Editing Breaking Benjamin (section)

===Formation and ''Saturate'' (1998–2003)===
{{Main|Saturate (Breaking Benjamin album){{!}}''Saturate'' (Breaking Benjamin album)}}
Benjamin Burnley was originally in a band named Breaking Benjamin in 1998, that played "softer music", such as [[Weezer]] and [[the Beatles]] covers, and was "nothing like" subsequent lineups.{{sfn|Book|2015}} The name originates from an incident in which Burnley broke a borrowed microphone, prompting its owner to retort, "Thanks to Benjamin for breaking my fucking mic".{{sfn|Craft|2015}} This band included guitarist Aaron Fink, bassist Nick Hoover, and drummer Chris Lightcap, but soon broke up when Burnley moved to California.{{sfn|Sisak|2011}} After returning to Pennsylvania with drummer Jeremy Hummel, Burnley formed Plan 9, which also included bassist Jason Davoli. Plan 9, a reference to ''[[Plan 9 from Outer Space]]'', was continually misnamed as "Planet 9". Therefore, the group reclaimed the name Breaking Benjamin from the previous band, as Burnley still had promotional stickers with that name.{{sfn|Book|2015}}

{{Listen
|pos=left
|filename=Breaking Benjamin - Polyamorous (EP) (preview).ogg
|title="Polyamorous" (EP version)
|description=Sample of the EP version of "Polyamorous", as first heard on Fabbri's radio station in 2001.
|format=[[Ogg]]
}}The three-piece first gained attention when Freddie Fabbri, a DJ for [[active rock]] radio station [[WBSX]], put the group's track "[[Polyamorous (song)|Polyamorous]]" in [[rotation (music)|rotation]].{{sfn|Duff|2002}} After it became the number one requested track on the station,{{sfn|Duff|2002}} Fabbri financed the recording of the group's [[Breaking Benjamin (EP)|eponymous EP]], which sold all 2,000 copies that were printed in 2001.{{sfn|Henderson|n.d}} Jonathan "Bug" Price was credited on bass, replacing Davoli.{{sfn|Breaking Benjamin|2001}} After growing dissatisfied with their previous band, former bandmate Aaron Fink and bassist Mark James Klepaski joined Breaking Benjamin.{{sfn|St. James|2003}} In early 2002, over a dozen record companies visited a two-night showcase where Breaking Benjamin was playing, and the group subsequently signed with Hollywood Records.{{sfn|Duff|2002}} Shortly afterward, Breaking Benjamin began recording their first full-length major-label record, ''[[Saturate (Breaking Benjamin album)|Saturate]]'', which was released on August 7, 2002, and produced by [[Ulrich Wild]].{{sfn|Henderson|n.d}} It peaked at No. 136 on the ''Billboard'' 200,{{sfn|Billboard 200}} and was later certified gold on September 25, 2015.{{sfn|RIAA}} In early 2003, Breaking Benjamin participated in the [[Jägermeister Music Tour]],{{sfn|Zeiler|2003}} then toured as a supporting act for [[Godsmack]].{{sfn|MTV News|2003}}

Out of the little media coverage received, ''Saturate'' garnered positive reception, with Jason Taylor from [[AllMusic]] stating that the album "has serious potential to become one of 2002's most successful debuts", feeling that "although it is repetitive and generic, it is undeniably addictive", ultimately scoring the album 2.5 out of 5.{{sfn|Taylor|2002}} The disc received a favorable review from Schwegweb's Vin Cherubino, who noted, "The music has just as much quality as any popular artist in the same genre. Influences from bands such as [[Tool (band)|Tool]] can be heard, making the music seem all so familiar and palatable."{{sfn|Cherubino|2002}}