Benjamin Lee Kenney (born March 12, 1977), is an American musician from Brielle, New Jersey. From 2003 to 2023, he was the bassist for the band Incubus and had previously played in the Roots as a guitarist. He also records as a solo artist, usually recording every instrument and singing all vocals on his records.

Career

Kenney played guitar for the hip-hop group the Roots before he joined Incubus in 2003 after the departure of the bass guitarist and founding member Alex Katunich (aka Dirk Lance). He had previously played with Incubus members Mike Einziger and Jose Pasillas in Time Lapse Consortium. By the end of 2023 he had left the band having spent most of the year in recovery from brain tumor surgery and thus unable to participate in their touring. Kenney plays at least six different instruments and sometimes plays drum duets with Incubus' drummer Jose Pasillas live on-stage. He has also done studio work for artists including

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, Faith Evans, Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild, Glenn Lewis, Kindred the Family Soul, The Jazzyfatnastees, Jaguar Wright, Larry Gold and Blackalicious, and producers

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, Dre & Vidal and DJ Jazzy Jeff. ''26'', ''Maduro'', ''Distance and Comfort'', ''Burn the Tapes'', ''Leave On Your Makeup'', and ''Must Be Nice'' were all released by Kenney's own record company, Ghetto Crush Industries. Ghetto Crush has also released music for Ashley Mendel, The Division Group, Supergrub, Aleda and Root Valdez. Kenney helped the Smyrk to produce their EP, ''New Fiction''.

Solo career

In 1994 Kenney started a band called Racecar with Jimmie Mueller and Sam Hoffman. In 1995 Kenney started a project called Supergrub that went on to record three albums: ''Norma & Thurselle'' (1995), ''Communicator'' (1996) and ''Challenger'' (recorded in 1998 but released in 2000). Challenger featured Chris Shar on bass guitar, vocals and co writing. Challenger also featured guest vocal appearances by Fred “Ted” Kenney Jr., Joe “Joe None” Mattiola of Second To None/Shattered Realm and Q of Q & The J.P. Struggles. He has recorded six solo albums, ''26'' released on December 1, 2004, ''Maduro'' released on March 1, 2006, ''Distance and Comfort'' released on January 15, 2008, ''Burn the Tapes'' released on October 1, 2010, ''Leave On Your Makeup'' released on September 17, 2013, and "Must Be Nice" released on December 25th, 2019. Kenney plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and drums while singing and writing every part on the solo records. When touring to support his solo records he plays guitar and sings, accompanied by Ashley Mendel on bass guitar and vocals and Sekou Lumumba on drums. From 2013-2014 Simon Harding from the band Fin replaced Lumumba. On January 21, 2025, after a nearly two year hiatus from social media, Kenney announced his new solo album ''Powerful Buttcheeks'', scheduled to release on March 3, 2025, along with a new single titled "Fires".

Equipment

Kenney uses Lakland, Serek
Strandberg
Music Man, Gibson, Fender and Hofner guitars and basses. He uses Mesa Boogie amplifiers. His instruments are often modded with pickups made by Seymour Duncan or JBE Pickups. He uses Dunlop strings, effects and accessories. He uses Canopus and DW drums. He also plays

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cymbals exclusively.

Personal life

In January 2023, Kenney announced that he had a brain tumor removed, and that Tal Wilkenfeld would play bass for Incubus while he recovered from brain surgery. It was later announced that he had departed the band permanently and been replaced by Nicole Row. Both Wilkenfeld and Row were personally chosen by Kenney for the band. Although the surgery successfully removed the tumor, it caused complications such as leaving Kenney permanently deaf in one ear and partial facial paralysis. Kenney is in a relationship with Georgia Dolenz, daughter of

Micky Dolenz George Michael Dolenz Jr. ( ; born March 8, 1945) is an American musician and actor. He was the drummer and one of two primary vocalists for the pop rock band the Monkees (1966–1970, and reunions until 2021), and a co-star of the TV series ''T ...

Discography

With Incubus

* '' A Crow Left of the Murder...'' (2004) * '' Light Grenades'' (2006) * '' If Not Now, When?'' (2011) * '' Trust Fall (Side A)'' (2015) * '' 8'' (2017) * '' Trust Fall (Side B)'' (2020)

Solo

* ''26'' (2004) * ''Maduro'' (2006) * ''Distance and Comfort'' (2008) * ''Burn the Tapes'' (2010) * ''Leave On Your Makeup'' ''EP'' (2013) * ''Must Be Nice'' (2019) * ''Powerful Buttcheeks'' (2025)

With The Roots

* '' Phrenology'' (2002)

Guest appearances

* '' Justified'' -

(guitar on "Right For Me") (2002)

Notes

External links

Kenney's websiteIncubus' official websiteThe Division Group websiteSupergrub websiteGhetto Crush Industries website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kenney, Ben Incubus (band) members The Roots members African-American rock musicians American male singers African-American rock singers American rock bass guitarists American male bass guitarists 1977 births Living people People from Brielle, New Jersey Alternative hip-hop musicians American male guitarists 21st-century American singers 21st-century American bass guitarists Time-Lapse Consortium members African-American guitarists