Billy Talent inspire fans with their joy of playing and experimenting. With their loud and fast rock sound, the Canadian band is very successful internationally. From the band members' roots in punk to their current classification in alternative rock, the band has developed an original and multifaceted sound.
Billy Talent was founded in 1998, when lead singer Benjamin Kowalewicz and electric bassist Jonathan Gallant met at school. The two initially play in the band To Each His Own. At a music competition, they come across the other future band members and form the group Pezz.
Style change from punk to alternative rock
"Watoosh!", the first album by the Canadians from Mississauga - a city west of Toronto - is stylistically based in punk. In the following year, the band develops musically further in the direction of alternative rock and changes the band name to Billy Talent, a character from the Canadian film comedy "Hard Core Logo."
With the new name, the quartet of Benjamin Kowalewicz, Jonathan Gallant, Aaron Solowoniuk and main songwriter Ian D'Sa creates a new image for itself. From then on, the group also attracts more attention: Billy Talent performs in Toronto's biggest radio rock show and gets a record deal with Warner Records. A steep and consistently successful career follows.
In Vancouver, Billy Talent record the first album again under their new band name in the winter of 2002/2003. The second album, which is released three years later, is simply called "Billy Talent II" and finally brings the international breakthrough: In Canada and Germany, the work reaches platinum status.
Billy Talent overcome a blow of fate
In March 2006 - barely three months before the second album is released - the public learns that drummer Aaron Solowoniuk has been suffering from multiple sclerosis for several years. Since he has the disease under control, he wants to continue his music career.
Just one year later, "666 Live" is released, Billy Talent's first live album. It presents on DVD and on CD recordings of concerts in Brixton, Düsseldorf and at Rock am Ring.
In February 2012, Aaron Solowoniuk has to have heart surgery. The song "Don't Count On The Wicked" on the new album "Dead Silence" contains the refrain "Turn Anger Into Hope." It is the motto of Solowoniuk's own foundation for people with multiple sclerosis.
"Dead Silence" comes out in September 2012 and is even more experimental than previous albums. It also focuses on environmental destruction and features a post-apocalyptic underwater landscape on the cover. With this album, which achieves gold status in Germany, Billy Talent go on tour throughout Europe.
The album "Afraid Of Heights" will be released in July 2016. Due to his illness, drummer Solowoniuk drops out. Jordan Hastings, a longtime friend of the band, is filling in for him. Singer Kowalewicz describes the new work as a manifesto against fear. It also turns against political and social grievances.
Great hits from Billy Talent
Billy Talent release more songs like "Forgivenness I + II" as well as the single "Reckless Paradise" and "I Beg To Differ". The track "End Of Me" the band records with Rivers Cuomo, the singer and guitarist of the U.S. alternative rock band Weezer.
In Germany, the group regularly lands with their singles in the charts. Among the best-known hits include:
- "Red Flag"
- "Fallen Leaves"
- "Surrender"
- "Rusted From The Rain"
- "Surprise Surprise"
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Social commitment
The Canadians give a benefit concert in Canada once a year. The proceeds from ticket sales Billy Talent donate to MS sufferers. When the band has to cancel a gig in 2016, it organizes another benefit. Here, 50 artists paint pictures of drummers, which are auctioned off. The proceeds go to the MS Society Of Canada.
Benjamin Kowalewicz gets his own radio show
In September 2021, the lead singer of Billy Talent gets a show at the radio station "Rock Antenne", which broadcasts in Germany and Austria. Once a month, he will chat live from Toronto between 8 and 10 p.m. about his life and present his favorite songs.
