Benjamin Burnley
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Jackson Burnley IV (born March 10, 1978) is an American musician
, best known as the lead vocalist
, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter
for the band Breaking Benjamin
.
and partially grew up in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
. At the age of 18, he dropped out of high school and moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
and became a room-mate of former Breaking Benjamin bass player Jonathan Price. He then taught himself to play guitar by listening to Nirvana
's Nevermind
and has also claimed that Nirvana was his biggest influence. Before Breaking Benjamin was formed, Burnley had earned money by playing cover songs in various coffee houses as a solo artist under his own name "Benjamin." He later came up with the band's name, "Breaking Benjamin," after doing a performance of a Nirvana cover. Ben knocked over (to imitate his lifelong idol Kurt Cobain
) and cracked a microphone he had borrowed. The owner of the microphone walked onto the stage and said, "I'd like to thank Benjamin for breaking my fucking microphone."
, got together (along with Nick Hoover and Chris Lightcap) and started the band “Breaking Benjamin.” Eventually Ben wanted to try something different and went out to California to try some new material. The other 3 members went on to form the band “Strangers With Candy.” They recruited old friend Mark Klepaski
to play bass and he joined in, and shortly after, Nick Hoover was then asked to leave the band.
In 1999, Ben Burnley moved back to Pennsylvania, and started a band called “Plan 9” with drummer Jeremy Hummel. Originally the band was a 3-piece. The lineup consisted of Ben on vocals and guitar, Jeremy behind the kit, and Jason Davoli on bass. Plan 9 would occasionally open for Lifer at home shows. During one show, Ben said “Thank you, we’re Breaking Benjamin,” and thus reclaiming the name from 1998. Later on, Mark left Lifer and found himself playing bass for Breaking Benjamin. Lifer continued going through struggles, and months later, Aaron sat in for a set with Benjamin. Finally, Aaron left Lifer, and was offered a spot in Ben Burnley's band, and they became a 4-piece.
On August 2, 2011 Aaron Fink
and Mark Klepaski
were informally fired by Burnley over a legal dispute arising from a new version of Blow Me Away
.
s and has even said that the name of their 2006 album, Phobia, was named after that simple fact. The cover of Phobia depicts a man with wings hovering above the ground, which is a representation of Burnley's most notable fear, being that of flying
. This fear of flying is the reason that Breaking Benjamin never tours outside of the United States and Canada
.
Burnley is a video gamer
. In fact, he maintained the idea for Breaking Benjamin to write and record the song "Blow Me Away
" for the soundtrack to Halo 2
. The song "Polyamorous
" is also featured on the game Run Like Hell, WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw
and WWE Day of Reckoning
(also with their song "Firefly"), and "The Diary of Jane
" was also featured on NASCAR 07
the video game.
Burnley is a recovering alcoholic, admitting in an interview with listenin.org that he wanted to "drink himself to death." He says that he regrets ever drinking a drop of alcohol and continues to suffer from lingering problems.
He is named after his great grandfather Benjamin Jackson Burnley Sr.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
for the band Breaking Benjamin
Breaking Benjamin
Breaking Benjamin is an American rock band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, currently consisting of Benjamin Burnley and Chad Szeliga. The band has released four studio albums to date and a greatest hits album that was released on August 16, 2011. The group initially went on indefinite hiatus due...
.
Early days as a musician
Benjamin Burnley was born in Atlantic City, New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and partially grew up in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
Selinsgrove is a borough in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1787 by Captain Anthony Selin, who fought with Washington in the Revolutionary War....
. At the age of 18, he dropped out of high school and moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
and became a room-mate of former Breaking Benjamin bass player Jonathan Price. He then taught himself to play guitar by listening to Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
's Nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group's first release on DGC Records...
and has also claimed that Nirvana was his biggest influence. Before Breaking Benjamin was formed, Burnley had earned money by playing cover songs in various coffee houses as a solo artist under his own name "Benjamin." He later came up with the band's name, "Breaking Benjamin," after doing a performance of a Nirvana cover. Ben knocked over (to imitate his lifelong idol Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
) and cracked a microphone he had borrowed. The owner of the microphone walked onto the stage and said, "I'd like to thank Benjamin for breaking my fucking microphone."
Starting Breaking Benjamin
In 1998, Burnley and former lead guitarist Aaron FinkAaron Fink
Aaron Fincke is an American guitarist, best known as the former lead guitarist for the alternative metal band Breaking Benjamin.-Biography:...
, got together (along with Nick Hoover and Chris Lightcap) and started the band “Breaking Benjamin.” Eventually Ben wanted to try something different and went out to California to try some new material. The other 3 members went on to form the band “Strangers With Candy.” They recruited old friend Mark Klepaski
Mark Klepaski
Markus James Klepaski is an American bass guitarist, best known as the former bass player for the American rock band, Breaking Benjamin.-Biography:...
to play bass and he joined in, and shortly after, Nick Hoover was then asked to leave the band.
In 1999, Ben Burnley moved back to Pennsylvania, and started a band called “Plan 9” with drummer Jeremy Hummel. Originally the band was a 3-piece. The lineup consisted of Ben on vocals and guitar, Jeremy behind the kit, and Jason Davoli on bass. Plan 9 would occasionally open for Lifer at home shows. During one show, Ben said “Thank you, we’re Breaking Benjamin,” and thus reclaiming the name from 1998. Later on, Mark left Lifer and found himself playing bass for Breaking Benjamin. Lifer continued going through struggles, and months later, Aaron sat in for a set with Benjamin. Finally, Aaron left Lifer, and was offered a spot in Ben Burnley's band, and they became a 4-piece.
On August 2, 2011 Aaron Fink
Aaron Fink
Aaron Fincke is an American guitarist, best known as the former lead guitarist for the alternative metal band Breaking Benjamin.-Biography:...
and Mark Klepaski
Mark Klepaski
Markus James Klepaski is an American bass guitarist, best known as the former bass player for the American rock band, Breaking Benjamin.-Biography:...
were informally fired by Burnley over a legal dispute arising from a new version of Blow Me Away
Blow Me Away
"Blow Me Away" is a song by American rock band Breaking Benjamin originally recorded specifically for the soundtrack to Halo 2. Since then the song has been re-released several times, including being released as a single in 2010...
.
Personal life
Burnley is victim to several phobiaPhobia
A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder, usually defined as a persistent fear of an object or situation in which the sufferer commits to great lengths in avoiding, typically disproportional to the actual danger posed, often being recognized as irrational...
s and has even said that the name of their 2006 album, Phobia, was named after that simple fact. The cover of Phobia depicts a man with wings hovering above the ground, which is a representation of Burnley's most notable fear, being that of flying
Fear of flying
A fear of flying is a fear of being on an airplane , or other flying vehicle, such as a helicopter, while in flight. It is also sometimes referred to as aerophobia, aviatophobia, aviophobia or pteromerhanophobia....
. This fear of flying is the reason that Breaking Benjamin never tours outside of the United States and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Burnley is a video gamer
Gamer
Historically, the term "gamer" usually referred to someone who played role-playing games and wargames. Since they became very popular, the term has included players of video games...
. In fact, he maintained the idea for Breaking Benjamin to write and record the song "Blow Me Away
Blow Me Away
"Blow Me Away" is a song by American rock band Breaking Benjamin originally recorded specifically for the soundtrack to Halo 2. Since then the song has been re-released several times, including being released as a single in 2010...
" for the soundtrack to Halo 2
Halo 2
Halo 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie Studios. Released for the Xbox video game console on November 9, 2004, the game is the second installment in the Halo franchise and the sequel to 2001's critically acclaimed Halo: Combat Evolved...
. The song "Polyamorous
Polyamorous (Breaking Benjamin song)
-Music videos:Two music videos were produced for "Polyamorous." The original version deals with a voyeuristic couple whom, with the use of a joystick and various monitors for hidden cameras, are spying on other couples. The band is seen performing in the same chambers as these couples are as well...
" is also featured on the game Run Like Hell, WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw
WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw , is a professional wrestling video game released on the PlayStation 2 console by THQ and developed by Yuke's. It is part of the WWE SmackDown vs...
and WWE Day of Reckoning
WWE Day of Reckoning
WWE Day of Reckoning is a professional wrestling video game released for the Nintendo GameCube console in 2004. The game is based on World Wrestling Entertainment and many of the wrestlers who were on the WWE roster at the time of release were included as player characters...
(also with their song "Firefly"), and "The Diary of Jane
The Diary of Jane
-Personnel:Breaking Benjamin* Benjamin Burnley - lead vocals, rhythm guitar* Aaron Fink - lead guitar* Mark James Klepaski - bass* Chad Szeliga - drumsProduction*Produced by David Bendeth*Mixed by Chris Lord-Alge*Music video directed by Ryan Smith-Charts:...
" was also featured on NASCAR 07
NASCAR 07
NASCAR 07 is the tenth installment of the EA Sports' NASCAR video game series. It was developed by EA Tiburon and released on September 6, 2006 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PlayStation Portable. This was the last NASCAR edition to be released exclusively on sixth generation consoles.The NTSC...
the video game.
Burnley is a recovering alcoholic, admitting in an interview with listenin.org that he wanted to "drink himself to death." He says that he regrets ever drinking a drop of alcohol and continues to suffer from lingering problems.
He is named after his great grandfather Benjamin Jackson Burnley Sr.