BIO
Mark James Klepaski
Born on September 11th 1972 in Wilkes Barre, PA.
Bassist/Songwriter
Strangers With Candy/aka Lifer Universal/Republic Records (2000-2001)
Breaking Benjamin Hollywood Records (2001-2011)
Albums;
Saturate (2002) We Are Not alone (2004) Phobia (2006)
Dear Agony (2009) Shallow Bay Best Of(2011)
Stardog Champion EP "Exhale" (2012)
​
​VYCES EP "Devil" (2016)
​
Best known as the bassist/songwriter of multi platinum rock band, Breaking Benjamin ( BB) (2001-2011).
Before Mark's success in main stream rock music, he got his first gig out of high school touring and playing Reggae music with a local Wilkes Barre Reggae legend George Wesley.
In 2000, Mark was signed to Universal/Republic with the band "Lifer "(Strangers With Candy) (2000-2001) after winning the "MTV's Ultimate Cover Band Contest". In 2001 Mark left Lifer along with Aaron Fink to join Breaking Benjamin. BB was showcased and then signed to Hollywood Records in 2002.
Mark's reign with BB last a decade (2001-2011), with him they grew to hit the mainstream radio charts scoring in the Active Rock circuit with number one singles; "So Cold", "Sooner Or Later", "Diary of Jane and Breath". Their albums "Phobia", "We Are Not Alone" and "Dear Agony" were certified Platinum along with "Saturate" certified Gold and hitting the double platinum status for the songs "I will Not Bow" and still growing. Touring with bands such as Three Days Grace, Shinedown, Nickelback and many more.
After 4 years in a legal hiatus, in 2011 BB had been reformed . Mark and Aaron Fink left and reunited with Nick Coyle ( Lifer) to write and record on the EP, "Exhale" as Stardog Champion in Hollywood, CA (2012) . Mark also returned to his Reggae roots playing local shows in NEPA with a small local Reggae band The Subnotics (2012-current).
After moving out west, Mark found his way in the Hollywood circuit playing the popular award winning "Lucky Strike Live's and At The Whiskey, Ultimate Jam Nights" ​ (2016-2019) with other fellow musician icons making it an all star jam. The year 2016 also lead to Mark to record on the EP "Devil" with the band VYCES from Los Angeles where he was featured in a music video of the same name and played shows all through out Hollywood, Southern CA and Las Vegas NV.
In May of 2023 Mark was awarded a plaque along with the rest of the original members of BB recognizing them for their contribution to the bands success and inducted them into the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame in Hershey Park, PA.
In October 14 2023 Mark was nominated and awarded along with members of Breaking Benjamin who were local to Luzerne County with the "Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall Of Fame" award, recognizing them for their contribution to the arts and entertainment of the area.
​
Currently you can find Mark teaching bass and guitar lessons where he took his first music lessons as a kid at Andrea Bogusko Music Co. in Wilkes Barre, PA mentoring others in their music journey towards success. He has also been writing and producing new music over the last few years so stay tuned for more...
​
​
​
​
​
​