Yotam Ben Horin

Yotam Ben Horin (; born February 17, 1979, in Haifa, Israel) is an Israeli musician best known for his work as the lead singer and bassist for Israeli punk rock band Useless ID, as well as a solo artist releasing music closer to the indie/alternative rock scene. Most recently, he is also known for his work as an additional guitarist and backing vocalist for Israeli classic rock band Kaveret on their 2013 reunion performances.
Professional career.
Useless ID (1997–present).
Yotam Ben Horin joined Useless ID as a bassist and backing vocalist, replacing former bassist Adi Alkavatz in 1997. He appeared on the band's first release and first full-length album, "Dead's Not Punk" which was released in September 1997, through the band's own independent label Falafel Records. He later appeared on the band's second full-length album "Get in the Pita Bread Pit" in 1999, which was also released through Falafel Records, and "Let it Burn", the band's split album with The Ataris, which was released in April 2000 on Kung Fu Records and was the last to feature the band's rhythm guitarist Guy Carmel on lead vocals.
Following the band's split album with The Ataris, the band was offered a record contract in Kung Fu Records, which resulted in guitarist Guy Carmel leaving his position as lead vocalist in the band and staying a backing vocalist only. Ben Horin then took the position of the band's lead vocalist and main songwriter, as well as staying the bassist. He sang on all of the band's international major releases: "Bad Story, Happy Ending" (2001), "No Vacation from the World" (2003), "Redemption" (2005) and "The Lost Broken Bones" released in October 2008, through their new label – Suburban Home Records. On all of these albums, Ben Horin also wrote the majority of the material.
On January 27, 2011, Useless ID played their last show in support of "The Lost Broken Bones" at the Barby club in Tel Aviv, Israel, before taking off to record their new album at the Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado. The band entered the Blasting Room on February 2, 2011, to begin recording the new album. Recording was finished on February 17, 2011, and mixing was done on February 22, with mastering taking place in April. "Symptoms", the band's seventh full-length album and fifth with Yotam on vocals, was released on February 14, 2012.
Other projects.
Ben Horin has also been active in other bands/projects. In 1999, while touring with Useless ID, Ben Horin founded the hardcore punk band DPA (Dr Pepper Addicts) with guitarist Arik Mon. The two added Yehuda Yace and Ido Blaustein (then Useless ID drummer), and started playing shows, immediately garnering a lot of attention from the Israeli punk scene, later on singer Kasha joined the group. The band released one album, "Straight Out of the Basement" (also released under the name "Dr. Pepper Can"), on Useless ID's own label Falafel Records. The band broke up in 2001, after two years of activity in which the band was acclaimed as one of Israel's finest hardcore bands. The band reunited in 2007 for a short tour across Israel.
In late 2002, Ben Horin founded the grunge band Superdrive, together with Ofer Gelder, Moshe Liberman (later session drummer for Useless ID) and Rotem Inbar (later from groove outfit Betzefer). The band's only album, "Dear Enemy", was released in 2004. The band broke up later that year, but in late 2005, Ben Horin decided to bring the band back, with new members Guy Shechter and Russel Groos. This incarnation lasted until 2006, only producing a few live shows. Two of the songs Ben-Horin originally wrote for Superdrive – "Isolate Me" and "Shallow End" – made it to Useless ID's 2008 album, "The Lost Broken Bones".
In 2004 Ben Horin joined Israeli singer Shy Nobleman as a live bass player, and also played on Nobelman's second album, "Beautiful Life". Ben-Horin has also played live bass for Danny Sanderson, one of Israel's most successful pop rock musicians. As a favor, Sanderson also joined to play two songs with Useless ID on their release concert for their latest album "The Lost Broken Bones", on October 18, 2008. During his performance with the band, they also performed one classic song in Hebrew, "Ha'galshan Sheli" ("My Surfboard"), a song by Sanderson himself.
Ben Horin also worked as a producer for various Israeli punk rock bands. In 2008, he produced the second album by young pop punk band Beat 69, "Banot Ohavot Banim Hazakim" (Girls Like Tough Boys). Later in 2008, he produced a Various Artists compilation of Israeli punk bands, titled "punkrock.co.il" for the new Israeli punk website and magazine. The compilation featured two previously unreleased tracks by Useless ID and DPA, as well as songs by Beat 69, Kill The Drive and Got No Shame.
Ben Horin has produced pop punk band Kill the Drive's second studio album, "A Postcard from Hell" which was released in Japan in May 2009 through Radtone. He has also produced the song "City Lights" and all of the vocals on Got No Shame's debut full-length album "Hometown Underground". Most recently, he has produced post-hardcore act This Means You's debut album "The Act".
On August 25, 2010, Yotam's grunge side project Superdrive has reunited once again for a reunion show at the Sublime club in Tel Aviv. The show was followed by another reunion show on November 19, 2010, at the Ozen Bar in Tel Aviv.
On October 28, 2011, Ben Horin has joined indie rock musician Shy Nobleman as his live bassist at the show which took place during the InDnegev Festival. Ben-Horin has previously played in Nobleman's live band during 2004–6, as well as on his second album "Beautiful Life", and this was his first performance with Nobleman since early 2008 (when he rejoined him briefly).
In February 2012, Superdrive announced once again that they will be reuniting for a few live shows. Two shows were announced: one at the Ozen Bar in Tel Aviv on February 18, 2012, and one at the Syncopa in Haifa on March 6, 2012.
On March 28, 2013, Ben Horin was chosen as an additional guitarist and vocalist to play with classic Israeli rock band Kaveret, on their reunion performances of 2013.
Musical influences.
In his MySpace, Ben Horin states his influences as John Lennon, Brian Wilson, Black Francis, Kurt Cobain, Ken Andrews, Blake Schwarzenbach, Nick Drake, Henry Rollins and Elliott Smith.
Ben Horin also enjoys listening to such artists as AC/DC, Nirvana, The Clash, ABBA, Autolux, Black Flag, Foo Fighters, Blonde Redhead, Blondie, The All-American Rejects, Man Alive, My Bloody Valentine, Kiss, ALL, Pink Floyd, Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, The Police, Queen, Weezer, Sonic Youth, Sean Lennon, Minor Threat, David Bowie, Dinosaur Jr., The Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World, Depeche Mode, Green Day, Fugazi, Dead Kennedys and more.