Who is Billy Talent?

Billy Talent is a Canadian rock band from Mississauga, Ontario. They formed in 1993 and have been producing music for over 25 years. The band consists of vocalist Benjamin Kowalewicz, guitarist Ian D'Sa, bassist Jonathan Gallant, and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk.

Early Years

The band was originally formed as Pezz in 1993. They started out playing punk rock covers at parties and local shows before eventually changing their name to Billy Talent in 1999. The name was taken from a character in the book Hard Core Logo, written by Michael Turner. The band released their first EP in 2001 and their debut album, Watoosh!, in 2002.

Breakthrough Success

Billy Talent's breakthrough success came with the release of their second album, Billy Talent II, in 2004. The album was certified five times platinum in Canada and won several awards, including Album of the Year at the 2006 Juno Awards. The album spawned several hit singles, including 'Try Honesty', 'Devil In a Midnight Mass', and 'Fallen Leaves'.

Recent Releases

Billy Talent released their fourth album, Dead Silence, in 2012. The album was nominated for a Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year and spawned the hit single 'Viking Death March'. In 2016, they released their fifth album, Afraid of Heights. The album was certified platinum in Canada and peaked at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart.

Legacy

Billy Talent has achieved great success since they formed over 25 years ago. They've sold over 1 million albums in Canada alone and have been nominated for numerous awards. They continue to tour and perform around the world and are considered one of Canada's most successful rock bands of all time.