More Info on Ben Folds FiveSimilar Pop & Rock MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Ben Folds Five| image = Benfoldsfivereunionlive.jpg| caption = Ben Folds Five at their reunion concert on September 18, 2008 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.| image_size =| landscape = yes| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Chapel Hill, North Carolina | genre = Alternative rock , piano rock | years_active = 1993–2000, 2008, 2011-Present| label = Passenger, Caroline Records (U.S.)|Caroline , 550 Music|550 | associated_acts = Ben Folds , Fear of Pop , Hotel Lights , International Orange, Caleb Southern , Fleming and John | website = URL| http://www.benfoldsfive.com/| current_members = ubl | Ben Folds | Robert Sledge | Darren Jessee Ben Folds Five is an alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina . The group comprises Ben Folds (vocals, piano, and principal songwriting), Robert Sledge (bass guitar, synthesizers, and backing vocals), and Darren Jessee (drums, backing vocals and co-writer for some songs). The group achieved mainstream success in the alternative music|alternative , indie music|indie and pop music scenes. The band is best known for the hit single " Brick (song)|Brick " from their 1997 album Whatever and Ever Amen , which gained airplay on many mainstream radio stations.
Much of Ben Folds Five's work was influenced by jazz , evident in frequent musical improvisation|improv -styled passages through bridge and/or ending. During their seven years together, the band released three proper studio records, one retrospective album of B-side s and outtakes, and eight singles. They also contributed to a number of soundtracks and compilations. Ben Folds Five disbanded in October 2000, apparently under amicable circumstances.
The group reunited for a one-off concert on September 18, 2008, where they played their final album, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner , in its entirety.cite web|url= http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content? oid=oid%3A263732 |title=Ben Folds Five to perform in Chapel Hill |accessdate=2008-09-02 |last=Currin |first=Grayson |date=2008-09-02 |publisher=Independent Weekly In 2011, Ben Folds Five reunited to record three tracks for Ben Folds' The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective .cite web|url= http://benfolds.com/news/details-upcoming-retrospective-album-announced |title=Details On The Upcoming Retrospective Album Announced |accessdate=2011-08-11 |last=Folds |first=Ben It has been announced that the group will be reconvening in December 2011 to record a new album.cite web|url= http://twitter.com/#!/GlobeRodman/status/98256785894420480 |title=Music scoop at TV press tour: "Sing-Off" judge at benfolds is reconvening Ben Folds Five to record a new album | accessdate=2011-08-11 |last=Rodman|first=Sarah
History
Ben Folds Five was formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill by Ben Folds. They were, in fact, a trio in spite of their name, and the primary motivation behind the name, apart from the band's well-known use of humor, was simple preference, according to Ben: "I think it sounds better than Ben Folds Three."cite web|url= http://dropd.com/issue/46/BenFoldsFive/ |title=Waist Deep in Pianos and Buses |accessdate=2006-09-02 |last=Hofmann |first=Pieter |date=1997-03-10 |publisher=Drop-D Magazine Folds once described their music as "punk rock for sissies," a reaction to the angst prevalent in '90s rock.cite news|last = Thomas |first = Sarah |title = Ben Folds with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra |publisher = Sydney Morning Herald |date = 2006-08-25 |url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/gig-reviews/ben-folds-with-the-sydney-symphony/2006/08/25/1156012707758.html |accessdate = 2006-09-23
Their first radio single was "Underground" from their Ben Folds Five (album)|self-titled debut album , released in 1995 on Caroline Records. The band's biggest success was the single " Brick (song)|Brick " from their second album, Whatever and Ever Amen , released in 1997. It was followed by the more somber and jazz-based 1999 album, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner . The group contributed an outtake from the Reinhold Messner sessions, titled "Leather Jacket", to the 1999 benefit album, No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees .
The band's final released recording was a cover of Steely Dan 's "Barrytown" for the Me, Myself & Irene soundtrack. The band had begun work on a fourth studio album, however following the worldwide tour in support of The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner , the band "amicably" broke up in October 2000. Tracks from the sessions would later emerge on subsequent solo projects.cite news|url= http://www.theage.com.au/news/Music/Ben-with-the-breeze/2005/03/31/1111862476057.html|title=Ben with the Breeze|accessdate=2006-11-27|publisher=The Breeze | location=Melbourne | date=2005-04-01
After the break-up
Folds went on to pursue a successful solo career, releasing '' Rockin' the Suburbs in 2001, Songs for Silverman in 2005, Way to Normal in 2008, and, in collaboration with novelist-writer Nick Hornby , Lonely Avenue (album)|Lonely Avenue '' in 2010. He produced and arranged actor William Shatner 's second album, Has Been , as well as co-wrote the majority of the songs with Shatner. Folds also contributed songs to the soundtracks for the animated movies Hoodwinked! and Over the Hedge (film)|Over the Hedge . Darren Jessee formed the acclaimed folk rock indie band Hotel Lights , releasing Hotel Lights (album)|Hotel Lights in 2005, Goodnightgoodmorning in 2006, Firecracker People in 2008, and Girl Graffiti in 2011. Robert Sledge soon after took up singing, sharing song-writing and bass playing duties with International Orange, but the group disbanded in 2005. He subsequently formed The Bob Sledge Band, which plays locally in North Carolina.
Reunion
Ben Folds Five made a one-off concert appearance in September 2008 at the UNC Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill as part of the MySpace "Front to Back" series, in which artists play an entire album live. The band played its final album, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner , and were briefly joined on stage by Ben's father, Dean Folds, who read a transcript of his voice mail message that is used in the album song "Your Most Valuable Possession", encoring with some of the songs from their first two albums . http://www.newsobserver.com/lifestyles/story/1224414.html "Ben Folds Five delights in reunion"dead link|date=August 2011
In 2011, Ben Folds Five reunited to record three tracks for Ben Folds' The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective . Sarah Rodman of the Boston Globe also reported that Ben Folds Five would be reconvened in December 2011 to record a new album.
For the 2012 Mountain Jam (festival) , Ben Folds Five was announced as one of the main headliners.
Discography
Albums
Ben Folds Five (album)|Ben Folds Five (1995) - Passenger Records|Passenger / Caroline Records (U.S.)|Caroline Records
Whatever and Ever Amen (1997, digitally remastered in 2005) - 550 Music|550 RIAA: Gold Record|Platinum
Naked Baby Photos (1998) - Passenger/Caroline
The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner (1999) - 550 Music|550
The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective (2011) - Contributed multiple greatest hits plus three new songs, including "House"
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.benfoldsfive.com Official site
Ben Folds FiveBen Folds Category:Alternative rock groups from North Carolina Category:Musical groups from Chapel Hill-Carrboro, North Carolina Category:Musical groups established in 1993 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2008
da:Ben Folds Five de:Ben Folds Five es:Ben Folds Five fr:Ben Folds Five it:Ben Folds Five ja:??·?????·???? pl:Ben Folds Five pt:Ben Folds Five simple:Ben Folds Five sv:Ben Folds Five
