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Breaking Benjamin is an alternative metal band from Wilkes-Barre,
Pennsylvania.
Breaking Benjamin is, from left to right: Aaron Fink, Ben Burnley, Chad
Szeliga and Mark James Klepaski.Contents [hide]
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..
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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 24, 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 film is called 'Still Seeing Breen' and
its taken to an unusual new level with lip syncing that has to be seen. The
film caused a stir at Valve and even got 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. |
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BREAKING BENJAMIN PICTURES |
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MOST POPULAR
Angelina Jolie
Jessica Alba
Paris Hilton
Scarlett Johansson
Jessica Simpson
Britney Spears
Christina Aguilera
Lindsay Lohan
Shakira
Beyonce
Hilary Duff
ADDITIONS
Miley Cyrus
Rihanna
Hayden Panettiere
Miranda Cosgrove
Selena Gomez
Demi Lovato
Vanessa Hudgens
Ashley Tisdale
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