Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The story behind the Breaking Benjamin firing
Podcast on Apple Podcasts
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rock-n-roll-true-stories-podcast/id1876614383
My second YouTube Channel
youtube.com/@RockNRollTrueStories2
What happens when a multi-platinum rock band tears itself apart not over drugs, not over touring money, but over a single song?
In this video, we dive into the explosive Breaking Benjamin feud that began with the remix of “Blow Me Away” and ended with frontman Benjamin Burnley firing half of Breaking Benjamin by email. This is the story behind the 2011 lawsuit, the Shallow Bay compilation, and the decision that froze one of the biggest hard rock bands of the 2000s for years.
We’ll rewind to the band’s rise from Saturate, We Are Not Alone, and Phobia through Dear Agony, and look at how Breaking Benjamin became one of the defining names in alternative metal and post‑grunge. With hit songs like “Polyamorous,” “So Cold,” “Sooner or Later,” “The Diary of Jane,” and “I Will Not Bow,” the band built a massive fanbase and three platinum-era albums off Burnley’s heavy riffs and huge choruses. We’ll also touch on how “Blow Me Away” landing in Halo 2 helped launch Breaking Benjamin into mainstream gamer culture and cemented that song as one of their most valuable tracks.
Then we get into the drama. In the early 2010s, Hollywood Records moved ahead with Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin, including a new remix of “Blow Me Away” featuring Sydnee Duran of Valora. Burnley claimed in court documents that guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark Klepaski made a $100,000 deal with the label over the remix and best‑of album without his consent or the band’s management’s approval. Their attorneys “dispute and strictly deny” those allegations, but the damage was done, and Burnley responded by firing them via email and suing for damages and exclusive rights to the Breaking Benjamin name.
We break down the partnership agreement, the arbitration, and how this legal fight over “Blow Me Away” and Shallow Bay turned into a full‑scale band breakup. You’ll hear how the band went on hiatus, how drummer Chad Szeliga later left, and how Burnley eventually returned with a new lineup and the album Dark Before Dawn, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. We also cover the earlier lawsuit from original drummer Jeremy Hummel and how his story connects to the later reunion under the name We Are Not Alone, featuring Fink, Klepaski, Hummel, and a new vocalist.
If you’re a fan of Breaking Benjamin, 2000s hard rock, band feuds, or deep‑dive music documentaries, this episode is for you. We explore the business side of being in a rock band, how one remix can ignite a legal war, and what happens when control over a name and catalog becomes more important than keeping a lineup together.
Have a video request or a topic you'd like to see us cover? Comment below or send in your idea: bit.ly/3stnXlN
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Facebook: facebook.com/RNRTrueStories
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Blog: rockandrolltruestories.com
#breakingbenjamin
These videos are for entertainment purposes only. DISCLAIMER rockandrolltruestories.com/youtube-disclaimer
The story behind the Breaking Benjamin firing
Podcast on Apple Podcasts
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rock-n-roll-true-stories-podcast/id1876614383
My second YouTube Channel
youtube.com/@RockNRollTrueStories2
What happens when a multi-platinum rock band tears itself apart not over drugs, not over touring money, but over a single song?
In this video, we dive into the explosive Breaking Benjamin feud that began with the remix of “Blow Me Away” and ended with frontman Benjamin Burnley firing half of Breaking Benjamin by email. This is the story behind the 2011 lawsuit, the Shallow Bay compilation, and the decision that froze one of the biggest hard rock bands of the 2000s for years.
We’ll rewind to the band’s rise from Saturate, We Are Not Alone, and Phobia through Dear Agony, and look at how Breaking Benjamin became one of the defining names in alternative metal and post‑grunge. With hit songs like “Polyamorous,” “So Cold,” “Sooner or Later,” “The Diary of Jane,” and “I Will Not Bow,” the band built a massive fanbase and three platinum-era albums off Burnley’s heavy riffs and huge choruses. We’ll also touch on how “Blow Me Away” landing in Halo 2 helped launch Breaking Benjamin into mainstream gamer culture and cemented that song as one of their most valuable tracks.
Then we get into the drama. In the early 2010s, Hollywood Records moved ahead with Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin, including a new remix of “Blow Me Away” featuring Sydnee Duran of Valora. Burnley claimed in court documents that guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark Klepaski made a $100,000 deal with the label over the remix and best‑of album without his consent or the band’s management’s approval. Their attorneys “dispute and strictly deny” those allegations, but the damage was done, and Burnley responded by firing them via email and suing for damages and exclusive rights to the Breaking Benjamin name.
We break down the partnership agreement, the arbitration, and how this legal fight over “Blow Me Away” and Shallow Bay turned into a full‑scale band breakup. You’ll hear how the band went on hiatus, how drummer Chad Szeliga later left, and how Burnley eventually returned with a new lineup and the album Dark Before Dawn, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. We also cover the earlier lawsuit from original drummer Jeremy Hummel and how his story connects to the later reunion under the name We Are Not Alone, featuring Fink, Klepaski, Hummel, and a new vocalist.
If you’re a fan of Breaking Benjamin, 2000s hard rock, band feuds, or deep‑dive music documentaries, this episode is for you. We explore the business side of being in a rock band, how one remix can ignite a legal war, and what happens when control over a name and catalog becomes more important than keeping a lineup together.
Have a video request or a topic you'd like to see us cover? Comment below or send in your idea: bit.ly/3stnXlN
CONNECT ON SOCIAL
TIKOK:tiktok.com/@rocknrolltruestory
Instagram: instagram.com/rnrtruestories
Facebook: facebook.com/RNRTrueStories
Twitter: twitter.com/rocktruestories
Blog: rockandrolltruestories.com
#breakingbenjamin
These videos are for entertainment purposes only. DISCLAIMER rockandrolltruestories.com/youtube-disclaimer
