Breaking Benjamin

Lore & Background

Breaking Benjamin was formed in 1999 by Benjamin Burnley and Jeremy Hummel, with the first lineup including guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark James Klepaski. This lineup released two albums: Saturate (2002) and We Are Not Alone (2004). After Hummel was replaced by Chad Szeliga in 2005, the band released Phobia (2006) and Dear Agony (2009) before entering an extended hiatus in early 2010 due to Burnley's recurring illnesses.

During the hiatus, an unauthorized compilation album, Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin (2011), led to legal trouble and the dismissal of Fink and Klepaski. Szeliga left in 2013 citing creative differences. Burnley remained the sole member until late 2014, when a new lineup was announced including Aaron Bruch, Keith Wallen, Jasen Rauch, and Shaun Foist. This lineup released Dark Before Dawn (2015) and Ember (2018), which debuted at number one and three on the Billboard 200, respectively. A compilation album, Aurora (2020), featured reworked acoustic versions of past songs and one original new song.

The band's name originated from an incident where Burnley broke a microphone stand, prompting the owner to say, 'Thanks to Benjamin for breaking my fucking mic stand.' The band first gained attention when DJ Freddie Fabbri put their track 'Polyamorous' in rotation on active rock radio station WBSX, leading to the recording of their eponymous EP, which sold all 2,000 copies printed in 2001.

Reader's Guide

Breaking Benjamin's significance lies in their commercial success and stylistic consistency despite numerous lineup changes. With Burnley as the sole constant member and primary songwriter, the band maintained a formulaic hard rock approach characterized by 'crunching' guitars, swelling choruses, and angst-heavy lyrics. Their albums consistently charted on the Billboard 200, with Dark Before Dawn and Ember reaching number one and three, respectively. The band's catalog includes three RIAA-certified platinum records, two gold records, and several certified singles, including three multi-platinum, three platinum, and six gold. Their ability to sustain a loyal audience through legal disputes, hiatuses, and personnel turnover underscores their resilience and the central role of Burnley's creative vision. The band's legacy is also marked by their avoidance of overseas touring due to Burnley's fear of flying, a phobia that influenced the concept of their album Phobia.

Did You Know?

• Breaking Benjamin's first EP sold all 2,000 copies printed in 2001 after their track 'Polyamorous' was put into rotation on radio station WBSX by DJ Freddie Fabbri.
• Drummer Jeremy Hummel filed a federal lawsuit in late 2005 over his termination, which was settled for an undisclosed amount in April 2006.
• The band's compilation album Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin (2011) was released without Burnley's authorization, leading to the dismissal of Fink and Klepaski.