Benjamin Kowalewicz

Benjamin Kowalewicz

Benjamin Kowalewicz (Template:Pron-en) is the lead singer of the Canadian rock band Billy Talent.

Biography

Kowalewicz, of Polish descent, was born December 16, 1975 in Montreal, Quebec. He was raised in Streetsville, Ontario, but now lives in downtown Toronto. He attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School, where he was a drummer in a band named To Each His Own. In this band he would meet Jonathan Gallant. Kowalewicz moved from drummer to vocals and rhythm guitar, and Aaron Solowoniuk was recruited to play drums. The three would then meet Ian D'Sa to form a band called Pezz. Pezz released their first album, Watoosh!, in 1998. When threatened with a lawsuit from an American band who was also using the name Pezz, Kowalewicz suggested the name Billy Talent, taken from a character from Michael Turner's Hard Core Logo. Kowalewicz focused his work on vocals only, and Billy Talent was born. In this time, Kowalewicz worked in a number of positions at Toronto radio station 102.1 the Edge, as an assistant for The Ongoing History of New Music host Alan Cross, to contribute funds towards Billy Talent's first album.

Kowalewicz is featured in the song "Smiling Politely" by Cancer Bats from their album Hail Destroyer. He was featured in the song "Wake Up the Town" by Anti-Flag, which was a bonus track on their 2008 album The Bright Lights of America. Kowalewicz is seen in the video for Goldfinger's "Superman".

His home in downtown Toronto was featured on the Canadian home decorating show Designer Guys. The episode is entitled "Punk Meets Traditional".

Discography

For a more comprehensive list, see Billy Talent discography.

Album appearances

• Pezz - Watoosh! (1998)
• Billy Talent - Billy Talent (2003)
• Billy Talent - Billy Talent II (2006)
• Billy Talent - Billy Talent III (2009)

Guest appearance

• Anti-Flag - The Bright Lights of America on "Wake Up the Town" (2008)
• Cancer Bats - Hail Destroyer on "Smiling Politely" (2008)