Ben Thomas, aka Benzo, is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer for eight53. Other projects include The Hunt and Lace n' Whiskey.
Benzo was born on September 26, 1980 in Salem, Oregon. He began learning to play the drums at the age of 3 by removing the pots and pans from the bottom cupboard and banging them with wooden spoons and spatulas. When he was 9 his mother noticed him mimicking the drummers in the local high school band during one of their performances and enrolled him in the junior high band.
Before high school Benzo played in a local jazz band outside of school with other teen musicians, but was asked not to continue because the organizers felt that he was "playing too wild and aggressively and was going to break something." Despite his first rejection, Benzo continued playing all through junior high and high school never missing a single class.
Benzo has never taken any formal drum lessons. Instead, he has learned from watching and listening to his idols like John Bonham, Dave Grohl, Gavin Harrison, David Elitch and Thomas Pridgen.
Benzo joined eight53 in 2009.
Portland piano rock duo Eight53 have announced that Spin Doctors bassist Mark White will record tracks for Eight53’s new studio project.