You know that feeling when you hear the opening riff of "The Diary of Jane" and suddenly it’s 2006 again? Breaking Benjamin has this weird, staying power. But if you’ve looked at a press photo lately, you might’ve noticed things look... different. Gone are the days of the original four-piece. Today, they're a massive five-man wall of sound.
Honestly, keeping track of the band members of Breaking Benjamin is a bit like following a courtroom drama mixed with a rock documentary. People leave, people sue, and somehow, Benjamin Burnley remains the eye of the storm.
The Chaos That Created Breaking Benjamin 2.0
Let's be real: for a long time, it was just Ben. Around 2010, the band basically vanished. Ben was dealing with some pretty serious health issues—he’s been open about his Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome—and the internal vibes were, well, toxic.
The breaking point? It sounds like a bad movie plot. While Ben was on hiatus, two of the original guys—guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark Klepaski—apparently gave the green light to a greatest hits album and a remix of "Blow Me Away" without Ben’s say-so. Ben found out, got understandably pissed, and fired them via email. A legal war over the band name followed, and for a while, it looked like the band was dead.
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But in 2014, Ben came back with a "supergroup" of sorts. This wasn't just a replacement crew. He hand-picked musicians who were already established in the scene.
- Keith Wallen (Guitar/Vocals): You might remember him from Adelitas Way. He’s a monster on rhythm guitar but, more importantly, he can actually sing.
- Jasen Rauch (Lead Guitar): This guy came from the band Red. He’d already helped Ben write stuff for Dear Agony, so the chemistry was already there.
- Aaron Bruch (Bass/Vocals): He’s a powerhouse. If you see them live, he actually takes over lead vocals on some of the heavier songs so Ben can catch a breath.
- Shaun Foist (Drums): Shaun was the backbone for over a decade. However, there's been some recent shaking up in the drum throne.
The 2025/2026 Shake-Up
If you’re checking the roster in 2026, things just got interesting again. After years of stability, Shaun Foist stepped down from touring recently. Replacing a guy like Shaun is a tall order, but the band brought in James Cassells (formerly of Asking Alexandria) to handle the sticks. It’s a huge shift in energy, but early reports from the 2025 tours say he fits that "crunchy" Breaking Benjamin sound perfectly.
Why the Five-Man Lineup Actually Works
Most bands get smaller as they get older to save on travel costs. Breaking Benjamin did the opposite. Why?
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Basically, Ben wanted to stop relying on backing tracks. In the old days, they had to use pre-recorded layers to get those massive harmonies and triple-tracked guitars you hear on the albums. By having three guitarists (Ben, Keith, and Jasen) and three guys who can sing lead-quality vocals (Ben, Keith, and Aaron), they can do it all live.
It’s loud. It’s dense. It’s actually more "real" than the original lineup ever was on stage.
What about the original guys?
You can’t talk about the band members of Breaking Benjamin without acknowledging the guys who started it. Jeremy Hummel, the original drummer, was the first to go back in 2004. That ended in a lawsuit over royalties that got pretty messy.
Then you had the "Stardog Champion" era where Aaron Fink and Mark Klepaski tried to do their own thing. Interestingly enough, as of March 2026, there’s been talk of a reunion show called "We Are Not Alone" featuring Fink, Klepaski, and Hummel playing early material with a new singer. It’s a weird "alternate universe" version of the band, but for fans who miss the Saturate era, it’s a nostalgic trip.
The Benjamin Burnley Constant
At the end of the day, Breaking Benjamin is Ben's vision. He’s the principal songwriter. He’s the one who fought for the name. He’s also the guy with the well-documented phobias—fear of flying, fear of the dark, you name it. For years, they wouldn't even play in Europe because Ben refused to fly.
When they finally went across the pond in 2016, they did it on a ship. That kind of dedication to the craft (and to his own boundaries) is why the fans stay so loyal. He doesn't fake it.
Current Breaking Benjamin Roster (2026)
| Member | Role | Joined |
|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Burnley | Lead Vocals / Rhythm Guitar | 1999 |
| Jasen Rauch | Lead Guitar / Programming | 2014 |
| Keith Wallen | Rhythm Guitar / Backing Vocals | 2014 |
| Aaron Bruch | Bass / Backing Vocals | 2014 |
| James Cassells | Drums | 2025 |
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think Ben is a "control freak" who just cycles through musicians. While he definitely runs the show, the current lineup has been together longer than the original one. That says something.
Keith and Jasen aren't just "hired guns." They are actively involved in the writing process now. If you listen to Ember, you can hear Jasen’s influence—it’s much heavier, almost bordering on metalcore in some spots. It's a collaborative effort that has kept the band from sounding like a legacy act playing the hits.
Moving Forward with the Music
If you're looking to dive deeper into how this lineup change has affected their sound, the best place to start is the Aurora album. It's mostly acoustic reimaginings, but it highlights the vocal harmonies between Ben, Keith, and Aaron. It's the best evidence for why the 2014 reformation was the best thing to happen to the band.
To stay current with what the members are doing:
- Follow Keith Wallen’s solo work; he’s been releasing some solid melodic rock that bridges the gap between his old band and BB.
- Keep an eye on the 2026 tour dates. With James Cassells on drums, the live setlist has been leaning into some of the more aggressive tracks from Phobia and Ember.
- Check out the "We Are Not Alone" reunion project if you want to see the original instrumentalists revisit the 2002-2004 era.
The band isn't just a revolving door of faces. It’s a project that evolved out of necessity and somehow ended up stronger because of the turmoil. Whether you're a fan of the raw, garage-rock feel of the early 2000s or the polished, arena-rock powerhouse they are today, the history of these musicians is what gives the music its edge.