Ben Folds Five
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| Ben Folds Five | ||
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 Jessee, Folds and Sledge (left to right) in 1999
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | |
| Genre(s) | Piano rock | |
| Years active | 1994 - 2000 | |
| Label(s) | Passenger Caroline 550 |
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| Associated acts |
Ben Folds Fear of Pop Hotel Lights International Orange Caleb Southern Fleming and John |
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| Website | benfoldsfive.com | |
| Former members | ||
| Ben Folds Robert Sledge Darren Jessee |
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Ben Folds Five (1994–2000) was a three-member band formed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina who were a mainstay of piano rock until their breakup in 2000. Much of their work was influenced by jazz, evident in frequent improv-styled passages through bridge and/or ending. Ben Folds was lead singer, pianist, and main composer, Robert Sledge played bass, and Darren Jessee played drums and co-wrote some of the songs. Sledge and Jessee also delivered backup vocals.
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[edit] History
[edit] 1994: Formation
Ben Folds Five was formed in 1994 in Chapel Hill by Ben Folds.[1] The origin of the group's name may stem from the fact that Ted Ehrhard and Chris Eubank were studio musicians who assisted in the creation of the band's self-titled debut album (see Discography), though the bandmembers' fondness for satire is a more likely explanation. When asked about his band's name he jokingly responded "I think it sounds better than Ben Folds Three".[2]
[edit] 1996-2000: Radio Success
Their first radio single was "Underground" from their self-titled debut album, but their biggest success was the single "Brick" from their second album, Whatever and Ever Amen released in 1998, a ballad which Folds later revealed was written about an experience with a high school girlfriend having an abortion.[3]
Folds once described their music as "punk rock for sissies", a reaction to the angst prevalent in 90s rock.[4]
[edit] 2000: Breakup
After the band's reportedly amicable break-up in October 2000,[5] Folds began a successful solo career, Robert Sledge took up singing and bass playing duties with International Orange (which broke up in 2005), and Darren Jessee now fronts the band Hotel Lights.
According to Australian Radio Host Andy Lee, the band announced its decision to break up after their performance on The Late Show with David Letterman on July 19, 2000. It was apparently Will Ferrell who broke the awkward silence after the decision was made (Ferrell was a guest on the show that night).[citation needed]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Ben Folds Five (1995) - Passenger/Caroline Records
- Whatever and Ever Amen (1997, digitally remastered in 2005) - 550
- Naked Baby Photos (1998) - Passenger/Caroline
- The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner (1999) - 550
[edit] Singles
- "Underground" (1996) #37 UK
- "Battle Of Who Could Care Less" (1997) #26 UK
- "Kate" (1997) #39 UK
- "Brick" (1998) #26 UK; #11 on US adult contemporary charts
- "Army" (1999) #28 UK
[edit] DVDs
- Live at Sessions at West 54th (1999) - Epic Music Video
[edit] References
- ^ Prato, Greg. All Music Guide. All Media Guide. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
- ^ Hofmann, Pieter (1997-03-10). Waist Deep in Pianos and Buses. Drop-D Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.
- ^ At the end of "Fred Jones Part 2" on Ben Folds Live (intro to "Brick").
- ^ Thomas, Sarah. "Ben Folds with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra", Sydney Morning Herald, 2006-08-25. Retrieved on 2006-09-23.
- ^ Ben with the Breeze. The Breeze. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
[edit] See also
- Ben Folds
- Hotel Lights
- International Orange
