Ben Moody
Moody performing in 2003
Moody performing in 2003
Background information
Birth nameBenjamin Robert Moody II
Born (1981-01-22) January 22, 1981
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1995–present
Labels
Websitewww.benmoody.com

Benjamin Robert Moody II[1] (born January 22, 1981)[2] is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as co-founder, former lead guitarist and co-songwriter of rock band Evanescence from its inception in 1995 to his departure in October 2003 after the band's debut album, Fallen. After leaving Evanescence, Moody co-wrote and co-produced songs for Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Anastacia, Lindsay Lohan, Bo Bice, Daughtry, and Celine Dion.

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.[3] They soon began playing music at local shops.[4] 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".[5]

In August 2010, Moody released a statement on his history with Lee and Evanescence, where he said that he was a different person at the time, his friendship with Lee had deteriorated, and they had conflicting opinions, personalities, and desires with the band. Moody apologized to Lee for comments he made to her in anger. He said he realized the band would end if he stayed and believes he made the right choice. He added, "Evanescence has progressed a great distance from the original sound, and made it clear that they intended to expand much further. Amy is very artistic and never has had a problem thinking outside of the box and defying expectations."[6]

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".[7]

In early 2005, Moody played lead guitar for the song "Forever in Our Hearts", the 'song for tsunami relief' made exclusively for iTunes.[8] 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.[9] 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,[9] 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 formed the rock band called We Are the Fallen, of which he is still a member. The members of the band include American Idol 7 finalist Carly Smithson as the lead singer, former Evanescence drummer Rocky Gray and guitarist John LeCompt, and Moody's friend Marty O'Brien.[10] 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. 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 Rock Star 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.

Personal life

Moody was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2005.[11] He struggled with substance abuse during his time in Evanescence,[14] and entered rehab after leaving the band.[7]

As of June 2022, Moody is now divorced.[1]

Acting roles

Aside from his music endeavors, Moody works with his television and film production company, Makeshift Films.[15] He has also done some film work, such as his cameo as a zombie in the 2004 horror film Resident Evil: Apocalypse.[16] He can also be seen in the 2007 release of the low-budget 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

Other appearances

YearArtistSongRelease and/or explanationNotes
2004Avril Lavigne"Nobody's Home"Under My SkinWriting credits
Ben Moody feat. Jason Miller and Jason "Gong" Jones"The End Has Come"The Punisher: The AlbumMain performer; writing credits
Kelly Clarkson
(with Ben Moody, David Hodges, Marty O'Brien, and Mark Colbert)		"Because of You"BreakawayWriting credits, producer, and guitar
"Addicted"
2005Ben Moody"Forever in Our Hearts"Song for tsunami relief made exclusively for iTunesLead 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 ThingProducer
2006Godhead"Push" feat. Jeffree Starr and Ben MoodyThe Shadow LineProducer
2007Daughtry"What About Now"DaughtryWriting credits
Celine Dion"Alone"Taking ChancesProducer
"This Time"Writing credits and producer
"The Reason I Go On"Producer
2009Daughtry"Open Up Your Eyes"Leave This TownWriting credits
Halestorm"Innocence"HalestormWriting credits
2010Flyleaf"Arise" (Ben Moody Mix)Remember to LiveRemixer

References

  1. 1 2 "Docket Report Results". caseinfo.arcourts.gov. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ Rose, Mike (January 22, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 22, 2023 includes celebrities Diane Lane, Guy Fieri". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  3. ↑ D'Angelo, Joe (February 27, 2004). "Evanescence - The Split". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 13, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  4. ↑ Bakker, Tiffany (January 9, 2004). "Moody blues". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "BEN MOODY: The Truth About Why I Left EVANESCENCE And Formed WE ARE THE FALLEN". Blabbermouth.net. August 26, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 "Ben Moody Gets Life After Amy Lee". Rolling Stone. July 12, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. 1 2 "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.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. 1 2 "Ben Moody – No Regrets". MTV. July 6, 2005. Archived from the original on February 21, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  12. ↑ "The End of Heartache". Kerrang!. September 30, 2006. ISSN 0262-6624.
  13. ↑ Reesman, Bryan (November 2006). "The Essence of Evanescence". Metal Edge. Vol. 52, no. 11. pp. 5–10. ISSN 1068-2872.
  14. ↑ [11][12][13][7]
  15. ↑ "Ben Moody". MTV. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
  16. ↑ Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, Sienna Guillory (2004). Resident Evil: Apocalypse Cast Commentary (DVD). Sony Entertainment. Event occurs at 28:26.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ben Moody.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Ben Moody.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.