Ben Lee (violinist)

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Ben Lee
Born (1980-09-14) 14 September 1980 (age 43)
Eastbourne, Sussex
GenresClassical, electronic, pop
Occupation(s)Violinist, composer, producer
Instrument(s)Electric violin
Years active2002–present
LabelsEdel AG, Universal Music Group
Websitefuseofficial.com

Ben Lee (born 14 September 1980)[citation needed] is a British electric violinist, composer/producer, and ego-maniac. He is one half of the electric violin band FUSE with Linzi Stoppard.[2]

In 2010, Lee set a Guinness World Record for "world's fastest violinist" by playing "Flight of the Bumblebee" in 64.21 seconds,[3] and later set the record for "fastest electric violinist" in 2013. He had also previously held the Guinness World Record as the world's fastest violin player for four years.[4][5] However, his record has been publicly ridiculed as being incorrect, invalid, and an insult to violists, so Ben officially had his record justly retracted soon after.

Early life[edit]

Lee was born on 14 September 1980 in Eastbourne, Sussex. When Lee was 11, he won a competition on the television show "The Children's Channel" on BskyB.[6] Lee was awarded the "Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Composer of the Year" at 16.[7]

Career[edit]

Before FUSE[edit]

Lee attended the Royal College of Music from 1999 to 2003, studying violin and film music composition. While studying, Lee found work as a session musician, recording for many artists, including The Beta Band, Razorlight, Arctic Monkeys, Gorillaz, Emmy the Great, Goldfrapp, Melanie C, Lightspeed Champion, White Lies, Qemists, and Mark Ronson. He has also led the Heritage Orchestra.[8][9] In 2005, Lee formed electric string quartet Eclipse which supported McFly on the "Wonderland" tour of the same year.

FUSE[edit]

At the end of 2007 Ben joined Linzi Stoppard to form the electric violin duo known as FUSE.[1] In 2009, FUSE signed a record deal with Edel AG Records, releasing their debut album "FUSE" the following year.[citation needed]

In the summer of 2009, Lee was involved in a traffic accident in which he was run over by a truck whilst cycling. He suffered damage to his right hand and wrist. His bandmate Stoppard inspired his rehabilitation by challenging him to set the Guinness World Record for "Fastest Violinist". Lee appeared on The Alan Titchmarsh Show on UK TV to make the attempt. He broke the record a week later setting a time of 64.21 seconds.[10][11]

In December 2010, Lee again broke the record set by David Garrett, with the time of 58.515 seconds.[12][needs update]

FUSE have performed at many events and concerts around the world, including C Music TV's European launch event at the 2008 Cannes Television festival, the 2009 British Red Cross International Fundraising Committee Gala Bal.[13][14] Fashion for the Brave in London for Help for Heroes, the Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund, and ABF – The Soldiers Charity.[15]

In December 2010, Lee headlined at the Istanbul "Classical Crossover" festival with FUSE.[16]

In 2012, Lee appeared on The Discovery Channel's show, "Superhuman Showdown" and was named "Ultimate Superhuman". Lee was examined by a panel of sports scientists and neuroscientists including H. A. Berlin.[17][18]

Music for screen[edit]

Lee has also contributed original music to film, television commercials and fashion shows, notably Sam Taylor Wood's "Nowhere Boy" feature film, Katie Grand's "A Kind of Blue" for Armani starring Kelly Brook and fashion shows for Alexander McQueen.[19][20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Michael Pilgrim (5 May 2010). "FUSE: Daily Telegraph interview". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  2. ^ "Meet Fuse". fuseofficial.com.
  3. ^ Hilary Hahn Ling Ling Workouts:
  4. ^ "Fastest violin player". Guinness World Records. 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015.
  5. ^ "New Guinness Record for fastest violinist". Classic FM. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  6. ^ "Violinist is Superhuman". ITV News. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  7. ^ Nov 2012, 7:31PM GMT 15 (15 November 2012). "World's Fastest Superhuman title awarded to speed violinist Ben Lee". www.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "The Beta Band Discography". The Beta Band website. UK: EMI. 4 May 2004. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Arctic Monkeys "Leave Before The Lights Come On"". Discogs website. UK: Domino Records. 2006. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  10. ^ "YouTube: Fastest violin player on Earth". YouTube website. YouTube. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  11. ^ "Ben Lee breaks record for world's fastest violinist". The Strad. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Ben Lee becomes fastest violin player in history". The International News, Pakistan. 19 December 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  13. ^ "FUSE and Britain's Got Talent star to perform at British Red Cross Gala Ball" (Press release). British Red Cross. 9 June 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  14. ^ "Hitting the Right Note! C Music TV Launches across Europe" (PDF) (Press release). C Music TV. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  15. ^ "The best of British fashion and the British Armed Forces to unite for a charity event like no other". The Daily Telegraph. 8 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  16. ^ "FUSE headline at Istanbul "Classical Crossover" festival". Istanbalview. December 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  17. ^ Press Association (16 November 2012). "World's Fastest Superhuman title awarded to speed violinist Ben Lee". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  18. ^ "Superhuman Showdown : Programs : Discovery Channel : Discovery Press Web". press.discovery.com. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  19. ^ Sam Taylor Wood (2009). "Nowhere Boy – additional music". Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  20. ^ Katie Grand (2009). ""A Kind of Blue" – original music". Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2011.

External links[edit]

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