Yotam Ben-Horin
Encyclopedia
Yotam Ben-Horin (born February 17, 1979 in Haifa
, Israel
) is an Israel
i musician best known for his work as the lead singer and bassist
for successful Israeli punk rock
band Useless ID
. Most recently, he is also known for his work as a solo acoustic
artist.
as a bassist and backing vocalist, replacing former bassist Adi Alkavatz in 1997. He appeared on the band's first release and first full-length album, Dead's Not Punk which was released in September 1997, through the band's own independent label Falafel Records. He later appeared on the band's second full-length album Get in the Pita Bread Pit in 1999, which was also released through Falafel Records, and Let it Burn, the band's split album with The Ataris
, which was released in April 2000 on Kung Fu Records
and was the last to feature the band's rhythm guitarist Guy Carmel on lead vocals.
Following the band's split album with The Ataris
, the band was offered a record contract in Kung Fu Records
, which resulted in guitarist Guy Carmel leaving his position as lead vocalist in the band and staying a backing vocalist only. Ben-Horin then took the position of the band's lead vocalist and main songwriter, as well as staying the bassist. He sang on all of the band's international major releases: Bad Story, Happy Ending (2001), No Vacation from the World (2003), Redemption (2005) and most recently, the band's critically acclaimed and successful album The Lost Broken Bones
released in October 2008, through their new label - Suburban Home Records
. On all of these albums, Ben-Horin also wrote the majority of the material.
On January 27, 2011, Useless ID
played their last show in support of The Lost Broken Bones at the Barby club in Tel Aviv
, Israel
, before taking off to record their new album at the Blasting Room
in Fort Collins, Colorado
. The band entered the Blasting Room
on February 2, 2011, to begin recording the new album. Recording was finished on February 17, 2011, and mixing was done on February 22, with mastering taking place in April. The band set a late 2011/early 2012 release date for the album.
page where he started uploading quiet and mellow acoustic
songs he wrote, recorded and demoed by himself. In his page he also wrote he will upload more quiet demos he feels are inappropriate for Useless ID
and that he demoes by himself in his home, with an intention of recording a solo album of such acoustic
, folk
and indie
songs in the future.
In early 2009, Ben-Horin announced he will start recording his solo album soon, and started promoting his solo songs with a one-man acoustic performances (with a singer-songwriter
approach) in small venues, especially bars
and coffee shops
, around Israel
.
He then updated on his Facebook
page that he was entering Zaza Studios in late April 2009 to start recording his solo album, with an intention to release the album around September 2009, although it is unknown on which label it will be released, or if it will be released internationally.
On May 4, 2009, Ben-Horin revealed the tracklist for his album, as well as a progress update on the recording, commenting that the recording is almost done.
On July 22, 2009, Ben-Horin stated on his Myspace
page that recording for the solo album will continue in September, followed by mixing and mastering of the album, and that he expects that the album to be released very late 2009, or early 2010.
On February 8, 2010, mixing for the solo album began by A.J. Mogis of Criteria
. Mixing was done on March 3, 2010, with Ben-Horin commenting that mastering will be done in April, and he expects the album to be released around mid/late 2010. On April 14, 2010, upon returning from Useless ID
's U.S. tour, Ben-Horin has confirmed that mastering will begin soon.
On May 17, 2010, Ben-Horin has confirmed on his Facebook that mastering of his solo album has begun, and that it is being mastered by Doug Van Sloun of Focus Mastering. On June 10, 2010, Ben-Horin has announced on his Facebook page that mastering is finished and that the album is now finally complete, but it will take some more time until it will be ready for release.
On June 21, 2010, Ben-Horin had his first solo show with a full band, as opposed to his solo acoustic shows he played up until now. His solo band is composed of him on lead vocals and guitar, Man Alive
frontman Jamie Hilsden on guitar and vocals, Zoe Polanski on bass and Corey Swift on drums. Corey Swift has since been replaced with 7% Mind Usage drummer Guy Fleisher.
On October 27, 2010, Yotam entered the studio once again to re-record some songs he wasn't happy with for his solo album. He has confirmed that the album is nearly finished. On December 21, 2010, Yotam had updated his Facebook
page with the title "soon", implying on the completion and release of his album.
On January 10, 2011, Yotam has announced that the final master of his album is finally done.
On June 12, 2011, Yotam has uploaded a compilation of songs entitled Home Recordings to his Bandcamp
and Soundcloud
pages for free listening and purchase. On his Facebook
page, Yotam has explained that he decided to compile this album of acoustic demos to have something out before his album will be finally released, and that all the songs on this compilation are songs that didn't make the album, being raw acoustic demos recorded by himself at his home. On his Facebook page, Yotam has commented that the album is scheduled for a November/December 2011 release.
On October 8, 2011, Yotam has announced he is booking solo shows all over Israel for a long series of shows to promote his upcoming album. He has also announced that he'll be putting a new solo band together, for the upcoming series of shows. On October 19, 2011, Yotam has said on his Facebook
page that the front cover for his album is ready and the back cover is almost ready, as well as mentioning he has put together a new solo band, which is comprised of himself on vocals and guitar, Or Edry on bass and Guy Fleisher, who has already played with Yotam before, on drums and percussion. Edry's first performance with Yotam took place on October 30 at the OzenBar where Yotam played an acoustic set with fellow singer-songwriter
Rotem Or. The first full-band show of the new line-up took place on November 14. Later in November, Guy Fleisher was replaced with Aviv Cohen on drums and percussion.
, Ben-Horin founded the hardcore punk
band DPA (Dr Pepper
Addicts) with guitarist Arik Mon. The two added Yehuda Yace and Ido Blaustein (then Useless ID drummer), and started playing shows, immediately garnering a lot of attention from the Israeli punk
scene, later on singer Kasha joined the group. The band released one album, Straight Out of the Basement (also released under the name Dr. Pepper Can), on Useless ID's own label Falafel Records. The band broke up in 2001, after two years of activity in which the band was acclaimed as one of Israel's finest hardcore bands. The band reunited in 2007 for a short tour across Israel.
In late 2002, Ben-Horin founded the grunge
band Superdrive, together with Ofer Gelder, Moshe Liberman (later session drummer for Useless ID
) and Rotem Inbar (later from groove
outfit Betzefer
). The band's only album, Dear Enemy
, was released in 2004. The band broke up later that year, but in late 2005, Ben-Horin decided to bring the band back, with new members Guy Shechter and Russel Groos. This incarnation lasted until 2006, only producing a few live shows. Two of the songs Ben-Horin originally wrote for Superdrive - "Isolate Me" and "Shallow End" - made it to Useless ID's 2008 album, The Lost Broken Bones
.
In 2004 Ben-Horin joined Israeli singer Shy Nobleman
as a live bass player, and also played on Nobelman's second album, Beautiful Life
. Ben-Horin has also played live bass for Danny Sanderson
, one of Israel's most successful pop rock
musicians. As a favor, Sanderson also joined to play two songs with Useless ID
on their release concert for their latest album The Lost Broken Bones
, on October 18, 2008. During his performance with the band, they also performed one classic song in Hebrew, "Ha'galshan Sheli" ("My Surfboard"), a song by Sanderson himself.
Ben-Horin also worked as a producer for various Israeli punk rock
bands. In 2008, he produced the second album by young pop punk
band Beat 69, Banot Ohavot Banim Hazakim (Girls Like Tough Boys). Later in 2008, he produced a Various Artists compilation of Israeli punk bands, titled punkrock.co.il for the new Israeli punk website
and magazine
. The compilation featured two previously unreleased tracks by Useless ID
and DPA, as well as songs by Beat 69, Kill The Drive and Got No Shame.
Ben-Horin has produced pop punk
band Kill The Drive's second studio album, A Postcard From Hell which was released in Japan
on May 2009 through Radtone. He has also produced the song "City Lights" and all of the vocals on Got No Shame's debut full-length album Hometown Underground. Most recently, he has produced post-hardcore
act This Means You's debut album The Act.
On August 25, 2010, Yotam's grunge
side project Superdrive has reunited once again for a reunion show at the Sublime club in Tel Aviv
. The show was followed by another reunion show on November 19, 2010, at the Ozen Bar in Tel Aviv
.
On October 28, 2011, Ben-Horin has joined indie rock
musician Shy Nobleman
as his live bassist at the show which took place during the InDnegev Festival. Ben-Horin has previously played in Nobleman's live band during 2005, as well as on his second album Beautiful Life, and this was his first performance with Nobleman ever since early 2006.
Ben-Horin states his influences as John Lennon
, Brian Wilson
, Black Francis, Kurt Cobain
, Ken Andrews
, Blake Schwarzenbach
, Nick Drake
, Henry Rollins
and Elliot Smith.
Ben-Horin also enjoys listening to such artists as AC/DC
, Nirvana
, The Clash
, ABBA
, Autolux
, Black Flag
, Foo Fighters
, Blonde Redhead
, Blondie
, The All-American Rejects
, Man Alive
, My Bloody Valentine, Kiss
, ALL
, Pink Floyd
, Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, The Police
, Queen
, Weezer
, Sonic Youth
, Sean Lennon
, Minor Threat
, David Bowie
, Dinosaur Jr., The Get Up Kids
, Jimmy Eat World
, Depeche Mode
, Green Day
, Fugazi, Dead Kennedys
and more.
Former members
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) is an Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i musician best known for his work as the lead singer and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for successful Israeli punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Useless ID
Useless ID
Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Israeli punk bands worldwide.-History:...
. Most recently, he is also known for his work as a solo acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
artist.
Useless ID (1997–present)
Yotam Ben-Horin joined Useless IDUseless ID
Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Israeli punk bands worldwide.-History:...
as a bassist and backing vocalist, replacing former bassist Adi Alkavatz in 1997. He appeared on the band's first release and first full-length album, Dead's Not Punk which was released in September 1997, through the band's own independent label Falafel Records. He later appeared on the band's second full-length album Get in the Pita Bread Pit in 1999, which was also released through Falafel Records, and Let it Burn, the band's split album with The Ataris
The Ataris
The Ataris are a rock band from Anderson, Indiana. They have released five studio albums, and their most recent E.P. was released on November 25, 2010 on the Gainesville, Florida based label, Paper + Plastick. It contained the brand new tracks "All Souls' Day" and "The Graveyard of The Atlantic"...
, which was released in April 2000 on Kung Fu Records
Kung Fu Records
Kung Fu Records is an American independent record label founded in 1996 by Joe Escalante and Warren Fitzgerald of the punk rock band The Vandals. Founded in order to release a record by the Riverside, California band Assorted Jelly Beans, the label soon grew to include a roster of notable artists...
and was the last to feature the band's rhythm guitarist Guy Carmel on lead vocals.
Following the band's split album with The Ataris
The Ataris
The Ataris are a rock band from Anderson, Indiana. They have released five studio albums, and their most recent E.P. was released on November 25, 2010 on the Gainesville, Florida based label, Paper + Plastick. It contained the brand new tracks "All Souls' Day" and "The Graveyard of The Atlantic"...
, the band was offered a record contract in Kung Fu Records
Kung Fu Records
Kung Fu Records is an American independent record label founded in 1996 by Joe Escalante and Warren Fitzgerald of the punk rock band The Vandals. Founded in order to release a record by the Riverside, California band Assorted Jelly Beans, the label soon grew to include a roster of notable artists...
, which resulted in guitarist Guy Carmel leaving his position as lead vocalist in the band and staying a backing vocalist only. Ben-Horin then took the position of the band's lead vocalist and main songwriter, as well as staying the bassist. He sang on all of the band's international major releases: Bad Story, Happy Ending (2001), No Vacation from the World (2003), Redemption (2005) and most recently, the band's critically acclaimed and successful album The Lost Broken Bones
The Lost Broken Bones
The Lost Broken Bones is the sixth full-length studio album by Israeli punk band Useless ID. It is the band's first album on the Suburban Home label, and was released in Japan on July 23, 2008 through the Bullion label, and on October 18, 2008 in the rest of the world, in a special release show in...
released in October 2008, through their new label - Suburban Home Records
Suburban Home Records
Suburban Home Records and Distribution is a record label based in Denver, Colorado, United States. The label was founded in 1995 by Virgil Dickerson, and is known for focusing on vinyl releases and bands in the pop-punk and alt-country genres. Its roster has included Two Cow Garage, Drag the River,...
. On all of these albums, Ben-Horin also wrote the majority of the material.
On January 27, 2011, Useless ID
Useless ID
Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Israeli punk bands worldwide.-History:...
played their last show in support of The Lost Broken Bones at the Barby club in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, before taking off to record their new album at the Blasting Room
Blasting Room
The Blasting Room is a recording studio in Fort Collins, Colorado, built by members of Descendents, ALL, and Black Flag, including punk drummer Bill Stevenson....
in Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
. The band entered the Blasting Room
Blasting Room
The Blasting Room is a recording studio in Fort Collins, Colorado, built by members of Descendents, ALL, and Black Flag, including punk drummer Bill Stevenson....
on February 2, 2011, to begin recording the new album. Recording was finished on February 17, 2011, and mixing was done on February 22, with mastering taking place in April. The band set a late 2011/early 2012 release date for the album.
Solo career (2008–present)
Around April 2008, Ben-Horin started a solo MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page where he started uploading quiet and mellow acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
songs he wrote, recorded and demoed by himself. In his page he also wrote he will upload more quiet demos he feels are inappropriate for Useless ID
Useless ID
Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Israeli punk bands worldwide.-History:...
and that he demoes by himself in his home, with an intention of recording a solo album of such acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and indie
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
songs in the future.
In early 2009, Ben-Horin announced he will start recording his solo album soon, and started promoting his solo songs with a one-man acoustic performances (with a singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
approach) in small venues, especially bars
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
and coffee shops
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
, around Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
He then updated on his Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page that he was entering Zaza Studios in late April 2009 to start recording his solo album, with an intention to release the album around September 2009, although it is unknown on which label it will be released, or if it will be released internationally.
On May 4, 2009, Ben-Horin revealed the tracklist for his album, as well as a progress update on the recording, commenting that the recording is almost done.
On July 22, 2009, Ben-Horin stated on his Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page that recording for the solo album will continue in September, followed by mixing and mastering of the album, and that he expects that the album to be released very late 2009, or early 2010.
On February 8, 2010, mixing for the solo album began by A.J. Mogis of Criteria
Criteria (band)
Criteria is an indie rock band from Omaha, Nebraska, formed in 2003 when ex-Cursive founding member Steve Pedersen returned to his hometown after graduating from the Duke University School of Law. He spent six months in a friend's basement where he wrote all ten songs for his new project's debut...
. Mixing was done on March 3, 2010, with Ben-Horin commenting that mastering will be done in April, and he expects the album to be released around mid/late 2010. On April 14, 2010, upon returning from Useless ID
Useless ID
Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Israeli punk bands worldwide.-History:...
's U.S. tour, Ben-Horin has confirmed that mastering will begin soon.
On May 17, 2010, Ben-Horin has confirmed on his Facebook that mastering of his solo album has begun, and that it is being mastered by Doug Van Sloun of Focus Mastering. On June 10, 2010, Ben-Horin has announced on his Facebook page that mastering is finished and that the album is now finally complete, but it will take some more time until it will be ready for release.
On June 21, 2010, Ben-Horin had his first solo show with a full band, as opposed to his solo acoustic shows he played up until now. His solo band is composed of him on lead vocals and guitar, Man Alive
Man Alive (band)
Man Alive is an Israeli punk rock band, formed in 1999 in Jerusalem, by members Jamie Hilsden on vocals and guitar, Jeremy Boyd on bass guitar and Joel Hilsden on drums.-History:...
frontman Jamie Hilsden on guitar and vocals, Zoe Polanski on bass and Corey Swift on drums. Corey Swift has since been replaced with 7% Mind Usage drummer Guy Fleisher.
On October 27, 2010, Yotam entered the studio once again to re-record some songs he wasn't happy with for his solo album. He has confirmed that the album is nearly finished. On December 21, 2010, Yotam had updated his Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page with the title "soon", implying on the completion and release of his album.
On January 10, 2011, Yotam has announced that the final master of his album is finally done.
On June 12, 2011, Yotam has uploaded a compilation of songs entitled Home Recordings to his Bandcamp
Bandcamp
Bandcamp is an online music store, as well as a platform for artist promotion, that caters mainly for independent artists. Artists on Bandcamp have a customizable microsite with the albums they upload. All tracks can be played for free on the website and some artists offer free music downloads...
and Soundcloud
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform which allows collaboration, promotion and distribution of audio recordings.-History:SoundCloud was originally started in Stockholm, Sweden, but was established in Berlin, Germany in August, 2007 by sound designer Alex Ljung and artist Eric Wahlforss...
pages for free listening and purchase. On his Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page, Yotam has explained that he decided to compile this album of acoustic demos to have something out before his album will be finally released, and that all the songs on this compilation are songs that didn't make the album, being raw acoustic demos recorded by himself at his home. On his Facebook page, Yotam has commented that the album is scheduled for a November/December 2011 release.
On October 8, 2011, Yotam has announced he is booking solo shows all over Israel for a long series of shows to promote his upcoming album. He has also announced that he'll be putting a new solo band together, for the upcoming series of shows. On October 19, 2011, Yotam has said on his Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page that the front cover for his album is ready and the back cover is almost ready, as well as mentioning he has put together a new solo band, which is comprised of himself on vocals and guitar, Or Edry on bass and Guy Fleisher, who has already played with Yotam before, on drums and percussion. Edry's first performance with Yotam took place on October 30 at the OzenBar where Yotam played an acoustic set with fellow singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Rotem Or. The first full-band show of the new line-up took place on November 14. Later in November, Guy Fleisher was replaced with Aviv Cohen on drums and percussion.
Other projects
Ben-Horin has also been active in other bands/projects. In 1999, while touring with Useless IDUseless ID
Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Israeli punk bands worldwide.-History:...
, Ben-Horin founded the hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band DPA (Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper is a soft drink, marketed as having a unique flavor. The drink was created in the 1880s by Charles Alderton of Waco, Texas and first served around 1885. Dr Pepper was first nationally marketed in the United States in 1904 and is now also sold in Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Australia ...
Addicts) with guitarist Arik Mon. The two added Yehuda Yace and Ido Blaustein (then Useless ID drummer), and started playing shows, immediately garnering a lot of attention from the Israeli punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene, later on singer Kasha joined the group. The band released one album, Straight Out of the Basement (also released under the name Dr. Pepper Can), on Useless ID's own label Falafel Records. The band broke up in 2001, after two years of activity in which the band was acclaimed as one of Israel's finest hardcore bands. The band reunited in 2007 for a short tour across Israel.
In late 2002, Ben-Horin founded the grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
band Superdrive, together with Ofer Gelder, Moshe Liberman (later session drummer for Useless ID
Useless ID
Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Israeli punk bands worldwide.-History:...
) and Rotem Inbar (later from groove
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
outfit Betzefer
Betzefer
Betzefer is an Israeli groove metal band, originating from the communal settlement Maccabim-Re'ut. The band was formed up in 1998 and was signed to Roadrunner Records from 2005 to 2007...
). The band's only album, Dear Enemy
Dear Enemy (album)
Dear Enemy is the first and only album by Superdrive, a grunge side project of Useless ID frontman Yotam Ben-Horin. It was self-produced and released in 2003 in small capacity, sold only at live shows....
, was released in 2004. The band broke up later that year, but in late 2005, Ben-Horin decided to bring the band back, with new members Guy Shechter and Russel Groos. This incarnation lasted until 2006, only producing a few live shows. Two of the songs Ben-Horin originally wrote for Superdrive - "Isolate Me" and "Shallow End" - made it to Useless ID's 2008 album, The Lost Broken Bones
The Lost Broken Bones
The Lost Broken Bones is the sixth full-length studio album by Israeli punk band Useless ID. It is the band's first album on the Suburban Home label, and was released in Japan on July 23, 2008 through the Bullion label, and on October 18, 2008 in the rest of the world, in a special release show in...
.
In 2004 Ben-Horin joined Israeli singer Shy Nobleman
Shy Nobleman
Shy Nobleman is an Israeli rock musician, singer, songwriter, producer, keyboardist, guitarist and Actor.He is one of Israel's leading indie musicians, whose English language psychedelic and power-pop albums have been hits in Israel and enjoys increasing popularity in a number of European...
as a live bass player, and also played on Nobelman's second album, Beautiful Life
Beautiful Life (Shy Nobleman album)
Beautiful Life is the second studio album by Israeli indie rock artist Shy Nobleman, released on November 30, 2005. The lyrics of the album based mostly around the break-up of Nobleman with his girlfriend at the time....
. Ben-Horin has also played live bass for Danny Sanderson
Danny Sanderson
Danny Sanderson is an Israeli musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist.-History:In 1972, after a short and unsuccessful bout in London, Sanderson returned to Israel and founded, along with friends Alon Oleartchik, Ephraim Shamir, Gidi Gov, Meir Feningstein and later on Yoni Rechter and Yizkhak...
, one of Israel's most successful pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
musicians. As a favor, Sanderson also joined to play two songs with Useless ID
Useless ID
Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Israeli punk bands worldwide.-History:...
on their release concert for their latest album The Lost Broken Bones
The Lost Broken Bones
The Lost Broken Bones is the sixth full-length studio album by Israeli punk band Useless ID. It is the band's first album on the Suburban Home label, and was released in Japan on July 23, 2008 through the Bullion label, and on October 18, 2008 in the rest of the world, in a special release show in...
, on October 18, 2008. During his performance with the band, they also performed one classic song in Hebrew, "Ha'galshan Sheli" ("My Surfboard"), a song by Sanderson himself.
Ben-Horin also worked as a producer for various Israeli punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
bands. In 2008, he produced the second album by young 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 Beat 69, Banot Ohavot Banim Hazakim (Girls Like Tough Boys). Later in 2008, he produced a Various Artists compilation of Israeli punk bands, titled punkrock.co.il for the new Israeli punk website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
and magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
. The compilation featured two previously unreleased tracks by Useless ID
Useless ID
Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Israeli punk bands worldwide.-History:...
and DPA, as well as songs by Beat 69, Kill The Drive and Got No Shame.
Ben-Horin has produced 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 Kill The Drive's second studio album, A Postcard From Hell which was released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on May 2009 through Radtone. He has also produced the song "City Lights" and all of the vocals on Got No Shame's debut full-length album Hometown Underground. Most recently, he has produced post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
act This Means You's debut album The Act.
On August 25, 2010, Yotam's grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
side project Superdrive has reunited once again for a reunion show at the Sublime club in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. The show was followed by another reunion show on November 19, 2010, at the Ozen Bar in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
On October 28, 2011, Ben-Horin has joined indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
musician Shy Nobleman
Shy Nobleman
Shy Nobleman is an Israeli rock musician, singer, songwriter, producer, keyboardist, guitarist and Actor.He is one of Israel's leading indie musicians, whose English language psychedelic and power-pop albums have been hits in Israel and enjoys increasing popularity in a number of European...
as his live bassist at the show which took place during the InDnegev Festival. Ben-Horin has previously played in Nobleman's live band during 2005, as well as on his second album Beautiful Life, and this was his first performance with Nobleman ever since early 2006.
Musical influences
In his MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
Ben-Horin states his influences as John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, Black Francis, Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
, Ken Andrews
Ken Andrews
Ken Andrews is an American musician and producer, based out of Los Angeles, California.Andrews was born in Seattle, Washington, and attended film school in Los Angeles before his band Failure received a record deal from Slash Records.He was the co-founder, lead vocalist, guitarist, and...
, Blake Schwarzenbach
Blake Schwarzenbach
Alexander Blake Schwarzenbach is an American musician. He was the singer and left-handed guitarist of Jawbreaker , Jets to Brazil , The Thorns of Life , and forgetters -Education:...
, Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
, Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
and Elliot Smith.
Ben-Horin also enjoys listening to such artists as AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
, Autolux
Autolux
Autolux is an avant-garde rock group consisting of Eugene Goreshter , Greg Edwards and Carla Azar...
, Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
, Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead is an American alternative rock band composed of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace , which formed in New York City in 1993....
, Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
, The All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects are an American rock band formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1999. The band consists of lead vocalist and bass guitarist Tyson Ritter, lead guitarist, Nick Wheeler, rhythm guitarist, Mike Kennerty, and drummer Chris Gaylor....
, Man Alive
Man Alive (band)
Man Alive is an Israeli punk rock band, formed in 1999 in Jerusalem, by members Jamie Hilsden on vocals and guitar, Jeremy Boyd on bass guitar and Joel Hilsden on drums.-History:...
, My Bloody Valentine, Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, ALL
ALL (band)
All is an American punk band originally from Los Angeles, currently residing in Fort Collins, Colorado, formed by Descendents members Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton.-Formation and Cruz Records Years:...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
, Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, Sean Lennon
Sean Lennon
is an American singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist and actor. He is the only child of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. His godfather is Sir Elton John.-Early life and education:...
, Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. The band was relatively short-lived, but had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene, both stylistically and in establishing a "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Dinosaur Jr., The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-90's emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music...
, Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
, Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, Fugazi, Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
and more.
Solo band members
- Yotam Ben-Horin - lead vocals, guitar (2010–present)
- Or Edry - bass, vocals (2011–present)
- Aviv Cohen - drums, percussion (2011–present)
Former members
- Jamie Hilsden - guitar, vocals (2010–2011)
- Zoe Polanski - bass, vocals (2010–2011)
- Guy Fleisher - drums, percussion (2010–2011)
- Corey Swift - drums, percussion (2010)
w/ Useless ID
For a full discography, see Useless ID Discography- Dead's Not Punk (1997)
- Get in the Pita Bread Pit (1999)
- Bad Story, Happy Ending (2001)
- No Vacation From The World (2003)
- Redemption (2005)
- The Lost Broken BonesThe Lost Broken BonesThe Lost Broken Bones is the sixth full-length studio album by Israeli punk band Useless ID. It is the band's first album on the Suburban Home label, and was released in Japan on July 23, 2008 through the Bullion label, and on October 18, 2008 in the rest of the world, in a special release show in...
(2008)
Production credits
- Beat 69 - Banot Ohavot Banim Hazakim (2008)
- Various Artists - punkrock.co.il (2008)
- Kill The Drive - A Postcard from Hell (2009)
- Got No Shame - Hometown Underground (2009)
- This Means You - The Act (2010)