Benjamin Anderson (born January 28, 1974, in
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...
) is an American musician and songwriter. His musical styles range from
hard rock
Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...
and
industrial to
electronic
Electronic may refer to:
*Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductors
* ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal
*Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device
*Electronic c ...
and
Ambient Music
Ambient music is a genre of music that emphasizes Musical tone, tone and atmosphere over traditional Musical form, musical structure or rhythm. Often "peaceful" sounding and lacking Musical composition, composition, beat, and/or structured melod ...
.
History
Anderson was first introduced to music at an early age, singing and traveling in an all-boys choir. In high school he became inspired by artists such as
The Cure
The Cure are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Crawley in 1976 by Robert Smith (musician), Robert Smith (vocals, guitar) and Lol Tolhurst (drums). The band's current line-up comprises Smith, Perry Bamonte (guitar and keyboards), Reev ...
,
The Mission, and
U2. This led him to pick up the guitar and later leave college, wandering to
Denver, Colorado
Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...
, where he recorded his first record as lead guitarist with the band
Rorschach Test
The Rorschach test is a projective test, projective psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychology, psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists u ...
.
Rorschach Test
The Rorschach test is a projective test, projective psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychology, psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists u ...
later relocated to
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
, where they were signed to the now defunct, Chicago label, Slipdisc Records (Mercury). They sustained a successful career during Seattle's lively music scene in the 1990s. They toured North America playing shows with the likes of
Korn
Korn (stylized as KoЯn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, originally formed in 1993 by James Shaffer, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald Arvizu, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu and David Silveria, who were members of the band ...
,
Type O Negative
Type O Negative was an American gothic/doom metal band formed in Brooklyn, New York City in 1989 by Peter Steele (bass, lead vocals), Kenny Hickey (guitar, co-lead vocals), Josh Silver (keyboards, backing vocals), and Sal Abruscato (drums ...
,
Genitorturers
The Genitorturers are an American industrial metal band with influences extending into the 1990s hardcore punk and electronic music. They proclaim themselves to be "The World's Sexiest Rock Band".
History
Originating in Orlando, Florida, the ...
,
Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche () is an American progressive metal band. It formed in 1982 in Bellevue, Washington, out of the local band the Mob. The band has released 16 studio albums, one Extended play, EP, and several DVDs, and continues to tour and record ...
.
In 1999, Anderson left the band
Rorschach Test
The Rorschach test is a projective test, projective psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychology, psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists u ...
to pursue a musical journey in ambient and electronic music. Many of his ambient records were written as part of his art installations which also contained themed paintings and video.
In 2012, Anderson lent his keyboard talent to the Seattle
supergroup Walking Papers. The band was formed in 2012 by members
Barrett Martin
Barrett Harrington Martin (born April 14, 1967) is an American drummer and record producer from Washington. He is perhaps best known for his work with the alternative rock bands Screaming Trees and Mad Season. He was also a member of Skin Yard ...
(
Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees were an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington, in 1984 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bassist Van Conner, and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel was replaced by Barrett Martin in 1991. Screami ...
,
Mad Season) and
Jeff Angell (
The Missionary Position). They later became a quartet when Anderson and bassist
Duff McKagan
Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan (born February 5, 1964) is an American musician. He was the bassist of hard rock band Guns N' Roses for twelve years, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. McKagan rejoined the b ...
became members. Their debut self-titled album was re-released August 6, 2013, on Loud & Proud records a division of
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is a Dutch–American record label focused on Heavy metal music, heavy metal and hard rock music. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, it is now a division of Warner Music Group and is based in New York City. Formerly seen as ...
.
Discography
*
Rorschach Test
The Rorschach test is a projective test, projective psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychology, psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists u ...
''The Eleventh'' (1996)
*
Rorschach Test
The Rorschach test is a projective test, projective psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychology, psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists u ...
''Unclean'' (Slipdisc 1998)
*Benjamin Anderson ''"1"'' (1999) Ambient recording
*Benjamin Anderson ''"2"'' (1999) Ambient recording
*Benjamin Anderson ''"Double Joy Happiness"'' (1999) Ambient recording
*Benjamin Anderson ''"4"'' the nature of things (1999) Ambient recording
*Benjamin Anderson ''"Blue"'' (2000) Ambient recording-
multimedia
Multimedia is a form of communication that uses a combination of different content forms, such as Text (literary theory), writing, Sound, audio, images, animations, or video, into a single presentation. T ...
art show
*Benjamin Anderson ''"Out of Focus (in stereo)"'' (2001) Ambient/Electronic recording-
multimedia
Multimedia is a form of communication that uses a combination of different content forms, such as Text (literary theory), writing, Sound, audio, images, animations, or video, into a single presentation. T ...
art show
*
Pamela Moore
Pamela Moore is an American singer-songwriter, mixing hard rock, heavy metal, melodic rock and industrial music while her earlier years delved into pop and electronica. She currently resides in Seattle, Washington.
History
Born and raise ...
''"Stories from a Blue Room"'' (2006)
*
The Missionary Position ''"
Diamonds in a Dead Sky''" (2009)
*
The Missionary Position ''"
Consequences (Album)''" (2012)
*
Walking Papers "Walking Papers" (2013)
*
Walking Papers "WP2" (2018)
*
Walking Papers "The Light Below" (2021)
References
Stories From A Blue RoomThe Missionary Position BioLoud & Proud Records Artist
*
*
*
;Notes
External links
The Missionary PositionBarrett Martin Walking Papers PageWalking PapersLoud & Proud RecordsWalking Papers Discography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Benjamin
Musicians from Seattle
American rock guitarists
American male guitarists
1974 births
Living people
Guitarists from Washington (state)
21st-century American guitarists
21st-century American male musicians