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Breaking Benjamin

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Breaking Benjamin
File:Breakingben2006.jpg
Background information
OriginWilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA
Years active2000 – present
MembersBenjamin Burnley
Aaron Fink
Mark Klepaski
Chad Szeliga

Breaking Benjamin is a post-grunge/alternative metal band from Wilkes-Barre, 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 major-label debut, Saturate, in 2002. The first single, "Polyamorous", received a fair amount radio play. Additionally, the song was featured in the video game Run Like Hell. It was also featured in the video game WWE Day of Reckoning along with "Firefly". The video was released in two different versions, one for the UK that had all live-action footage and one for the US that had footage of the video game Run Like Hell; both videos can be seen on YouTube.

Breaking Benjamin released their sophomore album, We Are Not Alone, on June 29, 2004, which featured the leadoff single "So Cold". The band had two music videos made for the song, one of which was a promotional video made for the movie Hellboy. Later in 2004, the band released the So Cold EP. The EP contains live recordings of We Are Not Alone's "So Cold" (an acoustic recording), "Breakdown", and "Away", as well as studio recordings of "Blow Me Away" and "Lady Bug".

On September 28, 2005, former drummer Jeremy 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. No further details on this lawsuit have been released.

The band released their third album, Phobia, on August 8. The first single, "The Diary of Jane" was released online on May 22 and later was released on the radio June 6. The music video for "The Diary Of Jane" premiered on Yahoo! Music on June 21st.

Line-up

Former members

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Mainstream Rock
2002 "Polyamorous" - #31 #19 Saturate
2003 "Skin" - #37 #24 Saturate
2003 "Medicate" - - - Saturate
2004 "So Cold" #76 #3 #2 We Are Not Alone
2004 "Sooner or Later" #99 #7 #2 We Are Not Alone
2005 "Rain" - #39 #23 We Are Not Alone
2006 "The Diary of Jane" #50 #8 #4 Phobia

Trivia

  • The name "Breaking Benjamin" comes from lead vocalist Benjamin Burnley's solo experience where he broke a borrowed microphone and the person who owned it came onstage and stated, 'Thanks to Benjamin for Breaking my fucking mic.'
  • During live shows, the band has been known to frequently cover Nirvana, Tool and Depeche Mode songs.
  • The first single from the band's sophomore release We Are Not Alone, "So Cold", has spent 37 weeks in the top 20 of the Billboard charts (as of February 3, 2005).
  • 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, Arizona 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 sparked his interest in music. Gary Fincke is a professor at Susquehanna University and wrote Amp'd: A Father's Backstage Pass about his travels with the band.
  • The band created an original cut for the immensely popular video game Halo 2 entitled "Blow Me Away", which can be heard on the So Cold EP & the Halo 2, Vol. 1 Soundtrack.
  • Paul Marino of the Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences produced, directed, and edited a music video to "So Cold" using the Source engine and Half-Life 2 content. This video is called "I'm Still Seeing Breen" and it is notable for its achievements with lip syncing. The video caused a stir at Valve and was even shown on MTV2's Video Mods.
  • In 2004 the band agreed to have two of their songs in the video games WWE SmackDown! VS. RAW for the PlayStation 2 and WWE Day of Reckoning for the Nintendo Gamecube. The songs that are featured in the games are "Firefly" and "Polyamorous".
  • Their new album Phobia is based on Ben's personal phobia of travel by plane and his slight social phobia. Guitarist Aaron Fink stated in an interview that they sent a hypnotist to Ben's house to rid him of his phobia. No positive results were reported. [citation needed]
  • They've been quoted (while on Rock Line) as saying they'd like to go on tour with: Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, Tool, & Sevendust.

See also

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