Ben Harper (musician)
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Ben Harper
Benjamin Eric Harper is an American
rock musician. He is best known for being the former lead guitarist for the American pop punk
band Yellowcard
, as well as for the bands Amber Pacific
and HeyMike!
. Harper is co-owner of Takeover Records
.
, Ben Dobson, Todd Clary, Warren Cooke, and Sean Mackin
after meeting at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
. The band released their first album, Midget Tossing
, in 1997. They then released their second album, Where We Stand
in 1999. After Dobson left the band Harper asked friend Ryan Key
as the band's new lead singer. The band then released the Still Standing EP
in early 2000. Shortly after the release of their EP Todd Clary left the band, Key then filled in as the rhythm guitarist. The band then moved to Camarillo, CA, after being signed to Lobster Records. They then begin working on their next album.
The group released their third album, One for the Kids in 2001 and followed up with The Underdog EP
in 2002. After the release of The Underdog EP, Warren Cooke left the band due to personal reasons. The band later asked close friend Peter Mosely
from Inspection 12
, to become the band's new bass guitarist. After Yellowcard released The Underdog EP the band signed with Capitol Records, who were looking to sign pop punk
bands at the time. Yellowcard then began the recording of their major-label debut album Ocean Avenue in late 2002.
Mosely left during recording of the album due to personal problems. The band then asked Alex Lewis
to join as the bass guitarist. Yellowcard released their album Ocean Avenue on July 22, 2003 hiting at number 23 on U.S. Billboard 200
, the album was a commercial success in the United States with the hit singles Way Away
, Ocean Avenue
, and Only One.
In late 2004 Lewis left the band after Peter Mosely rejoined as the band's bassist. In 2005 Harper went with the other band members to Los Angeles
while Key and Mosely moved to New York City
to create new material for their next album. During the following months tensions arose between the band members, mostly after Harper was arrested on May 14 for suspicion of DUI
. In an interview with MTV News he said that he was finished with writing the guitar tracks for the album and that he was leaving the band. He was replaced by Ryan Mendez from the band Staring Back.
in October 2006.
. HeyMike! also toured in Europe and played a limited number of shows in the United States. The band has posted on their Facebook and Myspace pages that Pop and Circumstance will be released on April 19, 2011.[1]
With HeyMike!
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
Benjamin Eric Harper is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock musician. He is best known for being the former lead guitarist for the American pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band Yellowcard
Yellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
, as well as for the bands Amber Pacific
Amber Pacific
Amber Pacific is an American band that formed in 2002 in Federal Way, Washington. The band has released three full length albums thus far, The Possibility and the Promise in 2005, Truth in Sincerity in 2007, and Virtues in 2010....
and HeyMike!
HeyMike!
HeyMike! is a U.S. punk band out of Ventura County, California. The band's name was originally used by singer/guitarist Steven Neufeld as the title of his early demo tapes from 1998-2001...
. Harper is co-owner of Takeover Records
Takeover Records
Takeover Records is a punk music record label based in Long Beach, California, U.S.A.The company was founded by former Yellowcard guitarist Ben Harper and his friend Greg McDonald in 1997.-Current:*Bracket*HeyMike!*Near Miss*River City High...
.
Yellowcard (1997–2006)
Harper formed Yellowcard in 1997 along with Longineu W. Parsons IIILongineu W. Parsons III
Longineu W. "LP" Parsons III is a French-born American rock musician. He is best known for being the drummer for the American pop punk band Yellowcard and is now one of the two remaining full-time members of the band from its original line-up along with bandmate Sean Mackin.-Early life:Longineu...
, Ben Dobson, Todd Clary, Warren Cooke, and Sean Mackin
Sean Mackin (musician)
Sean Mackin is an American rock musician. He is best known as the violinist and backing vocalist for the American pop punk band Yellowcard and is now one of the two remaining full-time members of the band from its original line-up, along with bandmate Longineu W. Parsons III.-Early life:Mackin was...
after meeting at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts is a magnet high school in the San Marco neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida. The school opened in the 1922 as a primary school specifically for African American students. The school is named after local civil rights activist, Douglas Anderson...
. The band released their first album, Midget Tossing
Midget Tossing
Midget Tossing is Yellowcard's debut album, released in 1997 by DIY Records. It is currently out of print. The songs "Sue" and "Uphill Both Ways" both appeared on Yellowcard's following album Where We Stand.-Track listing:-Members:...
, in 1997. They then released their second album, Where We Stand
Where We Stand
Where We Stand is the second album by American rock band Yellowcard. It was released in 1999 .Ben Dobson and Todd Clary who left after this album had a lot to do with their sound of old. Dobson’s scruffy, rough-around-the-edges vocal approach gave this band some toughness that is quite different...
in 1999. After Dobson left the band Harper asked friend Ryan Key
Ryan Key
Ryan Key is an American rock musician. He is best known for being the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the American pop punk band Yellowcard, and one of the two lead singers in his side project Big If.-Early life:...
as the band's new lead singer. The band then released the Still Standing EP
Still Standing EP
Still Standing was Yellowcard's first EP, released in 2000 by DIY Records. This EP featured Ryan Key on lead vocals, Todd Clary, who soon left the band, on rhythm guitar, Ben Harper on lead guitar, Sean Mackin on violin, Warren Cooke on bass, and Longineu W. Parsons III on drums...
in early 2000. Shortly after the release of their EP Todd Clary left the band, Key then filled in as the rhythm guitarist. The band then moved to Camarillo, CA, after being signed to Lobster Records. They then begin working on their next album.
The group released their third album, One for the Kids in 2001 and followed up with The Underdog EP
The Underdog EP
The Underdog EP is an extended play by Yellowcard that was released in 2002. Although publicized very little, it tried new styles in Yellowcard's music, making the transition between One for the Kids and Ocean Avenue and was overall well-accepted by fans. It is often mentioned by listeners that...
in 2002. After the release of The Underdog EP, Warren Cooke left the band due to personal reasons. The band later asked close friend Peter Mosely
Peter Mosely
Peter Michael Mosely is an American rock musician. He is one of the two guitarist, vocalist and pianist for the American punk rock band Inspection 12 as well as the former bassist for the American pop punk band Yellowcard. He joined Inspection 12 in 1996 but left in 2004 to be the bassist for...
from Inspection 12
Inspection 12
Inspection 12 is an American pop punk band from Jacksonville, Florida, founded by Robert Reid, Dan McLintock, John Comee and Scott Shad. They have released two full length recordings internationally, one on Honest Don's Records and one on Suburban Home Records and Takeover Records...
, to become the band's new bass guitarist. After Yellowcard released The Underdog EP the band signed with Capitol Records, who were looking to sign pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
bands at the time. Yellowcard then began the recording of their major-label debut album Ocean Avenue in late 2002.
Mosely left during recording of the album due to personal problems. The band then asked Alex Lewis
Alex Lewis
Alex Lewis is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin where he currently holds the record for most sacks in a game with 6.5 on October 18, 2003 vs. Purdue...
to join as the bass guitarist. Yellowcard released their album Ocean Avenue on July 22, 2003 hiting at number 23 on U.S. Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, the album was a commercial success in the United States with the hit singles Way Away
Way Away
"Way Away" is the first single and opening track of Yellowcard's album Ocean Avenue. The song and music video both reflect the band's choice about leaving their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida to California in hopes of making a name for themselves in the Southern California music scene."Way Away"...
, Ocean Avenue
Ocean Avenue (song)
"Ocean Avenue" is the title of a song recorded by American pop punk group Yellowcard. It was released in September 2004 as the second single from Ocean Avenue and the third track. It is known for bringing them into the mainstream, as it received numerous spins on MTV and increasing radio airplay...
, and Only One.
In late 2004 Lewis left the band after Peter Mosely rejoined as the band's bassist. In 2005 Harper went with the other band members to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
while Key and Mosely moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to create new material for their next album. During the following months tensions arose between the band members, mostly after Harper was arrested on May 14 for suspicion of DUI
DUI
DUI is a three letter acronym that may stand for:* Driving under the influence * Democratic Union for Integration — the largest ethnic Albanian party in the Republic of Macedonia* Data Use Identifier...
. In an interview with MTV News he said that he was finished with writing the guitar tracks for the album and that he was leaving the band. He was replaced by Ryan Mendez from the band Staring Back.
Amber Pacific (2006)
After leaving Yellowcard Harper joined Amber Pacific as their rhythm guitar, after replacing Justin Westcott, Harper left the band before recording of their second studio album, Truth in SincerityTruth in Sincerity
Truth in Sincerity is the second full-length album by the pop punk band Amber Pacific and was one of the most anticipated pop punk albums of 2007. It was released on May 22, 2007. The first singles from the album were "Fall Back Into My Life" and "You're Only Young Once." Will Nutter has stated...
in October 2006.
HeyMike! (2008–present)
In 2008 Harper joined the band as the new lead guitarist along side Steven Neufeld, Justin Cabrera, and T.J Arriaga. HeyMike! reconstructed its original trio in 2009 when Josh McDonald came back to continue his bass playing duties. Harper remained with the band and the quartet toured in the United States and Japan throughout 2009.[1] In 2010, HeyMike! finished recording their third record and second full length album titled Pop and Circumstance which is Harper's first recorded appearance since Yellowcard's Lights and SoundsLights and Sounds
Lights and Sounds is the fifth studio album by American pop punk band Yellowcard, released on January 24, 2006 in the United States through Capitol Records. Lights and Sounds is Yellowcard's first concept album, which was inspired to reflect what the band was feeling at the time of production and...
. HeyMike! also toured in Europe and played a limited number of shows in the United States. The band has posted on their Facebook and Myspace pages that Pop and Circumstance will be released on April 19, 2011.[1]
Discography
With YellowcardYellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
- Midget TossingMidget TossingMidget Tossing is Yellowcard's debut album, released in 1997 by DIY Records. It is currently out of print. The songs "Sue" and "Uphill Both Ways" both appeared on Yellowcard's following album Where We Stand.-Track listing:-Members:...
(1997) - Where We StandWhere We StandWhere We Stand is the second album by American rock band Yellowcard. It was released in 1999 .Ben Dobson and Todd Clary who left after this album had a lot to do with their sound of old. Dobson’s scruffy, rough-around-the-edges vocal approach gave this band some toughness that is quite different...
(1999) - One for the Kids (2001)
- Ocean Avenue (2003)
- Lights and SoundsLights and SoundsLights and Sounds is the fifth studio album by American pop punk band Yellowcard, released on January 24, 2006 in the United States through Capitol Records. Lights and Sounds is Yellowcard's first concept album, which was inspired to reflect what the band was feeling at the time of production and...
(2006)
With HeyMike!
HeyMike!
HeyMike! is a U.S. punk band out of Ventura County, California. The band's name was originally used by singer/guitarist Steven Neufeld as the title of his early demo tapes from 1998-2001...
- Pop and Circumstance (2011)