Ben Kasica
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Judah Kasica (born April 15, 1984) is the former lead guitarist for the Christian rock
band Skillet
. He joined the band in 2001 at the age of sixteen, and recorded the albums Collide, Comatose
(which went Gold on November 18, 2009) and Awake
(which went gold as well) with them. While he didn't join the band until five years into its existence, he was only twelve when the band was first formed.
Kasica played GMP Guitars exclusively when he first joined the band. However, he and his fellow Skillet guitarist Korey Cooper
later switched to PRS Guitars
, most notably the PRS SC 250, and the Mira. For "Awake
" Ben recorded with Gibson Guitars, mostly Gibson Les Paul
s. Kasica is known for his many tricks while playing the guitar
live on stage. These range from his solos to playing his guitar behind the back of his head.
During shows, Ben often wanders around his side of the stage, and former drummer Lori Peters had said that he would do things such as make faces at her or rock out on the drum riser. Ben has started including a guitar solo in the set list for the 'Awake and Alive' tour.
John Cooper said in the You Tube interview that he enjoyed having Ben in the band "for his integrity; [Ben's] someone who wants to be honest about things."
On February 14, 2011, Ben announced he was leaving Skillet
to pursue other interests. He was asked to return on a temporary basis on April 11, when Jonathan Salas left. On April 14, he played his next final show, as Seth Morrison played the show the following day.
Ben is also the co-owner of Skies Fall Media Group, which offers artists many services; from their website: "Along with the record company, artist development/management and recording studio, Skies Fall Media Group also contains a full service graphic design and professional photography division, model and actor management, and live music production division with more to come."
Ben produced Tooth & Nail
artist Hyland
's EP
Quotients
.
Ben is currently recording and producing Skyhawk Drive's first full length album.
Ben was the director/producer of Cellofourte: A String Tribute to Skillet which is an album by Tate Olsen, the cellist for Skillet, doing four-part cello covers of popular Skillet songs.
Ben is also currently involved in the band Above Only.
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band Skillet
Skillet (band)
Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996. The band currently consists of husband and wife John and Korey Cooper , along with Jen Ledger and lead guitarist Seth Morrison. The band has released eight albums, two receiving Grammy nominations: Collide and Comatose...
. He joined the band in 2001 at the age of sixteen, and recorded the albums Collide, Comatose
Comatose (album)
Comatose is the seventh full-length album released by the Christian rock band Skillet. Released October 3, 2006, this album continues their previous album's trend of downplaying the keyboard elements that were prominent in previous releases in favor of more orchestral elements and distorted guitars...
(which went Gold on November 18, 2009) and Awake
Awake (Skillet album)
Awake is the eighth album by Christian rock band Skillet. It is the follow-up to their Grammy-nominated album Comatose. The album was released on August 25, 2009 by Lava Records and Ardent Records and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200...
(which went gold as well) with them. While he didn't join the band until five years into its existence, he was only twelve when the band was first formed.
Career
He began playing guitar at age eleven, beginning with a more classical style, but he switched to playing electric guitar about two years later. However, his classical influence can be heard in his solos.Kasica played GMP Guitars exclusively when he first joined the band. However, he and his fellow Skillet guitarist Korey Cooper
Korey Cooper
Korey Cooper is the keyboardist, guitarist, and backing vocalist for the Christian Rock band Skillet. Her husband, John Cooper, is the lead singer and bassist of the band, as well as one of the founding members...
later switched to PRS Guitars
PRS Guitars
PRS Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland. PRS Guitars was founded by guitarist and luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of high-end electric guitars.-Materials:...
, most notably the PRS SC 250, and the Mira. For "Awake
Awake (Skillet album)
Awake is the eighth album by Christian rock band Skillet. It is the follow-up to their Grammy-nominated album Comatose. The album was released on August 25, 2009 by Lava Records and Ardent Records and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200...
" Ben recorded with Gibson Guitars, mostly Gibson Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
s. Kasica is known for his many tricks while playing the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
live on stage. These range from his solos to playing his guitar behind the back of his head.
During shows, Ben often wanders around his side of the stage, and former drummer Lori Peters had said that he would do things such as make faces at her or rock out on the drum riser. Ben has started including a guitar solo in the set list for the 'Awake and Alive' tour.
John Cooper said in the You Tube interview that he enjoyed having Ben in the band "for his integrity; [Ben's] someone who wants to be honest about things."
On February 14, 2011, Ben announced he was leaving Skillet
Skillet (band)
Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996. The band currently consists of husband and wife John and Korey Cooper , along with Jen Ledger and lead guitarist Seth Morrison. The band has released eight albums, two receiving Grammy nominations: Collide and Comatose...
to pursue other interests. He was asked to return on a temporary basis on April 11, when Jonathan Salas left. On April 14, he played his next final show, as Seth Morrison played the show the following day.
Other work
Ben is one of the owners of the clothing brand "LifeLoveMusic," a Christian organization that encourages Christians to "be the light of the world" by "loving the unlovable and sacrificing our lives for others."Ben is also the co-owner of Skies Fall Media Group, which offers artists many services; from their website: "Along with the record company, artist development/management and recording studio, Skies Fall Media Group also contains a full service graphic design and professional photography division, model and actor management, and live music production division with more to come."
Ben produced Tooth & Nail
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
artist Hyland
Hyland (band)
Hyland is an American Christian rock band originating from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band released two EPs independently before signing to Tooth & Nail Records on October 25, 2010. Their debut album was released on Tooth & Nail on May 3, 2011....
's EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Quotients
Quotients (EP)
-External links:***...
.
Ben is currently recording and producing Skyhawk Drive's first full length album.
Ben was the director/producer of Cellofourte: A String Tribute to Skillet which is an album by Tate Olsen, the cellist for Skillet, doing four-part cello covers of popular Skillet songs.
Ben is also currently involved in the band Above Only.