Breaking Benjamin

**Black_Raven** · 01-17-2008 10:54 AM

BREAKING BENJAMIN

Current Members

Benjamin Burnley - Vocals, Guitar
Aaron Fink - Guitar
Mark James Klepaski - Bass
Chad Szeliga - Drums

History

Formed in 1998 by vocalist Benjamin Burnley and drummer Jeremy Hummel, Breaking Benjamin quickly garnered a strong local following in their home state of Pennsylvania. The band derived their name after Burnley explained during an interview he was covering a Nirvana song during an open-mic night at a club when he dropped the microphone to the ground, breaking it. The person who owned the microphone came on stage and said, 'Thanks to Benjamin for breaking my ****ing mic'[2]. In 1999, the band briefly renamed themselves "Plan 9." In late 2000, after various line-up changes, the band changed its name back to "Breaking Benjamin" and two friends of Burnley, Aaron Fink and Mark Klepaski, left their previous band, Lifer, and joined the ranks of Breaking Benjamin as guitarist and bassist, respectively. Lifer was a band that gained brief mainstream attention because of their part in an MTV cover band contest that resulted in a record deal with Universal Records. According to the band, the Breaking Benjamin logo, a variation of the Celtic knot, was found in a tattoo book by a fan. The logo is also tattooed on Burnley's right middle finger.

The band is currently signed to Hollywood records on a five record deal, having released three so far. They achieved their first number 1 single in 2007 with the track "Breath" off their third album "Phobia." During live shows, the band has been known to frequently cover Godsmack, Nirvana, Tool, and on more recent tours Deftones, and Nine Inch Nails songs.

http://profile.imeem.com/XqLqm2/musi...min_follow_me/
Click The Link Above To Listen To Their Popular Song "Follow Me"

**~RiOtFoRpHoEnIx~** · 01-18-2008 05:05 AM

I love Breaking Benjamin, they were the first Alternative band that I got into when I first started listening to hard rock and Metal music. I never knew where their name came from though, lol... thanks for the info. My favourite songs would be: Blow Me Away, Shallow Bay, Sooner or Later, Firefly, Rain and practically all the album "Phobia" apart from one song.

**-Kitsune-** · 01-18-2008 05:12 AM

I absolutely LOVE this band, they were one of the first rock bands I really got into. I actually saw them in concert last May with Three Days Grace and Red, they put on a great show ^.^ I really like their newest song "Until the End" as well as their song "Breath"

**Hamashimura** · 01-20-2008 06:12 AM

Lolz...
Song name is Follow,not Folow Me <__<;;;

Ah,yes...fascinating band...
I love them,the vocals are great,and combined with their music..
mmm,just great...
I first started listening to them at the time the first album was released...
And the next thing I knew - I was addicted...
I love about 80% of their songs,and here's a small list of my personal favorites: Next to Nothing, Water, So Cold, Follow, Firefly, Sooner or Later, Blow me Away, Away, Break my Fall and complete Phobia album...

**Masali** · 01-22-2008 01:20 AM

3 Days Grace if they were talented. I quite like Breaking Benjamin because they're a modern Hard Rock/Alt rock band with a very distinct sound. It's good times. And they're really local, they originate from like...10 miles away from my town.