Breaking Benjamin

Breaking Benjamin emerged from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1999, founded by lead singer and guitarist Benjamin Burnley with drummer Jeremy Hummel. Guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark James Klepaski completed the group's first lineup, which issued the studio albums Saturate in 2002 and We Are Not Alone in 2004. Hummel was replaced by drummer Chad Szeliga in 2005, and the band followed with Phobia in 2006 and Dear Agony in 2009.

The group entered an extended hiatus in early 2010 because of Burnley's recurring illnesses. During that period, the 2011 compilation Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin, released without Burnley's authorization, led to legal trouble within the band and the dismissal of Fink and Klepaski. Szeliga announced his departure in 2013, citing creative differences. For a time, Burnley was Breaking Benjamin's only remaining member.

A new lineup was announced in late 2014: bassist and backing vocalist Aaron Bruch, guitarist and backing vocalist Keith Wallen, guitarist Jasen Rauch, and drummer Shaun Foist joined Burnley. The reconstituted band released Dark Before Dawn in 2015, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, followed by Ember in 2018, which debuted at number three. In 2020, Breaking Benjamin released Aurora, a compilation built around reworked acoustic versions of earlier songs and one new original track.

Burnley has remained the band's primary composer, lead vocalist, and sole continuous member. Breaking Benjamin's music has been associated with hard rock, alternative metal, and post-grunge, built around heavy guitars, large choruses, and lyrics centered on angst. In the United States, the band has sold more than 19 million units and earned three RIAA-certified platinum records, two gold records, and several certified singles, including three multi-platinum, three platinum, and six gold releases.