{{Short description|American rock musician (born 1978)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{BLP sources|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Benjamin Burnley | image = 2016 RiP Breaking Benjamin - Benjamin Burnley - by 2eight - 8SC8634.jpg | alt = | caption = Burnley performing in 2016 | birth_name = Benjamin Jackson Burnley IV | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|3|10}} | birth_place = Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | occupation = {{flatlist| * Singer * musician * songwriter * record producer }} | years_active = 1998–present | genre = {{flatlist| * Alternative rock * hard rock * alternative metal * nu metal * {{nowrap|post-grunge}} }} | instrument = {{flatlist| * Vocals * guitar }} | current_member_of = Breaking Benjamin }}
'''Benjamin Jackson Burnley IV''' (born March 10, 1978) is an American musician and the founder and frontman of the rock band Breaking Benjamin. As the sole constant and namesake of the group, Burnley has served as its principal songwriter, lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist since its inception in 1999.
Since signing with Hollywood Records in 2002, Burnley has composed six studio albums under the name Breaking Benjamin, three of which have reached platinum and two of which have reached gold in the United States.<ref name="riaa">{{cite web |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?&artist=benjamin |title=RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=RIAA |access-date=March 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904024728/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Burnley has also collaborated with acts such as Adam Gontier<ref name="kqrx">{{cite web |url=http://www.rock951online.com/GET-THE-DIRT-W-LOU-BRUTUS/14586178?pid=290492 |title=Get The Dirt |first=Lou |last=Brutus |date=January 17, 2013 |website=KQRX 95.1 |publisher=Brazos Communications West, LLC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411003508/http://www.rock951online.com/GET-THE-DIRT-W-LOU-BRUTUS/14586178?pid=290492 |archive-date=April 11, 2015}}</ref> and Red.<ref name="iheartradio">{{cite web |url=http://www.iheart.com/artist/Red-30400755/songs/Shadows-2510149/ |title=Red - Shadows |work=iHeart Radio |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=April 10, 2015}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Burnley was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and grew up in Ocean City, New Jersey, before moving with his family at the age of 12 to Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.<ref>Roncace, Kelly. [https://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/08/breaking_benjamin_is_back_and_going_home.html 'Breaking Benjamin is back and going home with show at Trump Taj Mahal"], NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 8, 2015. Accessed August 9, 2018. "'I was born in Atlantic City, at the hospital there, and raised in Ocean City until I was 12 years old.' Burnley explained his family moved to Pennsylvania when he was 12 due to an increase in taxes at the shore town."</ref> At 16, after being home schooled, he passed the GED requirement.
==Career== ===Breaking Benjamin=== {{Main|Breaking Benjamin}} In 1998, Burnley and former lead guitarist Aaron Fink got together with Nick Hoover and Chris Lightcap and started the band Breaking Benjamin. Eventually, Burnley wanted to try something different and went out to California to try some new material. The other three members went on to form the band Strangers with Candy, later known as Lifer. They recruited old friend Mark Klepaski to play bass and he joined in, and shortly after, Hoover was asked to leave the band.
In 1999, Burnley moved back to Pennsylvania, and started a band called "Plan 9" with drummer Jeremy Hummel. The band initially was a three-piece. The lineups consisted of Burnley on vocals and electric guitar, Jeremy on drums, and Jason Davoli on bass. Plan 9 would occasionally open for Lifer at home shows. During one show, Burnley said "Thank you, we're Breaking Benjamin," reclaiming the name from 1998. Later on, Klepaski left Lifer, and began playing bass for Breaking Benjamin. Lifer continued going through struggles, and months later, Aaron Fink sat in for a set with Benjamin. Finally, Fink left Lifer, and was offered a spot in Ben Burnley's band, and they became a four-piece.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shallowbay.com/forum/faq.php?faq=section_2#faq_question_2_2 |title=Breaking Benjamin Underground |publisher=The Shallow Bay |access-date=November 2, 2011}}</ref>
===Collaborations=== Burnley has collaborated and performed with fellow alternative metal bands, including Three Days Grace, Evans Blue, and Disturbed. He made a guest spot on a special remix of The Drama Club's single "Brand New Day." He also co-wrote the Red hit song "Shadows" and Madam Adam song "Forgotten". Burnley has collaborated with Three Days Grace singer Adam Gontier on a song titled "The End of the Day" (yet to be released).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harddriveradio.com/dirt/thursday-jan-17|work=Harddrive|access-date=April 21, 2013|title=DdirtRockforrecovery}}</ref>
==Lyrics and vocal style== [[File:Benjamin Burnley.jpg|thumb|Burnley with Breaking Benjamin in 2010]] Burnley's lyrical content frequently and most recently consists of cryptic, angst-ridden themes that "waffle between being plaintive and aggressive." Burnley has the range of a dramatic tenor and occasionally utilizes death growls and screams in his singing. ''IGN'' described him as having a "somewhat innocuous voice that is crystal clear... fluctuating between contemplative subjectivity and growling anger."<ref name="ign spence">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/11/breaking-benjamin-phobia |title=Breaking Benjamin - Phobia |website=IGN |publisher=j2 Global |author=Spence D. |date=September 11, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219175352/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/11/breaking-benjamin-phobia |archive-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref> Burnley uses baritone guitars and drop tunings to get a heavier sound in his music.<ref name="fret12 baritone">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yfKDYNR7uY |title=Ben Burnley Talks About His Baritone Guitar And Low Tunings |website=YouTube |publisher=FRET12 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |access-date=April 10, 2015}} (verified channel, primary source).</ref>
==Personal life== Burnley has several phobias, a fact that inspired the title of Breaking Benjamin’s 2006 album ''Phobia''. ''Phobia''{{'}}s cover, which depicts a winged man hovering above the ground, represents Burnley's fear of flying, which has prevented Breaking Benjamin from touring outside the United States and Canada in the past.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jodileib.com/blog/breakingbenjamin |title=Ben Burnley, Breaking Benjamin Interview on www.jodileib.com |publisher=Jodileib.com |date=November 22, 2004 |access-date=April 11, 2020}}</ref> However in May 2016, he and his band members traveled by ferry ship to Europe and made their first musical tour outside of North America. Breaking Benjamin again toured Europe in 2017 successfully. Burnley also has hypochondria and a fear of the dark.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Benjamin Burnley biography, married, wife, illness, tattoos, interview, cancer, net worth • biography|url=https://bijog.com/biography/benjamin-burnley/page-1|access-date=February 3, 2021|website=bijog.com}}</ref> He incorporates his phobias into his music on the album ''We Are Not Alone'' in the song "Break My Fall", in which a pilot is heard over the music saying, "Mayday, mayday. Request permission to land. I cannot control the plane. We are in danger of crashing."
Burnley is an avid video gamer,<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 20, 2021|title=After 16 years, Breaking Benjamin's 'Halo 2' single 'Blow Me Away' is certified platinum|url=https://nepascene.com/2021/01/after-16-years-breaking-benjamin-halo-2-single-blow-me-away-certified-platinum/|access-date=February 3, 2021|website=NEPA Scene}}</ref> and conceived of the idea for Breaking Benjamin to write and record the song "Blow Me Away" for the soundtrack to ''Halo 2''. The song "Polyamorous" is also featured on the games ''Run Like Hell'', ''WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw'' and ''WWE Day of Reckoning'' (along with their song "Firefly"). "The Diary of Jane" appears on ''NASCAR 07'' and ''Fortnite Festival''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-16 |title=All Fortnite Festival songs ever released |url=https://esports.gg/news/fortnite/all-jam-tracks-ever-released-in-fortnite/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=esports.gg |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=12 maart 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVIMuoTt3N4 |title=Tour Gaming with Breaking Benjamin | date=March 12, 2008 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 2, 2010}}</ref>
Burnley is a recovering alcoholic, admitting in an interview that he wanted to "drink himself to death."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://listenin.org/interviews/archive/artists/Breaking+Benjamin/default.aspx |title=Breaking Benjamin|publisher=Listenin.org |access-date=November 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100915062048/http://listenin.org/interviews/archive/artists/Breaking+Benjamin/default.aspx |archive-date=September 15, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He says that he regrets ever drinking a drop of alcohol and has Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome due to his past excessive drinking. ''Dear Agony'' was reported to be the first ever Breaking Benjamin record to be written by Burnley without the use of alcohol.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kory Grow |url=http://www.revolvermag.com/uncategorized/breaking-benjamins-benjamin-burnley-on-wet-brain-and-motorcycle-accide.html |title=Breaking Benjamin's Benjamin Burnley on Wet Brain and Motorcycle Accidents – Revolver Magazine |publisher=Revolvermag.com |date=May 10, 2010 |access-date=November 2, 2011}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://breakingbenjamin.com/ Breaking Benjamin official website]
{{Breaking Benjamin}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burnley, Benjamin}} Category:1978 births Category:20th-century American singers Category:21st-century American singers Category:Alternative metal guitarists Category:American alternative rock guitarists Category:American alternative rock singers Category:American alternative rock musicians Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:American heavy metal singers Category:American lyricists Category:American male guitarists Category:Record producers from Pennsylvania Category:American rock songwriters Category:American tenors Category:Breaking Benjamin members Category:Heavy metal producers Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Atlantic City, New Jersey Category:People from Ocean City, New Jersey Category:People from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Category:Post-grunge musicians Category:American rhythm guitarists Category:People from Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania Category:People with hypochondriasis Category:Guitarists from Pennsylvania