Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz - singing Ian D'Sa - guitar Jon Gallant - bass Aaron Solowoniuk - drums
It was in 1993, after spending 5 years in the same class at Streetsville High School (Toronto, Canada), that singer Ben Kowalewicz and guitarist Ian D'sa decided to found Pezz who would become 7 years later Billy Talent. With the help of two good friends, Jon Gallant on bass and Aaron Solowoniuk on drums, the project is soon set up.
For 4 long years, the band will only repeat a few concerts in the area. Which will bring the band's first album, Watoosh! in 1998 only (via BYO Records ). Notably because of his many concerts, Billy Talent (who adopted his new name inspired by the film Hard Core Logo at the dawn of the year 2000 after being threatened with legal action by another Canadian band already named Pezz) will start to make him speak about in 2000 (the EP 4 titles Try Honesty was published in 2001); and with the help of Gavin Brown, will see the release of the first eponymous album that will cross Canadian borders (including their signature at Major Atlantic Records). For several years, the band will only tour to promote its opus, taking advantage in passing to release a DVD, Scandalous Travelers, and win Much Music and Juno Awards (2004 and 2005). The expected return of the band on cake will take place in 2006 with Billy Talent II (27 June, Atlantic Records), the logical follow-up of his predecessor who is very successful: 1st of the German, Canadian charts and 134th position of the US charts.
It should be noted that the quartet is a member of the Canadian Music Creators Coalition, an association of "majorized" Canadian artists who fight against the abusive processes of the majors, including the DRM and the lawsuits against Internet users who have downloaded music, claiming their right to speak and decide against these methods.