time, saying, "I'd just see Twisted Sister and all that eighties shit ... I couldn't even fathom why people got into bands."[7] However, Burnley was eventually introduced to Nirvana, saying, "That band opened my mind completely."[7] At age 14, Burnley began teaching himself how to play guitar by listening to Nirvana's Nevermind.[8] He credits them as helping him emotionally as a kid,[9] and the "one and only band" responsible for his career.[10]

Musical career

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Main article: Breaking Benjamin

Burnley first started a band named Breaking Benjamin in 1998, though that band was "nothing like" subsequent lineups, and played "softer music".[11] Burnley coined the eponymous band name after an incident in which he broke a borrowed microphone, prompting its owner to retort, "Thanks to Benjamin for breaking my fucking mic."[12] This band eventually broke up when Burnley moved to California.[13] After returning to Pennsylvania, Burnley formed Plan 9 with drummer Jeremy Hummel and bassist Jason Davoli.[14] Eventually the band reclaimed the name Breaking Benjamin from Burnley's previous band.[11]

Breaking Benjamin first gained attention when local DJ Freddie Fabbri put the group's track "Polyamorous" in rotation.[15] He eventually financed the recording of the group's Breaking Benjamin (EP), which sold all 2,000 copies that were printed in 2001.[8] Jonathan "Bug" Price was credited on bass, replacing Davoli.[16] Eventually high school friends and previous band mates[7] guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark Klepaski joined Breaking Benjamin from the Universal-signed Lifer.[17] In early 2002, over a dozen record companies visited a two-night showcase where Breaking Benjamin was playing, and the group subsequently signed with Hollywood Records.[15] The band's first studio album Saturate was released in 2002[8] and they subsequently toured as a supporting act for Godsmack.[18]

Breaking Benjamin proceeded to release critically-acclaimed and commercially successful albums, working for three consecutive albums with producer David Bendeth, including We Are Not Alone (2004), Phobia (2006), and Dear Agony (2009).[8] They also toured with acts such as Three Days Grace,[19] Evanescence,[20] Seether,[21] Nickelback,[22] Shinedown,[22] and many others.

Notes and references

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Citations

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  1. ^ "Breaking Benjamin gave Youngstown a fix". The Vindicator. March 25, 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  2. ^ Monacelli, Emily (July 13, 2015). "Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin coming to Kellogg Arena in September". Kalamazoo Gazette. Advance Publications. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  3. ^ Brutus, Lou (January 17, 2013). "Get the Dirt". KQRX. Brazos Communications. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  4. ^ Kliska (March 24, 2009). "Ben Burnley's Collaboration with Red". The Christian Scribbler. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Roncace 2015.
  6. ^ Ingrassia 2010.
  7. ^ a b c Miller 2004.
  8. ^ a b c d Henderson & n.d.
  9. ^ Cummings-Grady 2015.
  10. ^ Howells 2014.
  11. ^ a b Book 2015.
  12. ^ Craft 2015.
  13. ^ Sisak 2011.
  14. ^ Said 2012.
  15. ^ a b Duff 2002.
  16. ^ Breaking Benjamin 2001.
  17. ^ St. James 2003.
  18. ^ MTV News 2003.
  19. ^ Ultimate Guitar 2010.
  20. ^ Wiederhorn 2004.
  21. ^ Moss 2004.
  22. ^ a b Morentin 2010.

References

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