Ben Jackson (musician)

Last updated
Ben Jackson
Birth nameBenjamin Donald Jackson [1]
Born (1963-07-17) July 17, 1963 (age 59) [1]
Genres Heavy metal, progressive metal
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, bass
Years active1979–present
Labels Roadrunner, MCA, Spitfire

Benjamin Donald Jackson is an American musician and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist of Crimson Glory. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] He is also known for his short-lived band Parish, and his solo career consisting of two albums Here I Come and All Over You, and his current project Avenging Benji. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Contents

Biography

Crimson Glory

Ben Jackson co-founded the group that would eventually become known as Crimson Glory along with four other musicians, including drummer Dana Burnell, in Sarasota, Florida in 1979 under the name Pierced Arrow (later changed to 'Beowulf'). This group underwent multiple personnel changes before Jackson and Burnell were joined by the other three musicians who would compose the classic lineup of Crimson Glory - vocalist Midnight, lead guitarist Jon Drenning, and bassist Jeff Lords. Jackson and Burnell played on the albums Crimson Glory and Transcendence before leaving the group in 1989. [2]

In 1999, Jackson reformed Crimson Glory with Drenning, Lords, and new vocalist Wade Black for the recording of their fourth album, Astronomica . The band toured over a one-year period in support of the album before going on a second hiatus.

In 2006, Jackson reunited with the original lineup of Crimson Glory as they performed sporadically for about a year until Midnight was arrested and charged for charged with driving under the influence, prompting the band to call on Wade Black to rejoin.

In 2010, Crimson Glory reemerged with new vocalist Todd La Torre and tentative plans for a fifth album. The band toured for three years before La Torre left the band, citing the band's inactivity and apparent lack of interest in writing. La Torre moved on to join Queensrÿche and Crimson Glory was on hiatus once more.

Other musical projects

After his first departure from Crimson Glory, Jackson went on to form the band Parish with vocalist John David, guitarist David Edward, bassist Mike Luther (later replaced by Bernard Hernandez), and then ex-Crimson Glory bandmate Dana Burnell on drums. [9] Burnell co-wrote the songs that would appear on the band's 1995 debut album, Envision, but departed for family reasons during the recording sessions. He was replaced by Rich Tabor, who would finish the recording. Envision would be Parish's first and only album. Musically, the offering sounds much like Crimson Glory's Transcendence, but not vocally. In January 2018, 20th Century Music announced via their Facebook page that they would re-release Envision with a DVD and bonus material. [10]

In 2001, Jackson released his solo debut, Here I Come, on which he took up lead vocals for the first time and played most of the guitar and bass parts; [1] [4] while his former Parish bandmate Rich Tabor contributed drums. [11] [12] In 2005, he released his sophomore effort, All Over You, under the name "The Ben Jackson Group". He described the album as "more of a band effort with the result being more heavy metal in style." [4] The other musicians on this album are guitarist Mark Borgmeyer, bassist Danny Binz, Tabor on drums, and backing vocalist Rose Marie Sexton. [13] Keith Bergman of Blabbermouth.net gave the album a 5/10 rating and concluded his review by writing, "Bump the rating up one point if you can name every ex-member of Royal Hunt, and two if you've ever had anything autographed by Ted Poley." [5]

In 2008, Jackson announced he was announced that he was putting the finishing touches on his third solo album, Gold and Dragons. [6] This album was officially released two years later under a new band name, “Avenging Benji”. [7] The band quietly released a very limited edition four song EP, Out for Blood, in 2016. In 2019, they announced they were planning to release a second full-length album entitled, Love Angel Sex Devil, adding vocalist Wade Black (ex-Crimson Glory) to the line-up.

Discography

With Crimson Glory
YearTitle
1986 Crimson Glory
1988 Transcendence
1999 Astronomica
With Parish
YearTitle
1995Envision
Solo
YearTitle
2001Here I Come
With The Ben Jackson Group
YearTitle
2005All Over You
With Avenging Benji
YearTitle
2010Gold and Dragons
2016Out for Blood (EP)
Guest appearances
YearAlbumArtistTrack(s)
2005 Sakada Midnight Bass on "Berber Trails"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensrÿche</span> American heavy metal band

Queensrÿche is an American heavy metal band. It formed in 1980 in Bellevue, Washington, out of the local band the Mob. The band has released 15 studio albums, one EP, and several DVDs, and continues to tour and record. The original lineup consisted of guitarists Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo, drummer Scott Rockenfield, bassist Eddie Jackson, and lead vocalist Geoff Tate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's X</span> American rock band

King's X is an American rock band that originated in 1979 in Springfield, Missouri. They were first called The Edge and later became Sneak Preview before settling on its current name in 1985. The band's current lineup has remained intact for more than three decades, consisting of vocalist and bassist Doug Pinnick, drummer Jerry Gaskill and guitarist Ty Tabor. Their music combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. Despite a largely underground reputation as the "musician's musicians", King's X was pivotal in the early development of progressive metal, and produced a series of early records considered essential within the genre. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance. King's X was ranked No. 83 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leatherwolf</span> American heavy metal band

Leatherwolf is an American heavy metal band that formed in Huntington Beach, California in 1981. They split up in 1992, but reunited in 1999. The group is also nicknamed the "Triple Axe Attack" for pioneering the use of a 3-guitar line-up in heavy metal.

Nitro was an American heavy metal band from Hollywood, California. Formed in 1988, the group originally featured vocalist Jim Gillette, guitarist Michael Angelo Batio, bassist T. J. Racer and drummer Bobby Rock. Nitro released its debut album O.F.R. in 1989, which reached number 140 on the US Billboard 200. Rock was replaced by K. C. Comet for the album's tour and Racer would leave the band thereafter. Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S., released in 1992, featured Ralph Carter on bass and Johnny Thunder on drums. The group broke up in 1993, with a number of previously unreleased demo recordings issued on the 1999 album Gunnin' for Glory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crimson Glory</span> American heavy metal band

Crimson Glory was an American heavy metal band that formed in 1983 in Sarasota, Florida. They started in 1979 under the monikers 'Pierced Arrow', then 'Beowulf', before settling on Crimson Glory. The classic line-up consisted of vocalist Midnight, guitarists Jon Drenning and Ben Jackson, bassist Jeff Lords, and drummer Dana Burnell. With that line-up, they rose to international fame in the mid-1980s and were considered one of the pioneers of the American progressive metal movement, along with Queensrÿche, Dream Theater, Fates Warning and Watchtower. During their career, they released four studio albums and one EP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hate (band)</span> Polish band

Hate is a blackened death metal band from Poland. The band was formed in 1990 by guitarist and vocalist Adam "ATF Sinner" Buszko, guitarist Quack and drummer Mittloff. The band lineup has changed many times over the years, and currently consists solely of Adam Buszko and drummer Paweł Jaroszewicz. They have released twelve full-length studio albums to date, as well as a number of early demos and EPs. Their most recent album, Rugia, was released on October 15, 2021 through Metal Blade Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhapsody of Fire</span> Italian symphonic power metal band

Rhapsody of Fire is an Italian symphonic power metal band formed by Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli, widely seen as a pioneer of the symphonic power metal subgenre.

<i>Crimson Glory</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Crimson Glory

Crimson Glory is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band Crimson Glory, originally released in 1986 on Par Records in the US. It was later licensed by and re-issued on Roadrunner Records in Europe.

<i>Transcendence</i> (Crimson Glory album) 1988 studio album by Crimson Glory

Transcendence is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Crimson Glory, released in 1988 via Roadracer Records in Europe and MCA Records in United States. It is considered by many to be their finest work. It was recorded at Morrisound Studios.

<i>Strange and Beautiful</i> (Crimson Glory album) 1991 studio album by Crimson Glory

Strange and Beautiful is the third studio album from progressive metal band Crimson Glory. Signed to Atlantic Records in 1991, this album was a marked stylistic departure from their previous albums' decidedly progressive metal sound to a more bluesy, hard rock sound. It was the first album without longtime members, guitarist Ben Jackson and drummer Dana Burnell and it was also the last to feature vocalist Midnight. Two songs were co-written with former Drexel University Associate Professor and entertainment attorney, Marcy Rauer Wagman, while the first single "The Chant" was written by outside songwriters M. McKinley & Marti Frederiksen. Midnight departed the band prior to the tour and was replaced by future Michael Schenker Group frontman, David Van Landing. It was the only album in their canon to feature drummer Ravi Jakhotia and the band went on hiatus following the supporting tour.

<i>Astronomica</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Crimson Glory

Astronomica is the fourth and final studio album by the American progressive metal band Crimson Glory, released in 1999 via Spitfire Records (USA) and Rising Sun (Europe). After a long hiatus following their less-than-successful album Strange and Beautiful, the band reformed with Wade Black on vocals and Steve Wacholz on drums. Although he is pictured in the album artwork, Wacholz never actually played on the record – a drum machine was used. Wade Black's vocal delivery was not appreciated by all fans, who were accustomed to Midnight's voice. Still, the album was greeted as a successful comeback.

Halloween is an American heavy metal band from Detroit, Michigan.

This is a timeline of artists, albums, and events in progressive rock and its subgenres. This article contains the timeline for the period 2010–2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnight (musician)</span> Musical artist

Midnight was an American musician best known for being the vocalist of Crimson Glory. The band became known for Midnight's "ear-shattering screams", which drew comparisons to Geoff Tate, and "painfully strident delivery."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd La Torre</span> American singer and drummer

Todd La Torre is an American singer and drummer. He is the lead singer for progressive metal band Queensrÿche, and a former lead vocalist of the bands Crimson Glory and Rising West. Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, he learned to play the drums at a young age.

Jon William Drenning is an American musician and songwriter best known for being the lead guitarist of Crimson Glory. He is also known for his work in the bands Crush and Erotic Liquid Culture.

Jeff Lords is an American musician best known for being the bassist of Crimson Glory. He is also known for his work in the bands Crush and Erotic Liquid Culture, and currently in the band Dark Matter.

Dana Burnell is an American musician best known for being the original drummer of the bands Crimson Glory and Parish.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ben Jackson". Metal-archives.com. 2011-04-10. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  2. 1 2 3 Bush, John. "Crimson Glory Biography". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  3. 1 2 Chadbourne, Eugene. "Ben Jackson Biography". Allmusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  4. 1 2 3 4 van Poorten, Toine. "BEN JACKSON GROUP: The Mean Machine From CRIMSON GLORY Hits Back!". Truemetalfan.org. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  5. 1 2 3 Bergman, Keith. "CD Reviews – All Over You Ben Jackson Group". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 "CRIMSON GLORY Guitarist's BEN JACKSON GROUP Putting Finishing Touches On New CD". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. January 29, 2008.
  7. 1 2 3 "Avenging Dragons – Gold & Dragons". Grande Rock. 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  8. 1 2 Papadakis, Chris (February 27, 2019). "AVENGING BENJI (featuring BEN JACKSON) releases new song from their upcoming album" . Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Parishs eneste album blir nå gitt ut på nytt". PowerMetal.no. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  10. ↑ "Parish Envision rerelease". Facebook. 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  11. ↑ "Parish". Metal-archives.com. 2002-08-12. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  12. ↑ "Ben Jackson Group – Here I Come". Metal-archives.com. 2005-07-05. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  13. ↑ "Ben Jackson Group – All Over You". Metal-archives.com. 2005-07-05. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.