Ben Moody
Benjamin Robert "Ben" Moody (born January 22, 1981) is an American musician, singer, composer, record producer, and actor. He is best known as co-founder, lead guitarist, and co-songwriter of rock band Evanescence from its inception in 1995 to his departure in October 2003. Since leaving Evanescence, Moody has collaborated with an array of performers vocally, instrumentally, and as a writer. He is currently a member of The Halo Method and We Are the Fallen.[1]
Ben Moody | |
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![]() Moody performing in Barcelona on May 29, 2003. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Benjamin Robert Moody |
Born | Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. | January 22, 1981
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Instruments |
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Years active | 1995–present |
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Associated acts | |
Website | www |
Career
Evanescence
Moody was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He met Amy Lee in 1994 while at a youth camp and the two eventually became friends.[2] They soon began playing music at local shops.[3] Within a few years, the pair began selling EPs at local shows, culminating in their discovery by Wind-up Records and the release of their major label debut album, Fallen, in 2003. Moody abruptly left the band in October 2003 during their European tour, citing "creative differences".[4]
Solo career
Beginning in 2004, Moody began collaborating with a variety of artists, working in multiple disciplines. That year, he co-wrote the track "Nobody's Home" for Avril Lavigne's second album, Under My Skin, and wrote and recorded the track "The End Has Come" with Jason C. Miller and Jason "Gong" Jones for The Punisher soundtrack. He then wrote with David Hodges, Kelly Clarkson, and others for Clarkson's second album, Breakaway, working on the songs "Because of You" and "Addicted".
In early 2005, Moody played lead guitar for the song "Forever in Our Hearts", the 'song for tsunami relief' made exclusively for iTunes.[5] He collaborated with singer Anastacia on the song "Everything Burns", which is featured on her album Pieces of a Dream and the Fantastic Four soundtrack. Moody then assisted Lindsay Lohan on her album A Little More Personal (Raw) and worked with Bo Bice on the song "My World" (a cover from SR-71) for his debut album The Real Thing.
In April 2006, Moody began working on the debut album of Billings, Montana singer-songwriter Hana Pestle. He co-produced and co-wrote alongside Michael "Fish" Herring, and contributed vocals and instrumentals to the album.[6] He later produced the Godhead album The Shadow Line with Julian Beeston, and played a clown in their music video for the song "Push". He collaborated with David Hodges again on American Idol Chris Daughtry's debut album, Daughtry, for the song "What About Now".
In 2007, Moody worked with Céline Dion on her album Taking Chances,[6] and began work for his own solo album.
In December 2008, he released the Mutiny Bootleg E.P. and announced that his solo album would be released on March 3, 2009. This release would be delayed, however, as was hinted at in February 2009, when Moody's official website displayed the release as "available 2009" instead of the March 3 release date. On June 9, 2009, Moody's debut solo album, entitled All for This, was released digitally via Amazon.com, iTunes, and Amie Street through Moody's label, FNR Records. His second album, You Can't Regret What You Don't Remember, was released on November 11, 2011.
We Are the Fallen
Shortly after the release of All for This, it was announced that Moody had created and is also currently a member of a new rock band called We Are the Fallen. The members of the band include American Idol 7 finalist Carly Smithson as the lead singer, former Evanescence members Rocky Gray and John LeCompt, and Moody's friend Marty O'Brien.[1] We Are the Fallen made their first public appearance together for a press conference at SIR Studios in Los Angeles, CA, on June 22, 2009. Their debut album, Tear The World Down was released in May 2010 to generally positive reviews. The band toured for most of the year in support of the album, and filmed their first live DVD, Cirque Des Damnés, at the Avalon Theatre. The DVD was scheduled for release in late 2011.
The Halo Method
In 2012 Moody teamed up with former Papa Roach drummer Dave Buckner and former Rockstar Supernova frontman Lukas Rossi to form a new project called The Halo Method. Before their debut show on the Shiprocked cruise in November 2012, former In This Moment bassist and studio engineer Josh Newell became their bassist. With Moody having gotten married in 2013 and having kids since then as well, very little has been heard about and from the band itself since 2015.
Acting
Aside from his music endeavours, Moody works with his television and film production company, Makeshift Films.[7] He has also done some film work, such as his cameo as a zombie in Resident Evil: Apocalypse.[8] He can also be seen in the 2007 release of the low budget, Lionsgate film, Dead and Gone.
Discography
Evanescence
Solo
- "Everything Burns" (2005) - Single/Music video
- Mutiny Bootleg E.P. (2008)
- All for This (2009)
- You Can't Regret What You Don't Remember (2011)
We Are the Fallen
- Tear the World Down (2010)
Other appearances
Year | Artist | Song | Release and/or explanation | Notes |
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2004 | Avril Lavigne | "Nobody's Home" | Under My Skin | Writing credits |
Ben Moody feat. Jason Miller and Jason "Gong" Jones | "The End Has Come" | The Punisher: The Album | Main performer; writing credits | |
Kelly Clarkson (with Ben Moody, David Hodges, Marty O'Brien, and Mark Colbert) | "Because of You" | Breakaway | Writing credits, producer, and guitar | |
"Addicted" | ||||
2005 | Ben Moody | "Forever in Our Hearts" | Song for tsunami relief made exclusively for iTunes | Lead guitar |
Ben Moody feat. Anastacia | "Everything Burns" | Fantastic 4: The Album Pieces of a Dream | Main performer; writing credits and producer | |
Lindsay Lohan | "Fastlane" | A Little More Personal (Raw) | Arranger, programming, producer | |
"Edge of Seventeen" | Programming and producer | |||
Bo Bice | "My World" | The Real Thing | Producer | |
2007 | Daughtry | "What About Now" | Daughtry | Writing credits |
Celine Dion | "Alone" | Taking Chances | Producer | |
"This Time" | Writing credits and producer | |||
"The Reason I Go On" | Producer | |||
2009 | Daughtry | "Open Up Your Eyes" | Leave This Town | Writing credits |
Halestorm | "Innocence" | Halestorm | Writing credits | |
2010 | Flyleaf | "Arise" (Ben Moody Mix) | Remember to Live | Remixer |
References
- "Carly Smithson to join forces with ex-Evanescence musicians to become the Fallen". LA Times. June 18, 2009. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
- D'Angelo, Joe (February 27, 2004). "Evanescence - The Split". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 13, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
- Bakker, Tiffany (January 9, 2004). "Moody blues". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
- Finn, Natalie (August 11, 2006). "Evanescence Brings Tour to Life". E! Online via Yahoo News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2006. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
- Rashbaum, Alyssa (January 26, 2005). "Mya, Brian McKnight, Ben Moody On Tsunami Benefit Song". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
- "Former Evanescence Guitarist/Songwriter Produces CD For Hana Pestle". Blabbermouth.net. May 10, 2007. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
- "Ben Moody". MTV. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
- Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, Sienna Guillory (2004). Resident Evil: Apocalypse Cast Commentary (DVD). Sony Entertainment. Event occurs at 28:26.