I love music. I’ve loved music my entire life. I started playing the piano at the age of 8 and was instantly hooked. Then I remember the day my dad brought home an electric guitar. I was in heaven. Then my dad literally traded a donkey for a drum set, and my brother and I started writing and playing songs together. The rest is history.

 In high school, I started leaning more into drums and vocals, and I started the punk band that I would play my first show with. As drummer for the band, I also did backing vocals. But at our first show, the frontman/guitarist got stage fright DURING THE SET and wouldn’t sing. So I ended up singing lead vocals the whole time while playing drums, which was difficult since I had never practiced that way. I guess that’s the true spirit of punk rock though.

 After high school, I started college, but was soon contacted by an electro/hardcore band in the works the next city over who was looking for a guitarist. I dropped out of college and joined shortly thereafter. We wrote some songs and hit the studio. The band was experimental in nature, but was fairly popular and played frequently in the area from Dallas to OKC. We also played an outdoor festival in Illinois, and even played a show in a Hot Topic inside a mall! Shit was wild.

 The band eventually parted ways due to stylistic differences, but several of the members (including me) stayed together and rebranded the group with a much heavier feel and tone, diving deeper into the realms of Metal/Hardcore.

 After writing some heavier tunes, we recorded with producer Bobby Lynge (Fit For A King) and continued to play shows and hit the road any chance we got. We had a good run, but eventually parted ways due to religious differences within the band.

 My next stint would be touring and playing drums for a hardcore group that my brother had joined.

 Soon afterwards, I was contacted by a hardcore band signed to Artery Records and asked to play bass on an international tour across the US and Canada.

 After spending several years touring and playing shows, I was 21 and lonely, as I was never in one place long enough to “put down roots.” So I intuitively felt the need to settle down a bit and start a family of my own.

 Since then, I have generally played locally at bars, churches, and other events. And now I have a home of my own…and of course a music studio.

 Now, I have 3 wonderful sons who all love to play music just like I did. And the cycle continues….🤓

Ben Wesson 1 is following