Ben Jackson (musician)

Ben Jackson
Birth name Benjamin Donald Jackson[1]
Born (1963-07-17)July 17, 1963[1]
Genres Heavy metal, progressive metal
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals, bass
Years active 1979–present
Labels Roadrunner, MCA, Spitfire
Associated acts Crimson Glory, Parish, Ben Jackson Group, Avenging Benji

Benjamin Donald Jackson is an American musician and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist of Crimson Glory.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He is also known for his short-lived band Parish, and his solo career consisting of three albums Here I Come, All Over You, and Gold and Dragons.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Biography

Crimson Glory

Ben Jackson co-founded the group that would eventually become known as Crimson Glory along with four other musicians, including drummer Dana Burnell, in Sarasota, Florida in 1979 under the name Pierced Arrow (later changed to 'Beowulf'). This group underwent multiple personnel changes before Jackson and Burnell were joined by the other three musicians who would compose the classic lineup of Crimson Glory - vocalist Midnight, lead guitarist Jon Drenning, and bassist Jeff Lords. Jackson and Burnell played on the albums Crimson Glory and Transcendence before leaving the group in 1989.[2]

In 1999, Jackson reformed Crimson Glory with Drenning, Lords, and new vocalist Wade Black for the recording of their fourth album, Astronomica. The band toured over a one-year period in support of the album before going on a second hiatus.

In 2006, Jackson reunited with the original lineup of Crimson Glory as they performed sporadically for about a year until Midnight was arrested and charged for charged with driving under the influence, prompting the band to call on Wade Black to rejoin.

In 2010, Crimson Glory reemerged with new vocalist Todd La Torre and tentative plans for a fifth album. The band toured for three years before La Torre parted ways with the band to join Queensrÿche, putting the band on hiatus again.

Other musical projects

After his first departure with Crimson Glory, Jackson went on to form the band Parish with vocalist John David, guitarist David Edward, bassist Bernard Hernandez, and drummer Rich Tabor. Parish released their first and only album, Envision, in 1995.[8] In January 2018, 20th Century Music announced on Facebook that they were planning a rerelease of Envision with DVD and extras.[9]

In 2001, Jackson released his solo debut, Here I Come, on which he took up lead vocals for the first time and played most of the guitar and bass work;[1][4] his former Parish bandmate Rich Tabor contributed drums.[8][10] In 2005, Jackson released his sophomore album, All Over You, which he described as "more of a band effort with the result being more heavy metal in style."[4] The other musicians on this album are guitarist Mark Borgmeyer, bassist Danny Binz, drummer Rich Tabor, and backing vocalist Rose Marie Sexton.[11] Keith Bergman of Blabbermouth.net gave the album a 5/10 rating and concluded his review by writing, "Bump the rating up one point if you can name every ex-member of Royal Hunt, and two if you've ever had anything autographed by Ted Poley."[5]

In 2008, Jackson announced he was announced that he was putting the finishing touches on his third solo album, Gold and Dragons.[6] This album was officially released in 2010 under the moniker “Avenging Benji”.[7]

Discography

With Crimson Glory
Year Title
1986 Crimson Glory
1988 Transcendence
1999 Astronomica
With Parish
Year Title
1995 Envision
Solo
Year Title
2001 Here I Come
2005 All Over You
2010 Gold and Dragons (as Avenging Benji)
Other appearaances
Year Title Band Track(s)
2005 Sakada Midnight Bass on "Berber Trails"

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ben Jackson". Metal-archives.com. 2011-04-10. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  2. 1 2 3 Bush, John. "Crimson Glory Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  3. 1 2 Chadbourne, Eugene. "Ben Jackson Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  4. 1 2 3 4 van Poorten, Toine. "BEN JACKSON GROUP: The Mean Machine From CRIMSON GLORY Hits Back!". Truemetalfan.org. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  5. 1 2 3 Bergman, Keith. "CD Reviews – All Over You Ben Jackson Group". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 "CRIMSON GLORY Guitarist's BEN JACKSON GROUP Putting Finishing Touches On New CD". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. January 29, 2008.
  7. 1 2 3 "Avenging Dragons – Gold & Dragons". Grande Rock. 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  8. 1 2 "Parish". Metal-archives.com. 2002-08-12. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  9. ↑ "Parish Envision rerelease". Facebook. 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  10. ↑ "Ben Jackson Group – Here I Come". Metal-archives.com. 2005-07-05. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  11. ↑ "Ben Jackson Group – All Over You". Metal-archives.com. 2005-07-05. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
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