Ben Varon
Ben Varon | |
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![]() Ben Varon at Tuska Open Air 2012 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Ben Varon |
Born | 18 November 1983 |
Origin | Helsinki, Finland |
Genres | Metal, hard rock |
Instruments | guitar |
Years active | 1997 – present |
Labels | Imperial Cassette |
Associated acts | Amoral |
Website |
amoralweb |
Ben Varon (born 18 November 1983) is a Finnish guitarist and music maker. He is known as a guitarist of the Finnish metal band Amoral and he is one of its founders.
Musical career
Ben Varon started playing guitar when he was 11–12 years old. He had been begging for an electric guitar for about a year, and finally got a Strat copy as a birthday present from his parents. The first few years went by without much progress: He did take a few lessons to get started, but did not really practice much at all. Ben tells at his bio that it was only later when he understood, that if he wanted to go anywhere with his playing he should start to work on it.[1]
1997 at the age of 14 Ben Varon started to play with Juhana Karlsson, with whom he went to the same school. They started by jamming on a couple of Metallica songs. That was the first time Ben played together with another musician. They went on jamming as often as possible. Amoral was founded 1997.[1]
Ben Varon is mostly self-taught, but he has taken some lessons over the years. First, when he got started to learn to tune the guitar and to form a power chord. Then, a few years later when he started actually to practice, he took lessons for a while at Pop & Jazz conservatory in Helsinki. Ben was taught also by the Finnish legend Roope Latvala around 2001 about scales and modes including some of Stone licks, in which he was very interested that time.
The biggest influence on Ben Varon's music had been Slash, the guitarist of Guns 'N Roses and Pantera's murdered guitarist Dimebag Darrell. Slash, with the pompous Use Your Illusion songs, blew Ben's mind up and has been the reason to him to start to play guitar. A bit later on Varon got into Pantera, but Dime's playing has affected him until now. Both the lead and rhythm work of Dime has inspired him greatly. Some other sources of inspiration include Nuno Bettencourt, Roope Latvala, Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde.[1]
From 2007 Varon has played also at Dimebag Beyond Forever - tribute act.[2] 2011 Varon played at Tornado's album Amsterdamn,Hellsinki.[3] Varon plays also in Andy McCoy´s band Grease Helmet, which was created 2012. Crease Helmet released one album in 2012.[4]
In 2012, Japanese Young Guitar Magazine published 10 pages of Amoral´s notes with Varon demonstrating them.[5]
Ben Varon was chosen at "Finnish Metal Awards" in 2009 6th, 2010 4th and 2011 5th best metal musician in Finland.
Music
Composing
Ben Varon has always been involved in the songwriting for Amoral's music.[6] Whilst he contributed alongside Silver Ots on the first four albums, he's now taking the main responsibility and is accompanied by new guitarist Masi Hukari on the newer records. Masi Hukari contributed a few songs to the fifth album Beneath. For writing songs to Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows he has accompanied Ben Varon from the beginning.
Equipment
Jackson Warrior custom guitars (Frog & Tiger)
Marshall preamp
VHT power amp
Krank cabinet
Lyrics
In the band's first years Ben Varon has contributed lyrics to a few songs for Amoral's music. After singer and main lyricists Niko Kalliojärvi's departure in 2008 Varon took over the main responsibility to write lyrics.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Wound Creations (2004), Spinefarm
- Decrowning (2005), Spinefarm
- Reptile Ride (2007), Spinefarm
- Show Your Colors (2009), Spinefarm
- Beneath (2011), Imperial Cassette
- Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows (2014), Imperial Cassette
- In Sequence (2016), Imperial Cassette
- Singles
- Leave Your Dead Behind (2007)
- Year of the Suckerpunch (2009)
- Gave Up Easy (2009)
- Same Difference (2011)
- Silhouette (2011)
- If not here, Where? (2013)
- No Familiar Faces (2014)
- Rude Awakening (2015)
- The Next One To Go (2016)
External links
- Amoral's official website
- Blabbermouth News of Amoral 2004
- Soundschock Interview 2009
- Spirit Of Metal Interview 2009
- RM Media Interview 2012
- Guitarhoo! Interview with Ben Varon and Masi Hukari guitarists for Amoral (video) May 1, 2013
- Rock Brigade - Interview with Ben Varon, January 22, 2014
- Soundscape Magazine - Interview with Ben Varon, March 14, 2014
- A guitarist’s evolution – Ben Varon’s rise from teenage hopeful to playing with Andy McCoy, August 13, 2014
References
- 1 2 3 "Amoralweb.com/mainpages/ben". Retrieved 2012-07-09.
- ↑ "Dimebag Beyond Forever - tribute act". Retrieved 2012-07-09.
- ↑ "Tornado´s album Amsterdamn,Hellsinki". Retrieved 2014-10-21.
- ↑ "Grease Helmet". Retrieved 2014-10-21.
- ↑ "Young Guitar Magazine video". Retrieved 2014-04-20.
- ↑ "Discography | Amoral - the official website". mainpages.amoralweb.com. Retrieved 2015-11-13.