Breaking Benjamin consists of Aaron Fink, Ben Burnley, Jeremy Hummel, Mark James.
Breaking Benjamin is a modern rock/ post-grunge band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Formed in 1999 under the moniker "Plan 9," the band quickly garnered a local following before changing their name to "Breaking Benjamin" in late 2000 and signing to Hollywood Records, where they released their first major-label record, Saturate, in 2002. The record had clear influences and touches of Tool, KoЯn, and Nirvana. The first single "Polyamorous" received much radio airplay, and propelled the band to stardom.
Ben Burnley says that he taught himself the guitar by listening to Nirvana's Nevermind. He also explained in an on-air radio interview of the band (Tucson, AZ station KFMA) that he's written most songs at least half-drunk, with one exception. Aaron Fink pointed out that his father joined the band on tour, and that his father's music collection is what originally turned him on to music. Gary Fincke is a professor at Susquehanna University and wrote Amp'd: A Father's Backstage Pass about his travels with the band.
Breaking Benjamin's roots are clearly alternative rock/metal band, but they are definitely heavier than their peers. Sticking to the genre's symbolistic downtuned guitars, which creates a haunting and overwhelming heaviness in their songs, they manage to keep their melodies prominent. The songs seem to have a feeling of strength and youth despite a distinct pessimism. During live shows, they also often cover Nirvana and Tool songs and Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence."
On June 29, 2004, the band released We Are Not Alone, which featured the first single "So Cold." They also created an original cut for the immensely popular video game Halo 2 entitled " Blow Me Away." "So Cold" had two music videos made for it, one of which was made for the movie Hellboy. Paul Marino of the Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences produced, directed, and edited a music video to the song "So Cold" by "Breaking Benjamin" using the Source engine and Half-Life 2 content. This film is called 'Still Seeing Breen' and its taken to an unusual new level with lip syncing that has to be seen. The film caused a stir at Valve and was even shown on MTV.