
Originating in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Breaking Benjamin was founded in 1998 by vocalist Benjamin Burnley and drummer Jeremy Hummel. In late 2000, guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark Klepaski joined to complete the band. Breaking Benjamin's first independently released album, titled Breaking Benjamin, sold out of all 2,000 copies that were produced. Breaking Benjamin's early success was largely due to heavy radio rotation by "DJ Freddie" Fabbri of WBSX-FM, Wilkes-Barre.
Breaking Benjamin signed to Hollywood Records in 2001 with a five record deal. They released their first full-length album, Saturate, on August 27, 2002, which peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart. We Are Not Alone followed on June 29, 2004, and reached platinum status by late 2005. The So Cold EP was released in late 2004, and Breaking Benjamin's third album, Phobia followed on August 8, 2006. The album sold 131,000 copies in its first week, and hit number two on the US Billboard Top 200.
Breaking Benjamin cites various influences to their alternative metal style, including Pearl Jam, Bush, Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Korn, and Tool. In December of 2003, Breaking Benjamin collaborated with Smashing Pumpkins singer-songwriter Billy Corgan on the tracks Rain, Forget It, and Follow for the album We Are Not Alone. Breaking Benjamin released their third album Phobia in late 2006, and their latest work Dear Agony in 2009.
Connect and Share