Stevie Benton

Infobox Musical artist


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Name = Stevie Benton
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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Instrument = Guitar
Genre = Heavy metal
Associated_acts = Drowning Pool
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URL = [http://www.drowningpool.com www.drowningpool.com]

Stevie Benton is an American bass guitarist performing in the heavy metal band Drowning Pool. He also provides backing vocals for the group. Benton has been in Drowning Pool since its formation (although a previous version of the band did exist prior to Benton's addition).

In "Spin"'s December 2006 issue, the magazine confronted Benton with information regarding his music being used as a torture and interrogation method at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In response Benton said, "People assume we should be offended that somebody in the military thinks our song is annoying enough that, played over and over, it can psychologically break someone down" . . . "I take it as an honor to think that perhaps our song could be used to quell another 9/11 attack or something like that." Later on Benton continued by saying, "If they detain these people and the worst thing that happens is they have to sit through a few hours of loud music - some kids in America "pay" for that . . . It doesn't seem all that bad to me." While other artists were outraged at their music being used to degrade and torture people, Benton thought it not "all that bad."

Personal life

On December 7, 2007, Benton was reported to have been diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a neurological disorder that causes paralysis of the facial muscles and sensitivity to light and sound. According to Drowning Pool's website "Benton began to feel ill during [the previous] night’s performance at Stone’s Throw in Eau Claire, WI, and after the show was rushed to the Luther Midelfort Hospital..." He issued a statement apologizing to the fans and declared that he and his band mates "could not wait to come back and rock out with you all again soon." As a result the remaining shows on the This is for the Soldiers Tour were canceled.