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Ben Kenney

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Ben Kenney
Ben Kenney performing live with Incubus in Madrid.
Ben Kenney performing live with Incubus in Madrid.
Background information
Birth nameBenjamin Lee Kenney
Born (1977-03-12) March 12, 1977 (age 47)
Brielle, New Jersey, US
GenresAlternative rock, alternative hip hop
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, vocals, guitar, drums
Years active1994-present
LabelsGhetto Crush Industries
Websitebenkenney.com

Benjamin Lee Kenney (born March 12, 1977), is an American musician from Brielle, New Jersey. From 2003 to 2023, he was the bassist for the band Incubus[1] and had previously played in the Roots as a guitarist. He also records as a solo artist, usually recording every instrument and singing all vocals on his records.

Career

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Kenney played guitar for the hip-hop group the Roots before he joined Incubus in 2003 after the departure of the bass guitarist and founding member Alex Katunich (aka Dirk Lance).[2] He had previously played with Incubus members Mike Einziger and Jose Pasillas in Time Lapse Consortium. By the end of 2023 he had left the band having spent most of the year in recovery from brain tumor surgery and thus unable to participate in their touring.[3]

Kenney plays at least six different instruments[citation needed] and sometimes plays drum duets with Incubus' drummer Jose Pasillas live on-stage.

He has also done studio work for artists including Justin Timberlake, Faith Evans, Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild, Glenn Lewis, Kindred the Family Soul, The Jazzyfatnastees, Jaguar Wright, Larry Gold and Blackalicious, and producers Timbaland, Dre & Vidal and DJ Jazzy Jeff.

26, Maduro, Distance and Comfort, Burn the Tapes, Leave On Your Makeup, and Must Be Nice were all released by Kenney's own record company, Ghetto Crush Industries. Ghetto Crush has also released music for Ashley Mendel, The Division Group, Supergrub, Aleda and Root Valdez. Kenney helped the Smyrk to produce their EP, New Fiction.

Solo career

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In 1994 Kenney started a band called Racecar with Jimmie Mueller and Sam Hoffman. In 1995 Kenney started a project called Supergrub that went on to record three albums: Norma & Thurselle (1995), Communicator (1996) and Challenger (recorded in 1998 but released in 2000). Challenger featured Chris Shar on bass guitar, vocals and co writing. Challenger also featured guest vocal appearances by Fred “Ted” Kenney Jr., Joe “Joe None” Mattiola of Second To None/Shattered Realm and Q of Q & The J.P. Struggles.

He has six solo albums, 26 released on December 1, 2004, Maduro released on March 1, 2006, Distance and Comfort released on January 15, 2008, Burn the Tapes released on October 1, 2010, Leave On Your Makeup released on September 17, 2013, and "Must Be Nice" released on December 25th, 2019. Kenney plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and drums while singing and writing every part on the solo records. When touring to support his solo records he plays guitar and sings, accompanied by Ashley Mendel on bass guitar and vocals and Sekou Lumumba on drums. From 2013-2014 Simon Harding from the band Fin replaced Lumumba.

Equipment

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Ben uses Lakland, Serek, Strandberg, Music Man, Gibson, and Hofner guitars and basses. He uses Mesa Boogie amplifiers. His instruments are often modded with pickups made by Seymour Duncan and JBE. He uses Dunlop strings, effects and accessories. He uses Canopus and DW drums. He also plays Paiste cymbals exclusively.

Personal life

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In January 2023, Kenney announced that he had a brain tumor removed, and that Tal Wilkenfeld would play bass for Incubus while he recovered from brain surgery.[4] It was later announced that he had departed the band permanently and been replaced by Nicole Row.[5]

Discography

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With Incubus

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Solo

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  • 26 (2004)
  • Maduro (2006)
  • Distance and Comfort (2008)
  • Burn the Tapes (2010)
  • Leave on your Makeup – EP (2013)
  • Must Be Nice – (2019)

With The Roots

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Guest appearances

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Notes

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  1. ^ Jon D'Auria. "Ben Kenney Takes Incubus Into New Sonic Territory". Bassplayer. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  2. ^ Huey, Steve. "Incubus – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  3. ^ Martoccio, Angie (February 6, 2024). "Incubus Revisit Their Past With 'Morning View XXIII' — and the Future Looks Bright". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  4. ^ Matt Owen. "See Tal Wilkenfeld play Wish You Were Here, Anna Molly with Incubus in first live show with the band". Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "Ben Kenney Leaves Incubus As Nicole Row Becomes Full Time Member". Bass Magazine. February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
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