It’s been a hell of a two-year solid run of tours for the dedicated and talented guys in Breaking Benjamin. The five of them – Ben Burnley, Shaun Foist, Keith Wallen, Aaron Bruch, and Jasen Rauch, as well as their incredibly hardworking crew – are set to enjoy a relaxing break until after the first of the year, where they will be headlining guests on the Shiprocked Cruise in January, 2017.
I had the extreme privilege of sitting down and having a conversation with frontman, Ben Burnley, about everything from reflections on touring to business in the industry to new music to come and, of course, Star Wars. I know I can speak for a lot of folks when I say that these guys deserve this much-needed break to take time for themselves, their families, and to put together what surely will be another blockbuster album. Take a seat, grab the autumn beverage of your choice, and prepare for the force that is Ben Burnley.
Hey, Ben!
Hi! How are you?
I’m good, thanks so much for giving me some time today to talk to you. Now, you have been touring nonstop for just about two solid years, from fully plugged-in shows to acoustic runs. With the Nocturnal Underground Tour closing in Colorado City, and two final headlining dates this weekend closing Sunday, October 23, in Milwaukee, what are some of your reflections from the road with one of the bands that you have credited as an influence of yours: Korn?
All the guys were great; it was a really great time. I had a blast. It was surreal and a dream come true to be able to share that stage with them. We not only got to play in the same space as them but also got to hang out with them as people, too. I’d like to call them friends, and I’d like to think they feel the same way about me and the entire camp. So, it was really an amazing time.
I would hope so, that they would consider you friends.
I don’t want to assume, and I don’t want to speak for them. But, I consider them to be friends, and I hope they feel the same way.
Well, that’s good. I saw on the great Internet that you got their logo tattooed on you after a show a few nights ago. That, to me, shows a true devotion to that relationship and to that band.
Yeah, it was really cool. Each of the original members wrote a letter in marker on my skin, and just got that tattooed. Jonathan Davis did the “K,” Fieldy did the “O,” Munky did the backwards “R,” and then Head did the “N.”
Oh my gosh, that’s amazing.
Yeah, so they drew that right on my skin, each guy, and I just got that tattooed over.
I saw that and was really impressed. It’s a lot for you to put another band’s – now, I know you have Nirvana also – but to put another band on you in such a prominent place is pretty amazing coming from one artist to another.
Well, that’s exactly it. I mean, I have a Nirvana tattoo, and I have tattoos of not just bands I like, but of bands that are responsible for me being a musician and bands that are responsible for Breaking Benjamin existing. So, there’s purpose to it.
Good. That’s really good. I know that you guys have been co-headlining the last few tours with Shinedown, Disturbed, and now with Korn. You’re ending this current tour with two headlining shows on your own. I know the fans are more than ready for a Breaking Benjamin headlining tour. To go with that, the tour you guys did around Europe was a big deal for a lot of people, and it seemed to be a huge success for you guys as well.
Oh, 100%. The Europe tour was a phenomenal, groundbreaking moment for Breaking Benjamin. We’d never been there before. When we arrived there, the fanbase there was equal, in our experience, to what we have here in the States.
That’s awesome.
Yeah, it’s really awesome to come into a situation like that and have fans that are so incredible and supportive of us, and rock music in general, all over the world. It was incredible. As much as it did suck to travel over there on the boat, I would definitely do it again because it was such an incredible experience.
Would you go the same places? Or are there other countries you want to experience?
I am always up for new things, but I’d also like to revisit the places that we’ve been to as well.
That’s a good plan. Now, is the rumor true that you’re working on new music?
Yeah, we’re going to take this time off and start hammering away at the next album. Everything is just sounding really awesome so far, so we’re all really excited about it.
Well, it is exciting! I appreciate the fact that you let Keith and Aaron take over for vocals when you play live. Is that something you’re going to continue on the album? Kind of give them a chance to lay some vocals on it?
Yeah, they sing on Dark Before Dawn. Since we’ve toured together so much, they’ve really, really refined their vocals to fit Breaking Benjamin, and if I didn’t let them sing, it would just be talent wasted because they’re just phenomenal singers. I don’t feel it’s for any other reason except that they are incredible vocalists that need to be shared with the world. And I’m really, really, really excited for them and for the band and what directions we can go in having multiple vocalists. Sometimes they sing, believe it or not, they sing better than me!
I don’t believe it! No, I am kidding! (laughs)
They’re just great singers, and in my opinion, great singers should be heard.
You’re exactly right. Now, how does that feel for you since you’ve fronted the band for so long yourself? It has to feel awesome that you’ve surrounded yourself with such exceptional musicians in their own rights to kind of help take that over for you a little bit.
Yeah. What it is, is like, more so, for the band… every singer in the world has a threshold of how long they can sing for. So, especially headline shows. We’d never be able to perform as long as we can now for our shows if it was just me singing. Not only that, but they provide incredible background vocals and harmonies that are actually on our album. To be able to recreate that sound live is awesome.
And you’re right. A lot of times when I listen to the album, I am like, “Is that Ben? Aaron?” Then I see you live, and I realize it’s been Aaron. That’s good that you have that.
Yeah, I know. If you weren’t looking, you wouldn’t be able to distinguish any of us. And that’s the truth of it.
You’re all very talented, there’s no doubt about that. I know you guys have some well-deserved, much earned down time coming up. What are your plans during the break? I know being away from your family has to be hard, so what are some things you’re looking forward to with them now that the holiday season is closing in on us?
I am not one of those guys that tries to hide where they live and stuff; I live in Ocean City, New Jersey. There’s a beach and a boardwalk. And, in the wintertime, we even like to go up there because it is barren and everybody goes home – the tourists go home. So, we’re really just looking forward to spending time in Ocean City. We love it there; it’s absolutely beautiful there, and I’ll be doing album stuff here and there. But, I definitely want to spend downtime with the family, eating good food, writing music.
I bet everybody is excited to get you back for a little bit.
Yeah, I mean, we have a lot of friends and family that I haven’t seen in a while, so I am excited for that.
Good. Now, I met you guys on a VIP in Cleveland back in September of 2015, and then again got the chance to say hello in Columbus. Hands down, two of the best nights of my life, so thank you. You guys have remained humble and grounded through everything, and I am curious as to how you’ve managed that. The fanbase for you guys is so strong, and everyone loves you guys, so how do you keep that admiration from going to your head?
I mean, anything like that is just like a gift, ya know. Every single thing that this band has or has done is due to the fans. It all comes back to the fans and the people who support the band. If nobody did, where would we be? Well, we’d be nowhere. So, all of the things we see and do, each and every thing that we do is thanks to and for the fans and people who support us. Knowing that it’s not for us just motivates us to give absolutely every single bit of ourselves that we have and everything that we do back to the fans. If it’s for yourself, you can kind of slack a little bit. But, when you have the mindset that it’s not for you, then you are driven to give a better service of yourself to others.
Well, that’s good. It is a gift that everybody loves you guys. Speaking of gifts, I know I gave you a letter when I met you in Cleveland, and that was fun talking to you about it and your influence on my life, as well as seeing what other people had for you and what they said. What is one of the most memorable gifts that a fan has given you when they meet you or see you in concert?
I get a lot of gifts from fans; I got a bunch of Challenge Coins from soldiers that serve, a lot of cool things from overseas. A lot of fans know I am into Star Wars – and my son, actually, he’s only two, but he loves Star Wars (laughs) – so they’re always bringing me really, really cool things for him. And you know, original art that the fans do that they give me. That kind of stuff is really cool because that kind of stuff you can’t buy. Ya know?
Right, and it makes it special. That’s awesome. I know you guys played Axes and Anchors at the start of this year, and then you’re set to play Shiprocked in January. What are your expectations of that experience?
This is a different thing than Axes and Anchors. That was more focused on workshops and guitar instructional things and guitar player-oriented things. And this next one is more of a mainstream type thing, so I think it’s going to be more like a concert would be – not that the other one wasn’t a concert because we did play – but it was definitely more focused on the workshop aspect, and tutorial things. Where this one will be a flat out “let’s go out on this ship and drink and have a good time and rock out” kind of thing. It’s going to be a little more crazy, I think, than the last one. The last one was a little more relaxed.
Well, a little crazy can’t be all bad, can it? You’re very vocal about your sobriety and your struggles with your health. Now that you’ve been back at this touring and playing in front of crowds again for a while, have you found anything to ease the pain while on the road? Does anything help you feel better?
Ever since it started, I haven’t really felt better, per say. I’ve been motivated by all of the positive things and the incredible fans, and the people who just come out and support the band. And, it’s kind of been the same driving force through the whole thing. Now that we’ve toured so incredibly much, and we’ve loved every minute of it because we’re brothers, but it tires you out even if you don’t have health issues. We’re just kind of feeling that now. The album has been out a little over a year, but we’ve been touring for over two years. So, we’ve been everywhere there is to go. We’re just kind of worn out a little bit. (laughs)
I understand. It’s hard!
Yeah, it is. It’s difficult for sure.
You guys are household names around my house, and my three daughters absolutely love you and your music. I promised my eight-year-old daughter that she could ask one question. So, she’d like to know: what is your favorite color and why?
My favorite color is black and dark red together. Only because I am a really big Star Wars fan, and all of the Knights of Ren have red Light Sabers and black Jedi robes and black capes and that kind of stuff. So, that’s probably why.
Thanks. She’ll love that. I have heard others say that their dream would be to be musicians like you. What advice would you have for aspiring musicians in the industry as it stands today?
I have good advice, actually. A couple of things. As far as the music itself is concerned, always know what’s good and what’s bad, and listen to what people say to a certain extent. Make sure you have a passion for it. If you have a passion for it – a true, deep passion for it – chances are, people are going to share that passion as well.
That makes a lot of sense.
Yeah, and, further on when you are actually in the business and you get somewhere with that passion, look over your contracts. Know what you are signing, and know what you bring to the table. Make sure that that parameter is established that everybody knows their role and everybody knows what they’re going to be compensated for ahead of time, as far as there being no surprises. Just keep doing things like that – keep communicating with each other. If it starts getting sour and stale, and animosity builds, that’s not an enjoyable situation and surely not a situation anyone wants to be in. And to me, that’s not what being in a band means, ya know?
No. It’s not.
It’s like a desk job. When it starts to feel that way, just stop because, ya know, it’s not worth it.
And you’ve done a great job of not having that environment with the guys. You speak of each other as brothers, and I’ve seen you hang out, and you all seem to get along. It seems like there is a lot of communication from all five of you, at least that I’ve witnessed at shows I have been to.
Yeah, absolutely. And that’s the whole point of it. I mean, I wouldn’t have come back into the business – I wouldn’t have come back at all – if it wasn’t in this situation. This is exactly the situation that I wanted. Ya know, it wasn’t always this way. And I’ve learned some lessons from actually making the mistakes. I wish there would have been somebody there to guide me along as to what decisions I should have been making at that time. But there wasn’t. So, I had to make the decisions on the fly, whether they were right or wrong.
That’s unfortunate.
Yeah, so I didn’t have the resources to pick the right guys for the job, and, I mean, I picked – at that time with the old lineup – certainly capable musicians, and I’d never take that way from the old lineup. They were talented and capable musicians. But, there’s a lot more to it than that. You have to have personalities that mesh. For me, it’s important to have other singers in the band who understand what it is like to sing and share that responsibility of singing and offer up songwriting as well. So, I let the old lineup, songwriting-wise, they’d contribute ideas here and there that I would then put into my old songs. But, as far as my experience of it then, I think that they and I had a different outlook on what actually a song is and where it comes from.
Well, that makes sense. As far as I am concerned, as a fan from day one – literally day one I’m pretty sure – I liked the old lineup. I did. But I love the new retooling of it all even better. So keep that up.
Yeah we definitely will; we definitely will. For me, it’s always been something that the business part should be last. It’s a part of it – it is definitely in there as part of it, 100% – but it should never be the driving force of the band. It should always be camaraderie and the music and friendship, really, first. And then the business part comes last.
Well, they say there is no time like the present to get it right, and I think you’ve definitely done that.
I hope so. (laughs)
I will let you go; I know you’re out on the road, so I don’t want to keep you. But, thank you so much for talking with me; I really appreciate it.
Well, anytime. Thank you for having me; I appreciate that. And I appreciate you bringing us to the fans by doing this.
Oh, well, that’s where they belong. As far as I am concerned, the musicians belong with the fans. And that’s what I – along with my incredible Rock Revolt Team – try to always do. (laughs) I hope the rest of the trip goes well and that you guys get home safe and sound. I was going to try to get to Milwaukee for your last show on Sunday (October 23), but that’s an eight hour drive, so it’s quite a haul.
Well, that’s understandable. But, I can tell you we will be back in your area sooner than you know. So, we’ll see you out there again.
I sure hope so, and I can’t wait. Thank you, again.
Absolutely. I appreciate it. Thank you for your time.
Interview by Devon Anderson, Rock Revolt Managing Editor/Journalist
Live Photos by Patrick Desmond, Rock Revolt Photographer
