Glen Michael Benton (born June 18, 1967) is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist and lyricist for the Florida death metal band Deicide. He and drummer Steve Asheim are the only original members left in the band.

Benton was also a member of the band Vital Remains, occasionally recording and performing with the band. He is known for his extremely low and powerful growls, high shrieks, and overtly anti-Christian lyrics. His music and personal life have been subject to controversy at various points throughout his career.

Described as "an artist whose public persona and music will forever be intertwined," Benton has been referred to as "the face of Satanic death metal". Metal Injection said Benton "will absolutely go down as one of death metal's most well-known characters."

In 2022, tabloid MetalSucks included Benton on its list of "11 Metal Artists We Rip On Mercilessly But Will Always Love".

Early life and education

left|thumb|Benton performing with Deicide at the Party.San Metal Open Air 2023 in Obermehler-Schlotheim/Germany

Glen Michael Benton was born in Niagara Falls, New York but was raised in Clearwater, Florida. His family eventually relocated back to New York only to relocate back to Florida several years later. He also stated that the family "lived at war with each other" due to differences in religion. He stated: "People wonder why I am the way I am, well I say man, I was exposed to things at an early age that were like, creepy, haunting and fucked up at the same time." Benton was expelled from several public schools in Niagara Falls before enrolling in Catholic school, where he jokingly recalled not "even [making] it past the first 20 minutes."

Like his dissension of religion, Benton's interest in music also began at an early age; he claimed he knew he wanted to be a professional musician as early as age "9 or 10". He described himself as "the kid in the mirror rocking out with a tennis racket", naming Chuck Berry, The Beatles, Little Richard, Elvis Presley and The Rolling Stones as his earliest inspirations. He eventually began creating music by experimenting with his father's guitars, claiming to have been heckled by his brother in the process.

Musical career

On July 21, 1987, after guitarist Brian Hoffman replied to Benton's advertisement in a local music magazine, Deicide was formed. Within days the band, consisting of Benton (bass/vocals), Hoffman, Hoffman's brother Eric (guitars) and Steve Asheim (drums), was named "Amon", after the Egyptian deity. Within a month, Amon had recorded the crude Feasting the Beast 8-track demo in Benton's garage and had started playing the occasional gig in the Tampa area. In 1989, Amon recorded their second demo, Sacrificial, at Morrisound with producer Scott Burns.

Benton had his tonsils removed when he was 24 years old, following the release of Deicide's second album Legion. The procedure was financed by Roadrunner Records. He toured Europe with Deicide two weeks later while still recovering from the surgery.

Since 1990, Benton has recorded and released thirteen full-length studio albums with Deicide.

Artistry

Satanism and lyrics

In a 1991 interview, Benton stated that his intention was "to create the most evil-est music and to gain entrance into the seven gates of hell," describing Deicide's live performances as a "focal point to express [his] Satanism." He described his understanding of demonic possession as "when you come to a certain point [where] there's no turning back [...] and your body is possessed, and there's no way you can turn back." He claimed in an interview he shares a "spiritual link" with Lucifer, who tells him "what to say and what to write about."

Benton has expressed the sentiment that modern heavy metal acts lack the theatric personalities in their frontpeople that inspired him during his youth, such as Ozzy Osbourne and Elvis Presley.

thumb|Benton at Midgardsblot 2019

Benton is known for his Satanist and anti-Christian beliefs, and Deicide's lyrical content rarely deviates from blasphemous topics. Benton said: "It’s beaten into me, so I can’t sing about anything else. If I try to sing about other things, I draw a complete blank. I let the universe speak through me, and if I have to force it, it just won’t come."

Benton attempts to incorporate double messages into his lyrics, and claims to have been deeply disturbed by some of the messages he has heard while playing Deicide songs backwards.

Benton is notorious for an inverted cross he has repeatedly branded into his forehead over the years, beginning when he was 22. According to Deicide drummer Steve Asheim, this act was likely in response to previous press attention the band received when Brian Hoffman burned an inverted cross into his arm with a cigarette. Benton estimated that he had burned the cross into his skin twelve times, adding that the most recent time he was able to see veins and bone from his skull. He eventually ceased this practice after his mother begged him to do so. Benton said: "To this day, I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking, but I knew that I had been christened Catholic as a child, and I felt that the best way to take care of that would be my symbolic way of taking that Catholic mark off of my skin."thumb|300x300px|Benton performing with Deicide at the Party San Metal Open Air 2023 in Obermehler-Schlotheim/Germany|leftThe nature of Benton's 'Satanism' is obscure and a subject of controversy, particularly due to allegations by former Deicide guitarist Eric Hoffman, who dismissed it as insincere and spurious. However, Benton's claims are generally considered to have always been tongue-in-cheek, as his purported "Satanism" has since largely been defined as vehement anti-Christian atheism complemented with theatrics suitable for the band. Additionally, Benton has called himself a "showman," and has stated that there is no ideological agenda in Deicide, and that the music is foremost.

Vocals and bass guitar playing

Benton's vocals alternative between high shrieks, death growls, and screaming (which he self-describes as his "angry man voice"). Benton claims that getting his tonsils removed at age 24 has contributed to the tone of his singing voice. He self-describes as "more of a rhythm player," and composes many of his musical contributions to Deicide on the guitar.

Feuds

Bob Larson

In the early to mid-1990s, Benton was a frequent opponent guest to Christian radio shows, such as Bob Larson's Talk Back show. Though a serious discussion rarely took place on the program, the exchanges between the two mainly consisted of taunts from Benton and tongue-in-cheek teasing. Larson continually invited Benton to his talk show, but Benton often declined. Benton claimed he was "roped into" the appearances on Larson's show, which he said were arranged by Roadrunner Records. When asked about Larson in 2012, Benton said: "We all know about Bob. Bob knows we know. And then Bob gets asked questions he can’t answer anymore."

Corey Taylor

thumb|300x300px|Benton performing in 2019

There was a feud between Benton and Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor, stemming from the former's claim in 2018 that Taylor once promised to take Deicide on tour, but ultimately never followed through with his offer. Benton was quoted on the Talk Toomey podcast as follows: "Not to fucking bust balls, but I’ll bust balls. [...] Slipknot: ‘Oh we’re going to take you guys out man, we’re going to take you guys out dude.’ Yeah, blow me. That's what I say to you. Fucking blow me Corey Taylor and all you fags. OK. ‘Oh we’re going to take Deicide out on tour with us and blah blah blah.’ Blowing air up our asses, back in the day. You know what, you never did a fucking thing for us. You introduced us at a show once. Great, thanks. How about a fucking tour? How about fucking helping us out a little bit? I mean we’ve only been doing this for several years. You guys were like, ‘Dude you were what got me started.’ Well you know what, return the fucking favor. You know what I mean?" The following day, Taylor told Loudwire that he had no recollection of Deicide ever submitting for tours with Slipknot. Taylor said of Benton: "He wants to be pissed at me, go ahead -- get in line. Everybody's pissed at me. But don't talk shit on my guys and don't say shit that isn't fucking true."

Controversy

In 1992, newspapers reported that Benton had expressed an interest in, and participated in, the slaughter of live rodents such as rats and squirrels. During an interview with NME, Benton shot a squirrel in the head with a pellet gun; Benton explained that it was done to prevent any further damage to his electrical system and other contents in the attic of his home where the interview was being held. The publicity led to an attempted bomb attack on Benton during Deicide's Legion tour at the International 2 in Manchester, England, by an animal rights organization. Benton was also beaten up in Bradford. A similar attack was attempted at a previous show in Stockholm, where a supposed small fire bomb was set to detonate during Deicide's set. No one was injured, but the bomb damaged the venue. The bomb was reported to be an M-80. The tour was curtailed.

Deicide also caused controversy early in its career when Benton tossed rotting animal meat into the crowd. Benton recalled: “I didn’t think playing shows with rotting meat as part of our set-up was gonna cause that much of a shitstorm. Within three shows of that stuff I had the authorities bearing down on me, so it was a very short-lived moment in Deicide history.”

Personal life and views

left|thumb|Benton in 2006

Benton has expressed vehement antireligious sentiment throughout his career, and claims to have held these values since his childhood. He is quoted saying: "I think people know how to treat each other, and don’t need a book full of bullshit to tell them how to do it." Despite the lyrical content of Deicide, Benton does not dismiss all who believe in God; he elaborated on his stances in a backstage interview, saying: "If I was going to hate every Christian in the world, or hate people that believe in God, I would have nothing to do with my parents. I would have nothing to do with alot of people in my world. That's just ignorance to condemn somebody for what they believe. That would be totally [hypocritical on my part]. I believe what I believe and I have the freedom to do that. [...] I ain't gonna condemn you for believing in God, I just think you're an idiot." However, in an interview with music magazine Seconds, Benton stated that he did infact hold spiritual beliefs and engaged in prayer: "I know that when I talk to my god - and it ain't Jehovah - who I talk to in my head, and who I pray to - if you want to call it that - that I have someone looking over me."

Although Benton has admitted to drug abuse, heavy drinking, and smoking during his younger years, he claims to have adopted a healthier lifestyle in his later years. He was quoted saying: "You know what? Who hasn't experimented with a few things in their life? Big deal. So what if I experimented? [...] Look, I don't even drink anymore. [...] I'll have a Heineken every once in a while, but I was drinking a bottle of Jack Daniel's every night before I went onstage and another bottle while I was playing. That starts catching up with you real quick, and I started going blind in my right eye. So after a nice scare at the doctor's office about four years ago, I stopped." On the topic of methamphetamine, he opined: "It’s just a disgusting, gross drug, and people who do it are normally gross themselves – junkies and shit. But that’s not my game anymore, man! I’m healthy living now."

Benton has married three times. His second marriage lasted only eight months. He stated: "It’s like stepping in a pile of dog shit: you see it on the ground and you know not to step in it, but you just go ahead and take your shoe and step all in."

Discography

;With Deicide

  • As Amon; Feasting the Beast demo (1987)
  • As Amon; Sacrificial demo (1989)
  • Deicide (1990)
  • Legion (1992)
  • Amon: Feasting the Beast compilation (1993)
  • Once Upon the Cross (1995)
  • Serpents of the Light (1997)
  • When Satan Lives live album (1998)
  • Insineratehymn (2000)
  • In Torment in Hell (2001)
  • The Best of Deicide compilation (2003)
  • Scars of the Crucifix (2004)
  • When London Burns DVD (2006)
  • The Stench of Redemption (2006)
  • Doomsday L.A. live EP/DVD (2007)
  • Till Death Do Us Part (2008)
  • To Hell with God (2011)
  • In the Minds of Evil (2013)
  • Overtures of Blasphemy (2018)
  • Banished by Sin (2024)

;With Vital Remains

  • Dechristianize (2003)
  • Icons of Evil (2007)

;Guest appearances

  • Cannibal Corpse, Eaten Back to Life (1990); backing vocals on "Mangled" and "A Skull Full of Maggots"
  • Napalm Death, Harmony Corruption (1990); backing vocals on "Unfit Earth"
  • Cancer, Death Shall Rise (1991); backing vocals on "Hung, Drawn and Quartered"
  • Cannibal Corpse, Butchered at Birth (1991); backing vocals on "Vomit the Soul"
  • Transmetal, Dante's Inferno (1993); backing vocals on "Dante's Inferno" and "Hymn for Him"
  • Roadrunner United (2005); vocals on "Annihilation by the Hands of God"
  • Roadrunner United Live Concert DVD (2008); vocals on Obituary's "The End Complete" and Deicide's "Dead By Dawn".
  • Belphegor, Conjuring the Dead (2014); additional vocals on "Legions of Destruction"

See also

  • Florida death metal
  • Satanic panic

References

  • Deicide: Sons of Satan , The Metal Forge, 2006-10-16