Ben Folds Five

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ben Folds Five


Img_capt = Ben Folds Five on the cover of their "Naked Baby Photos" album
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Genre = Piano rock
Years_active = 1993 - 2000
2008
Label = Passenger
Caroline 550
Associated_acts = Ben Folds Fear of Pop Hotel Lights International Orange Caleb Southern
Fleming and John
URL = [http://www.benfoldsfive.com benfoldsfive.com]
Current_members = Ben Folds Robert Sledge Darren Jessee
Past_members =

Ben Folds Five was a piano-based rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group comprised Ben Folds on vocals, piano, and principal songwriting; Robert Sledge played bass and provided backing vocals; and Darren Jessee played drums, sang backing vocals and co-wrote some of the songs. The group achieved modest success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes. The band is perhaps best known for the hit single, "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 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-sides & 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 ]

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 self-titled debut album, released in 1995 on Caroline records. The band's biggest success was the single "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". Despite a more somber record in "Reinhold Messner" album, live shows continued to pack in the energy and improvisation that Ben Folds Five had grown to have quite a reputation for.

The group contributed an outtake from the "Reinhold Messner" sessions, titled "Leather Jacket", to the 1999 benefit album, "". The band's final recording was a cover of Steely Dan's "Barrytown" for the "Me, Myself & Irene" soundtrack. Following the worldwide tour in support of "The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messener", the band "amicably" broke up in October 2000. [cite web|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]

Post-break up

Folds went on to pursue a successful solo career, releasing "Rockin the Suburbs" in 2001, "Songs for Silverman" in 2005, and a new album, "Way to Normal", was released September 30, 2008. Robert Sledge soon after took up singing, shared song-writing and bass playing duties with International Orange, but the group disbanded in 2005. On September 13, 2008 the debut show of seemingly new project The BobSledge Band played at Mansion 462, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Darren Jessee went on to form the band Hotel Lights, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2005 on Bar/None Records, the "Goodnightgoodmorning" EP in 2006, and "Firecracker People" on August 19th, 2008. Darren is the songwriter/guitarist/piano player and the lead vocals of Hotel Lights.

Reunion

Ben Folds Five made its first concert appearance in about 8 years on September 18, 2008 at the UNC Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill. The event was described by Triangle Music as the coming together of "the now legendary hometown group Ben Folds Five" which "reunited for a one-off show and the band's set was nothing short of spectacular. The one-off gig was 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 highlighted on the album song 'Your Most Valuable Possession.' [http://www.newsobserver.com/lifestyles/story/1224414.html "Ben Folds Five delights in reunion"] The concert will be streamed online, airing sometime in October, on myspace. [The Suburbs.co.uk: [http://www.thesuburbs.org.uk/news/Did_You_Just_Shit_Your_Pants__Cause_I_Sure_Did_Ben_Folds_Five_Reunion/ "Did You Just Shit Your Pants? Cause I Sure Did; Ben Folds Five Reunion"] ] All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the charity Operation Smile. [Rolling Stone: " [http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/09/03/ben-folds-five-reuniting-for-one-night-only-myspace-show/ "Ben Folds Five Reuniting for One-Night-Only MySpace Show] "]

After a brief Intermission, the band returned and played the following songs:

Jackson Cannery

Eddie Walker

Selfless, Cold, Composed

Battle of Who Could Care Less

Where's Summer B

Julianne

Song for the Dumped

Discography

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

ingles

* "Underground" (1996) #37 UK
* "Where's Summer, B?" (1996)
* "Battle of Who Could Care Less" (1997) #26 UK
* "Kate" (1997) #39 UK
* "Brick" (1998) #26 UK; #11 US AC, #6 US Modern Rock
* "Song for the Dumped" (1998)
* "Army" (1999) #28 UK
* "Don't Change Your Plans" (1999)

DVDs

*"Ben Folds Five - Live at Sessions at West 54th" (1999) - Epic Music Video

oundtracks & compilations

* "Mr. Wrong" soundtrack (1996) - Contributed "Song for the Dumped"
* "The Truth About Cats & Dogs" soundtrack (1996) - Contributed "Bad Idea"
* "KCRW Rare On Air, Volume 3" (1997) - Contributed "Alice Childress"
* "Lounge-a-palooza" (1997) - Contributed "She Don't Use Jelly"
* "MegaHits Dance Party, Volume 2" (1998) - Contributed "Brick (3AM Dance Remix)"
* "Triple J Hottest 100, Volume 5" (1998) - Contributed "One Angry Dwarf & 200 Solemn Faces"
* "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" soundtrack (1998) - Contributed "Kate"
* "Godzilla" soundtrack (1998) - Contributed "Air"
* "Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night" (1998) - Contributed "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head"
* "Teleconned, Volume 1: We Want The Airwaves" (1998) - Contributed "Theme From Dr. Pyser"
* "Songs for Summer" (2000) - Contributed "Where's Summer B.?"
* "Non Stop '90s Rock" (2001) - Contributed "Brick"

ee also

* Ben Folds
* Hotel Lights

References

External links

* [http://www.benfoldsfive.com Official site]
* [http://www.benfolds.com Official Fan Club Site]