Ben bruce asking alexandria biography samples
Interview: Asking Alexandria
Hooking up with groupies, drinking mass quantities of alcohol and stopping cocaine-sniffing drug dogs in their tracks at international airports are part and parcel of Asking Alexandria’s lifestyle.
But while there’s no question that the fast-rising electro-tinged metalcore band loves to party, its formidable work ethic eclipses its hedonistic exploits.
Over the past 21 months, the British quintet has issued three releases: the wildly eclectic 2009 breakthrough album, Stand Up and Scream; the schizophrenic 2010 EP Life Gone Wild, which includes two faithful Skid Row covers; and its latest disc, the darker, more cohesive full-length Reckless and Relentless.
The new album capitalizes on the strengths of Stand Up and Scream while eschewing techno interludes in favor of more-accessible choruses and menacing industrial keyboards. The abrupt shifts between Asking Alexandria’s atonal breakdowns, twin-guitar harmonies and euphoric choruses might seem carefully planned and executed, but guitarist and primary songwriter Ben Bruce insists the band’s greatest strengths are its spontaneity and desire for self-satisfaction.
“If we stopped for a minute to evaluate what we’re doing, we’d probably second-guess ourselves, and that would be disastrous,” says Bruce, sitting on one of two double beds in the band’s room at the Comfort Inn, two blocks from Manhattan’s Times Square. “We’re all about going with the flow, working quickly and doing what we like to hear as opposed to what we think people want to hear from us.”
Clearly, Asking Alexandria are doing something right. Their video for Stand Up and Scream’s “The Final Episode” has been viewed nearly eight million times on YouTube, and the track “A Single Moment of Sincerity” has accrued more than 2.7 million plays on the band’s MySpace page. At this point, it seems nothing
Asking Alexandria's Ben Bruce: the 10 records that changed my life
Introduction
“We’ve never played Reading and Leeds before, so to be headlining a stage is incredible,” says Asking Alexandria guitarist Ben Bruce, calling ahead from the quintet’s current US jaunt.
“The fact we have a new vocalist, a new album and there’s enough respect and belief in us to headline a stage feels pretty spectacular. We’re very grateful for the opportunity, so we’re definitely going to bring our A-game…”
Changing singers is never easy for a group of musicians. For every success story - AC/DC perhaps being the most powerful example - you have hundreds that simply gave up, opting to focus attentions elsewhere on pastures new.
Sometimes, I wake up and wonder how I’ve been this fortunate. It’s just the fans; it’s all in their hands
British metalcore bruisers Asking Alexandria - who announced the addition of Denis Stoff some five months after original frontman Danny Worsnop’s exit in January 2015 - decided failure was simply not an option, and left question of their legitimacy in the hands of those who matter most… the fans.
“It’s unbelievable,” continues Ben. “Sometimes, I wake up and wonder how I’ve been this fortunate. It’s just the fans; it’s all in their hands. They could have turned round and said, ‘Nah, this is shite, we’re out!’ or open their arms and support us wholeheartedly… which they did! We owe it all to them.”
Of their old singer, who recently made headlines questioning the integrity of his ex-bandmates, Ben remains disarmingly honest about how it felt to see someone he once trusted stoop to such measures.
You’re a lad from Hull singing country music in an American accent. Where’s the integrity there, you flippin’ idiot?
“He said something about leaving this ba
The gospel according to Asking Alexandria’s Ben Bruce
Few bands have divided metal fans like Asking Alexandria. In the decade since Stand Up And Scream announced Sheffield’s next great hellraisers to the world, guitarist Ben Bruce has seen it all, from surviving being one of the internet’s first poster children for abuse to facing down addiction and the near-implosion of his own band. This is what life has taught him…
I was born to play
“I think I was always meant to be a musician. My mum used to say I watched musicals on the TV and from the age of two or three used to play along with a tennis racket. Grease, still to this day, is one of my favourite movies. It’s amazing!”
Rock stars aren’t bulletproof
“It’s not nice to be criticised anyway, but especially when it’s unjust. People are like, ‘You’re fat now,’ and I’m like, ‘Who the fuck are you?!’ I’m a 30-year-old man, I don’t think I’m doing too badly! ‘Well, look what you used to look like!’ Yeah, when I was a teenager! Things like that can still get under my skin depending on the mood I’m in, but you just have to take it in your stride.
If someone says, ‘I don’t like your band, they’re not for me,’ that’s fine; I don’t like lots of bands. But it’s just the childish shit. Someone said, ‘Your daughter doesn’t even look like you, I bet it’s someone else’s.’ Fuck you! What’s wrong with you? What have I done to you that’s made you so upset that you’re going to attack my children and my family life?”
The internet has ruined everything
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“There are a lot of fucking idiots in the world. Before social media, not everyone had a voice, and the people that ha Guitarist Ben Bruce is best known for his guitar roll in the band Asking Alexandria. He started the band in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. After the release of their first album (The Irony Of Your Perfection), under the name of Asking Alexandria, they disbanded. In 2008, Bruce moved back to England, and started the band with new members, but carried the same name. Asking Alexandria recorded their debut studio album in 2009 (Stand Up and Scream), after that Reckless & Relentless (2010–2011) and their upcoming album "From Death to Destiny" will be released in August 6 with two bonus tracks and one of them is performed by Ben - the acoustic version of "Someone, Somewhere". 7,655 listeners 8,772 listeners 14,164 listeners 6,334 listeners 6,985 listeners 9,200 listeners 7,836 listeners 20,059 listeners 13,895 listeners View all similar artistsBiography
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