Benjamin Kowalewicz
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Kowalewicz is the lead singer of the Canadian rock band Billy Talent
.
descent, was born December 16, 1975 in Montreal
, Quebec
. He was raised in Streetsville, Ontario
, but now lives in downtown Toronto
. He attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School
, where he was a drummer in a band named To Each His Own. In this band he would meet Jonathan Gallant. Kowalewicz moved from drummer to vocals
and rhythm guitar
, and Aaron Solowoniuk
was recruited to play drums. The three would then meet Ian D'Sa
to form a band called Pezz. Pezz released their first album, Watoosh!
, in 1998. After threatening an American band who was also using the name Pezz
with a lawsuit, Kowalewicz suggested the name Billy Talent, taken from a character from Michael Turner
's Hard Core Logo
. Kowalewicz focused his work on vocals only, and Billy Talent was born. In this time, Kowalewicz worked in a number of positions at Toronto radio station 102.1 the Edge, as an assistant for The Ongoing History of New Music
host Alan Cross
, to contribute funds towards Billy Talent's first album
.
Kowalewicz is featured in the song "Smiling Politely" by Cancer Bats
from their album Hail Destroyer
. He was featured in the song "Wake Up the Town" by Anti-Flag
, which was a bonus track on their 2008 album The Bright Lights of America
. Kowalewicz is seen in the video for Goldfinger
's "Superman".
His home in the Parkdale
neighbourhood of Toronto was featured on the Canadian home decorating show Designer Guys
. The episode is entitled "Punk Meets Traditional".
Kowalewicz married his girlfriend of 6 years, Rachelle Turner in August 2011.
Guest appearance
Billy Talent
Billy Talent is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Streetsville, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk ....
.
Biography
Kowalewicz, of PolishPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
descent, was born December 16, 1975 in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. He was raised in Streetsville, Ontario
Streetsville, Ontario
Streetsville is an established community located in the northwestern corner of the city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on the Credit River...
, but now lives in downtown Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School is a Catholic Separate School in Mississauga, Ontario. It is part of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and is affiliated with the Carmelite-run parish of St. John of the Cross. The Trustee is Esther O'Toole and the Current Principal is Cathy...
, where he was a drummer in a band named To Each His Own. In this band he would meet Jonathan Gallant. Kowalewicz moved from drummer to vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, and Aaron Solowoniuk
Aaron Solowoniuk
Aaron Solowoniuk , is the drummer for the Canadian band Billy Talent.- Background :Solowoniuk was born and raised in Streetsville, Ontario and began drumming at a young age, his first set being a gift from his parents...
was recruited to play drums. The three would then meet Ian D'Sa
Ian D'Sa
Ian Michael D'Sa is the guitarist for the Canadian band Billy Talent.-Early life and career:Ian's family moved from the UK to Canada when he was 3 years old. He is of Indian Goan descent and grew up in Mississauga, Ontario learning guitar at the age of 13...
to form a band called Pezz. Pezz released their first album, Watoosh!
Watoosh!
* Track 13 is an instrumental, while tracks 11, 12 and 14-16 are blank.* The track "M & M" is about a group of gothic kids that used to come into the HMV where Kowalewicz worked.-Personnel:*Benjamin Kowalewicz - lead vocals...
, in 1998. After threatening an American band who was also using the name Pezz
Pezz
Pezz is a punk band from Memphis, Tennessee, USA. They formed in 1989 and released several LPs, CDs and cassettes with labels 'Truant Records', 'BYO Records', and 'Soul is Cheap'...
with a lawsuit, Kowalewicz suggested the name Billy Talent, taken from a character from Michael Turner
Michael Turner (musician)
For other people named Michael Turner, see Michael Turner.Michael Turner is a musician, and writer of poetry, prose and opera librettos....
's Hard Core Logo
Hard Core Logo
Hard Core Logo is a 1996 Canadian mockumentary adapted by Noel Baker from the novel of the same name by author Michael Turner. Director Bruce McDonald illustrates the self-destruction of punk rock...
. Kowalewicz focused his work on vocals only, and Billy Talent was born. In this time, Kowalewicz worked in a number of positions at Toronto radio station 102.1 the Edge, as an assistant for The Ongoing History of New Music
The Ongoing History of New Music
The Ongoing History of New Music is a Canadian radio program, produced by Corus Entertainment's ExploreMusic division in Toronto. The program, hosted by Alan Cross, is syndicated to several other radio stations, mostly but not exclusively Corus-owned, across Canada.The Ongoing History chronicles...
host Alan Cross
Alan Cross
' is a Canadian radio broadcaster and a writer on music. Alan’s obsession with music began at age six when his grandmother gave him a transistor radio—an old Lloyds—which spawned an all-consuming fascination with things that came over airwaves...
, to contribute funds towards Billy Talent's first album
Billy Talent (album)
- Chart positions :- Personnel :* Benjamin Kowalewicz - Lead vocals* Ian D'Sa - Guitar, vocals, art direction, package design* Jonathan Gallant - Bass guitar, vocals* Aaron Solowoniuk - Drums- Appearances :...
.
Kowalewicz is featured in the song "Smiling Politely" by Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats are a hardcore punk/sludge metal band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Background:Cancer Bats originated in May 2004 with singer Liam Cormier and guitarist Scott Middleton, former member of Toronto heavy metal band At the Mercy of Inspiration...
from their album Hail Destroyer
Hail Destroyer
Hail Destroyer is Cancer Bats' second full-length album. It was released on April 22, 2008 by Distort Entertainment in Canada and on June 24, 2008 by Metal Blade Records in USA....
. He was featured in the song "Wake Up the Town" by Anti-Flag
Anti-Flag
Anti-Flag is a punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States, formed in 1988. The band is well known for its outspoken political views. Much of the band's lyrics have focused on fervent anti-war activism, criticism of United States foreign policy, corporatism, U.S. wealth...
, which was a bonus track on their 2008 album The Bright Lights of America
The Bright Lights of America
-Chart positions:...
. Kowalewicz is seen in the video for Goldfinger
Goldfinger (band)
Goldfinger is a Los Angeles pop punk/ska punk band that formed in 1994. Currently, the band is composed of vocalist/guitarist John Feldmann, guitarist Charlie Paulson, bassist Kelly LeMieux, and drummer Darrin Pfeiffer...
's "Superman".
His home in the Parkdale
Parkdale, Toronto
Parkdale is a neighbourhood and former village in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, west of downtown. The neighbourhood is bounded on the west by Roncesvalles Avenue, on the north by Queen Street. It is bounded on the east by Dufferin Street from Queen Street south, and on the south by Lake Ontario...
neighbourhood of Toronto was featured on the Canadian home decorating show Designer Guys
Designer Guys
Designer Guys is a design show on HGTV starring Matt Davis, Allen Chan, and Anwar Mukhayesh. The show currently airs in five countries including New Zealand, South Africa, Israel, the United States and Canada...
. The episode is entitled "Punk Meets Traditional".
Kowalewicz married his girlfriend of 6 years, Rachelle Turner in August 2011.
Discography
Album appearances- Pezz - Watoosh!Watoosh!* Track 13 is an instrumental, while tracks 11, 12 and 14-16 are blank.* The track "M & M" is about a group of gothic kids that used to come into the HMV where Kowalewicz worked.-Personnel:*Benjamin Kowalewicz - lead vocals...
(1998) - Billy Talent - Billy TalentBilly Talent (album)- Chart positions :- Personnel :* Benjamin Kowalewicz - Lead vocals* Ian D'Sa - Guitar, vocals, art direction, package design* Jonathan Gallant - Bass guitar, vocals* Aaron Solowoniuk - Drums- Appearances :...
(2003) - Billy Talent - Billy Talent IIBilly Talent II-Themes:The album has less anger and language than their previous self-titled album, as they had mellowed out and matured as men and as a band. More of the songs dealt with real-life issues, to the praise of fans and critics.-Personnel:Billy Talent...
(2006) - Billy Talent - Billy Talent IIIBilly Talent III-Special Guitar Villain edition second CD:In addition to having the entire album featured without guitars plus a Guitar Tab of the whole album, the Guitar Villain second disc also features four demo tracks:...
(2009)
Guest appearance
- Anti-FlagAnti-FlagAnti-Flag is a punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States, formed in 1988. The band is well known for its outspoken political views. Much of the band's lyrics have focused on fervent anti-war activism, criticism of United States foreign policy, corporatism, U.S. wealth...
- The Bright Lights of AmericaThe Bright Lights of America-Chart positions:...
on "Wake Up the Town" (2008) - Cancer BatsCancer BatsCancer Bats are a hardcore punk/sludge metal band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Background:Cancer Bats originated in May 2004 with singer Liam Cormier and guitarist Scott Middleton, former member of Toronto heavy metal band At the Mercy of Inspiration...
- Hail DestroyerHail DestroyerHail Destroyer is Cancer Bats' second full-length album. It was released on April 22, 2008 by Distort Entertainment in Canada and on June 24, 2008 by Metal Blade Records in USA....
on "Smiling Politely" (2008) - Rise AgainstRise AgainstRise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...
- Prayer of the RefugeePrayer of the Refugee"Prayer of the Refugee" is the second single from Rise Against's album The Sufferer and The Witness, and was released worldwide in 2006. The song was originally titled "Diaspora", with advance copies of the album using that title instead of "Prayer of the Refugee".The song is featured as a...
Occasional live appearances.