Ben Gibbard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Gibbard
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Gibbard with Death Cab for Cutie in 2018
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Benjamin Gibbard
August 11, 1976 Bremerton, Washington, U.S.
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| Years active | 1994–present |
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Benjamin Gibbard (born August 11, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is most famous as the lead singer and guitarist for the indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie. With them, he has released ten studio albums. He is also a member of the band The Postal Service. Ben Gibbard released his first solo album, Former Lives, in 2012. He also made a collaborative album, One Fast Move or I'm Gone (2009), with Jay Farrar.
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Early Life and Education
Ben Gibbard was born in Bremerton, Washington. His parents are Allen and Margaret Gibbard. His father was in the Navy, so his family moved around the country. They lived in Northern Virginia before returning to Washington. Ben grew up during the time when grunge music was very popular in the early 1990s.
He finished high school at Olympic High School in Bremerton in 1994. Later, he studied environmental chemistry at Western Washington University.
Music Career Highlights
In 1996, Ben Gibbard was playing guitar in a band called Pinwheel. He recorded some songs on a cassette tape under the name Death Cab for Cutie. This tape was called You Can Play These Songs with Chords (1997). People really liked the songs, so Ben decided to turn it into a full band. He added guitarist Chris Walla, bassist Nick Harmer, and drummer Nathan Good.
The band released their first album, Something About Airplanes (1998), the next year. It came out on Barsuk Records. Their next album, We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes, was released in 2000.
Ben Gibbard also had a small part in the movie Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. In 2007, he went on a solo tour across the U.S. He also appeared as a guest on the Foo Fighters' album Sonic Highways in 2014.
Personal Life and Interests
Ben Gibbard married photographer Rachel Demy on October 21, 2016, in Seattle. He was previously married to actress and musician Zooey Deschanel from 2009 to 2012.
Ben is a big fan of running. He started running marathons in 2008. In 2013, he ran his first trail ultramarathon, which is a very long race, and he has completed several more since then.
He is also a huge fan of the MLB team, the Seattle Mariners. He has supported them since he was five years old. Ben has even thrown the first pitch at two Mariners games! When the Mariners traded a famous player named Ichiro Suzuki in 2012, Ben wrote a song called "Ichiro's Theme" to honor him. The handwritten lyrics for this song are kept in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. In 2024, Ben sang the national anthem at the Mariners' Opening Day game.
Views and Activism
Ben Gibbard is a supporter of equal rights for all people. He wrote an article for The Daily Beast explaining why this issue is important to him. He shared that seeing his sister get married was "the most beautiful thing" he had ever seen. He also supported Washington Referendum 74, which was about marriage equality in his home state. He said he would be very proud if his state passed it to show the rest of the country.
Ben is open about his political views and supports the Democratic Party. In 2016, his band Death Cab for Cutie released a song called "Million Dollar Loan." This song was part of a project called "30 Days, 50 Songs." The song made fun of Donald Trump, who had claimed he built his fortune with a "small loan of a million dollars" from his father. Ben said he was disgusted by how flippant Trump was about it.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ben Gibbard performed daily concerts online from his home. He did this because his shows were canceled. He played songs by his bands, Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, and also covered songs by other artists like Radiohead and the Beatles. He used these live streams to help promote local non-profit organizations in Washington.
Musical Instruments
Ben Gibbard often uses modified 1970s Fender Mustang guitars when he tours. He also uses special custom-built Acme Silvertone amplifier heads. For acoustic songs, he uses two 2008 Gibson J-45 Acoustic Guitars. In 2021, the company Fender even released a special "Ben Gibbard Mustang" guitar. It was designed to his exact preferences and inspired by the guitars he uses. This guitar has unique features like a special body and custom pickups.
Discography
Death Cab for Cutie
- You Can Play These Songs with Chords (1997)
- Something About Airplanes (1998)
- We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes (2000)
- The Photo Album (2001)
- Transatlanticism (2003)
- Plans (2005)
- Narrow Stairs (2008)
- Codes and Keys (2011)
- Kintsugi (2015)
- Thank You for Today (2018)
- Asphalt Meadows (2022)
Ben Gibbard Solo Albums
- Former Lives (2012)
- Bandwagonesque (cover of Teenage Fanclub's album Bandwagonesque, 2017)
The Postal Service
- Give Up (2003)
¡All-Time Quarterback!
- ¡All-Time Quarterback! (album, 1999)
With Jay Farrar
- One Fast Move or I'm Gone (2009)
See also
- Jason McGerr
- Nick Harmer
- Chris Walla
