# Ben Lee
**Ben Lee** (Benjamin Lee, born 1978) is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician who entered the public eye at 14 as frontman of the Sydney band Noise Addict and has since released 15 solo albums, winning four ARIA Awards.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570) • [2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-31/ben-lee-finding-balance-in-a-busy-life/105706282) His best-known songs are "Catch My Disease" and "We're All in This Together," both from the double-platinum 2005 album *Awake Is the New Sleep*.[3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-22/death-doula-ben-lees-quirky-career/8180182)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1978, Sydney, Australia[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570) |
| First band | Noise Addict, formed at 14; signed in 1993 after a bedroom demo reached Fellaheen Records' Steve Pavlovic[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570) |
| Solo debut | *Grandpaw Would* (1995), recorded in Sydney and Chicago, released when Lee was 16[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570) |
| Breakthrough | *Awake Is the New Sleep* (2005), double platinum; "Catch My Disease" reached number two in Triple J's Hottest 100[3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-22/death-doula-ben-lees-quirky-career/8180182) |
| Output | 15 solo albums; four ARIA Awards[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-31/ben-lee-finding-balance-in-a-busy-life/105706282) |
| Other work | Acting in *The Rage in Placid Lake* (2003); the podcast Weirder Together with his wife, Ione Skye[4](https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/the-influence/2022/07/02/ben-lee) • [2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-31/ben-lee-finding-balance-in-a-busy-life/105706282) |
## Noise Addict
Lee grew up in Bondi, Sydney, and was educated at a local Jewish school.[5](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/ben-lee-music-childhood-teenage-life-music-ayahuasca-family/103910826) At 14 he saw Nirvana play the [Big Day Out](https://www.edgepedia.org/big-day-out), started his own band the next day, and within two years was flying to America to support [Sonic Youth](https://www.edgepedia.org/sonic-youth).[5](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/ben-lee-music-childhood-teenage-life-music-ayahuasca-family/103910826) In 1993, on the strength of a homemade four-track demo recorded in Lee's bedroom, Noise Addict convinced Fellaheen Records executive Steve Pavlovic, the promoter who had brought Nirvana to Australia, to watch their debut performance at a library book sale; a record deal followed.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570)
**Early champions.** Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore became an early supporter and released the group's demo tape, packaged as the EP *DEF*, on his Ecstatic Peace label; the band members were 14 at the time.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570) The Beastie Boys' Mike Diamond also became a fan, and the *Young and Jaded* EP, six acoustic songs again recorded in Lee's bedroom, appeared through the [Beastie Boys](https://www.edgepedia.org/beastie-boys)' label Grand Royal.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570) The band's first single, "I Wish I Was Him," was a satirical tribute to the Lemonheads' Evan Dando that inspired Dando to record his own cover version.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570) Touring was limited by the members' school commitments.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570)
## Solo career
Lee recorded his first solo album, *Grandpaw Would*, in Sydney and Chicago while still in Noise Addict, and toured the United States at 16 with an American backing band.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570) The album featured background vocals by Rebecca Gates of the Spinanes on "Pop Queen" and [Liz Phair](https://www.edgepedia.org/liz-phair) on "Away With the Pixies."[6](https://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608002406/Ben-Lee.html) After Noise Addict recorded the full-length *Meet the Real You* (1996) and broke up on an American tour, the 18-year-old Lee released his second acoustic solo album, *Something to Remember Me By* (1997), recorded at the Grand Royal studio in Los Angeles.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570) • [6](https://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608002406/Ben-Lee.html)
**A change of sound.** *Breathing Tornados* (1998) turned away from the acoustic format toward computers, keyboards, samplers, and drum machines, with collaborators including producer Ed Buller, director [Harmony Korine](https://www.edgepedia.org/harmony-korine), and Petra Haden.[7](https://scaruffi.com/vol6/lee.html) The single "Cigarettes Will Kill You" became nearly a national hit in Australia, and it was the song that first brought Lee wide attention overseas.[8](https://www.npo3fm.nl/muziek/artiesten/f9be3037-a858-4154-a73f-a19e9161f2e0/ben-lee) • [9](https://archives.nd.edu/Observer/2003-09-03_v38_007.pdf) He did not have a commercial hit until his fourth album, and he has said the support that got him there came largely from the United States rather than Australia.[10](https://7news.com.au/entertainment/music/australians-dont-care-enough-about-aussie-music-says-ben-lee-in-self-described-rant-c-19174874.amp)
**Breakthrough.** *Awake Is the New Sleep* (2005) sold double platinum in Australia, and "Catch My Disease" spread widely, reaching number two in [Triple J](https://www.edgepedia.org/triple-j)'s Hottest 100 and appearing on the television shows *Grey's Anatomy* and *Scrubs*.[3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-22/death-doula-ben-lees-quirky-career/8180182) Its follow-up single "We're All in This Together" re-entered public life in 2020, when it became the unofficial theme song of the [COVID-19 pandemic in Australia](https://www.edgepedia.org/covid-19-pandemic-in-australia).[11](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/ben-lee-interview-49857/) Later albums include *The Rebirth of Venus* (2009), *Love Is the Great Rebellion* (2015), and *I'm Fun!* (2022).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570) In 2013 he released *Ayahuasca: Welcome to the Work*, a collaboration with the Argentinian-Australian actress and musician Jessica Chapnik.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570)
## Side projects and acting
Lee formed the one-off band The Bens with his namesakes [Ben Folds](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-folds) and [Ben Kweller](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-kweller), duetted with [Kylie Minogue](https://www.edgepedia.org/kylie-minogue), and wrote songs for Evan Dando.[12](https://magnetmagazine.com/2008/01/04/ben-lee-golden-age/) As an actor he starred in the 2003 Australian film *The Rage in Placid Lake* alongside Rose Byrne and Garry McDonald.[4](https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/the-influence/2022/07/02/ben-lee)
## Spirituality and later life
Lee's public life has included a long exploration of alternative spirituality, including a period in an ashram in India and ceremonies with ayahuasca, a hallucinogen found in a vine in the Amazon.[5](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/ben-lee-music-childhood-teenage-life-music-ayahuasca-family/103910826) In 2020, during hotel quarantine in Sydney, he recorded a daily podcast examining his own susceptibility to gurus, cults, the wellness industry, and QAnon.[13](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/24/what-am-i-about-ben-lee-takes-on-qanon-the-wellness-industry-and-himself)
He married the actress [Ione Skye](https://www.edgepedia.org/ione-skye), daughter of the musician Donovan, in 2008.[7](https://scaruffi.com/vol6/lee.html) • [5](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/ben-lee-music-childhood-teenage-life-music-ayahuasca-family/103910826) The couple host the podcast Weirder Together.[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-31/ben-lee-finding-balance-in-a-busy-life/105706282) After roughly three decades based in the United States, Lee moved back to Australia with Skye and their family, and in 2025 he toured Australia performing *Awake Is the New Sleep* in full for its 20th anniversary.[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-31/ben-lee-finding-balance-in-a-busy-life/105706282) • [14](https://www.frontiertouring.com/benlee)
## References
1. [Ben Lee Biography by Ed Nimmervoll, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-lee-mn0000163570)
2. [Musician Ben Lee on finding balance in a busy life, ABC News (31 August 2025)](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-31/ben-lee-finding-balance-in-a-busy-life/105706282)
3. [From chart topper to death doula: Ben Lee's latest quirky career move, ABC News (22 January 2017)](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-22/death-doula-ben-lees-quirky-career/8180182)
4. [Ben Lee, The Saturday Paper (2 July 2022)](https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/the-influence/2022/07/02/ben-lee)
5. [Ben Lee: chutzpah mystic, Bondi rock prodigy, Noise Addict, ABC Conversations (27 June 2024)](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/ben-lee-music-childhood-teenage-life-music-ayahuasca-family/103910826)
6. [Ben Lee Biography, Musicianguide](https://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608002406/Ben-Lee.html)
7. [Ben Lee, The History of Rock Music (Piero Scaruffi)](https://scaruffi.com/vol6/lee.html)
8. [Ben Lee biografie, NPO 3FM](https://www.npo3fm.nl/muziek/artiesten/f9be3037-a858-4154-a73f-a19e9161f2e0/ben-lee)
9. [Ben Lee changes his tune, Notre Dame Observer (3 September 2003)](https://archives.nd.edu/Observer/2003-09-03_v38_007.pdf)
10. [Australians don't care enough about Aussie music says Ben Lee, 7NEWS (27 June 2025)](https://7news.com.au/entertainment/music/australians-dont-care-enough-about-aussie-music-says-ben-lee-in-self-described-rant-c-19174874.amp)
11. [Moving With the Times: Ben Lee Is Really Just Getting Started, Rolling Stone AU/NZ (11 September 2023)](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/ben-lee-interview-49857/)
12. [Ben Lee: Golden Age, Magnet Magazine (4 January 2008)](https://magnetmagazine.com/2008/01/04/ben-lee-golden-age/)
13. [Ben Lee takes on QAnon, the wellness industry and himself, The Guardian (23 December 2020)](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/24/what-am-i-about-ben-lee-takes-on-qanon-the-wellness-industry-and-himself)
14. [Ben Lee: Awake is the New Sleep 20th Anniversary Tour 2025, Frontier Touring](https://www.frontiertouring.com/benlee)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › Indie and alternative pop, 1990s and 2000s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license