Breaking Benjamin was originally made up of band members Aaron Fink, Jeremy Hummel, Mark James Klepaski, and Ben Burnley. Breaking Benjamin formed in the year 2000-2001 when guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark James Klepaski left their alternative rock band Lifer. They then combined with Burnley (singer) and Hummel (drummer) and formed the band Breaking Benjamin. The band had many alternative rock band influences that included bands such as Live, Bush, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and Nirvana. It was said in the biography of Breaking Benjamin, located on Starpulse.com, that Ben Burnley taught himself how to play guitar by listening to Nirvana’s album Nevermind repeatedly.
In 2001 while doing gigs in their hometown of Wilkes – Barre, Pennsylvania, Breaking Benjamin’s talent was noticed by radio personality Freddie Fabbri. Fabbri started putting the band’s single “Polyamorous” in rotation on his alternative rock station WBSX-FM. He also financed Breaking Benjamin’s self titled EP which ended up selling over 2,000 copies in their hometown area. Later in 2001 the band signed with Hollywood Records and United with Ulrich Wild, which produced and engineered their first full length album Saturate. Saturate was released in August 2002; a follow up album, We Are Not Alone, was released two years later.
The band landed a spot on the Evanescence tour and three of their singles from their second album made the Billboard Charts. In August of 2006 Breaking Benjamin released their third album, Phobia. This album featured new drummer Chad Szeliga. The single “Diary of Jane” got immediate constant airplay on the radio airwaves, making Phobia debut at number two on the Billboard Charts. After touring to promote Phobia, Breaking Benjamin went back into the studio to start working on their upcoming fourth album. Their forth album, Dear Agony, included their new hit single “I Will Not Bow”, which was released to U.S. airwaves on August 17, 2009. Dear Agony was released on September 28, 2009 in Australia and September 29, 2009 in the United States.
I was introduced to the sounds of Breaking Benjamin in the summer of 2006. I have heard them before that time, but it was hearing their hit single “Diary of Jane” where I immediately fell in love with them. It is my favorite hit by them and probably always will be.How ironic is it that my favorite hit by them was the hit that made their Phobia such as success! I also found it very interesting that one of the bands that influenced them was rock band Nirvana, which was known as one of the best rock bands of all time.
In this century, Breaking Benjamin will known as one of the best rock bands of all time. I saw them live in September of 2007 and I will have to say it was one of the greatest concert performances that I have ever seen! Their talent is amazing- I have even heard an acoustic/ ballad version of Diary of Jane and it took my breath away. Even-though Breaking Benjamin is considered hard alternative rock, they have shown they have a little of a soft side to them as well. Their fourth album Dear Agony was once again no disappointment- it was amazing just like the band!
Henderson, Alex (October 19,2009). Breaking Benjamin Biography.Retrieved October 18,2009, from http://www.starpulse.com
Hollywood Records (2007, May 12). Breaking Benjamin- The Diary of Jane- Music Video. Video posted on http://www.youtube.com
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