About

Ben Harmsen is a guitarist based in the Metro Detroit area. Since 2016, Ben has played professionally in the Metro Detroit area in a variety of bands, in addition to doing studio sessions. Over the past several years, Ben has lent his guitar playing abilities to numerous musical projects, from music school student projects to national performing artists.

Ben started playing guitar after finding inspiration in artists like Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler while also dabbling in world music and jazz, drawing from Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. As he continued exploring new ways of playing, Ben discovered shredders like Eddie Van Halen, Zakk Wylde, and Eric Johnson, which would have a profound influence on his approach to the guitar. In college Ben turned his focus to the grunge sounds of the 90s (Soundgarden, Alice In Chains) and became infatuated with the progressive rock bands Tool, Karnivool, and others. Throughout college Ben played in several cover bands, performing a wide range of music from modern pop to metal and everything in between. All of these influences have given Ben experience playing a diverse range of music, which served him well as he continued to branch out after graduating. Since then, he has frequently jumped into high-pressure gigs that required a quick-learner who was reliable and easy to work with, while also delivering when it came time to perform, both on stage and in studio.

In 2017 he joined Halloween, replacing their lead guitarist, and has been performing with them since, writing and recording the guitar riffs for the new Halloween album currently in production, with show dates booked in Mexico for 2022. He also currently plays guitar for Funk-Rock band The Corduroy Job, which has released a self-titled EP, and an album, Rust Easy, in 2019.

In early 2022, Ben launched his original project Occlusion, with the debut single “Sacred September.” The full album “Depth Toll” was released in 2024.

Ben teaches guitar lessons at Rock City Music Company in Livonia, Michigan.