View source for Ben Gibbard

{{short description|American musician (born 1976)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Ben Gibbard
| image             = Ben Gibbard - Death Cab for Cutie - Palace Theatre St. Paul (cropped).jpg
| alt               = 
| caption           = Gibbard with Death Cab for Cutie in 2018
| birth_name        = Benjamin Gibbard
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1976|8|11}}
| birth_place       = [[Bremerton, Washington]], U.S.
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
* Singer
* songwriter
* guitarist
}}
| years_active      = 1994–present
| spouse            = *[[Zooey Deschanel]] (m. 2009; div. 2012)
*Rachel Demy (m. 2016; div. 2024) {{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative rock]]
* [[indie rock]]
* [[synth-pop]]
* [[emo]]
}}
| instruments       = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar
* piano
* drums
* bass
}}
| label             = {{flatlist|
* [[Barsuk Records|Barsuk]]
* [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
* [[Sub Pop]]
* Wawa
* Lakeshore Records
* Turntable Kitchen<ref>{{Cite web |title=Profile Ben Gibbard |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/221561-Ben-Gibbard |access-date=2021-01-01 |website=discogs.com}}</ref>
}}
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Death Cab for Cutie]]
* [[The Postal Service]]
}}
| associated_acts   = {{flatlist|
* [[Death Cab for Cutie]]
* [[The Postal Service]]
* [[¡All-Time Quarterback!]]
* Pinwheel
* [[Dntel]]
* [[Kind of Like Spitting]]
}}
| website           = {{URL|https://benjamingibbard.com}}
}}

'''Benjamin Gibbard''' (born August 11, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Kyle |date=August 11, 2009 |title=Happy Birthday, Ben Gibbard: Wake-up Video |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2576377/ben-gibbard-birthday/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719060939/http://www.mtv.com/news/2576377/ben-gibbard-birthday/ |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |access-date=July 18, 2020 |website=[[MTV News]]}}</ref> He is best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the [[indie rock]] band [[Death Cab for Cutie]], with whom he has recorded ten studio albums, and as a member of the indie pop [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] [[The Postal Service]]. Gibbard released his debut solo album, ''[[Former Lives]]'' (2012), and a collaborative studio album, ''[[One Fast Move or I'm Gone]]'' (2009), with [[Jay Farrar]].

==Early life==
Gibbard was born to Allen and Margaret (née Flach) Gibbard in [[Bremerton, Washington]].<ref name="parents">{{Cite web |title=Margaret Flach |url=https://www.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/margaret-flach.111696 |access-date=April 24, 2019 |website=LifeStoryNet}}</ref> His father was in the Navy and his family moved around the country, including spending time in Northern Virginia before returning to Washington.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 18, 2014|title=Ben Gibbard Opens Up to Director Lance Bangs About Seattle, the Postal Service and His Formative Years|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ben-gibbard-opens-up-to-director-lance-bangs-about-seattle-the-postal-service-and-his-formative-years/|access-date=April 25, 2020|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Litt|first=Annie|date=November 1, 2011|title=Death Cab for Cutie|url=https://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/morning-becomes-eclectic/death-cab-for-cutie-3|access-date=April 25, 2020|website=[[KCRW]]}}</ref> Gibbard spent his early life there during the [[grunge]] music explosion of the early 1990s. He graduated from [[Olympic High School (Silverdale, Washington)|Olympic High School]] in Bremerton in 1994,<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2008 |title=Death Cab for Cutie to Play in Bremerton |url=https://archive.kitsapsun.com/entertainment/death-cab-for-cutie-to-play-in-bremerton-ep-422273274-358680161.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307232645/https://archive.kitsapsun.com/entertainment/death-cab-for-cutie-to-play-in-bremerton-ep-422273274-358680161.html/ |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |access-date=May 6, 2020 |website=[[Kitsap Sun]]}}</ref> and studied environmental chemistry at [[Western Washington University]].<ref name="college">{{Cite news|last=Harrington|first=Richard|date=October 21, 2005|title=Death Cab, Full Speed Ahead|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102000645.html|access-date=April 29, 2016|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> He was raised [[Catholic Church|Catholic]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=McGuire|first=Pat|title=Learning to Love the White Noise With Death Cab for Cutie|url=http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?c=2&lid=66|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810092635/http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?c=2&lid=66|archive-date=August 10, 2007|access-date=September 3, 2010|website=Filter}}</ref>

== Career ==
{{expand section|date=June 2023}}
In 1996, while playing guitar in the band Pinwheel, Gibbard recorded a demo [[Compact Cassette|cassette]] under the moniker [[Death Cab for Cutie]], titled ''[[You Can Play These Songs with Chords]]'' (1997). After receiving a positive response to the material, Gibbard expanded the project into a full band, with the addition of guitarist [[Chris Walla]], bassist [[Nick Harmer]] and drummer [[Nathan Good]]. The following year, the band released its debut album, ''[[Something About Airplanes]]'' (1998), on [[Barsuk Records]], and released its follow-up, ''[[We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes]]'', in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Connick|first=Tom|date=October 27, 2015|title=So you think you know... Ben Gibbard|url=https://diymag.com/2015/10/27/ben-gibbard-death-cab-for-cutie-so-you-think-you-know-discography-feature-timeline|access-date=May 6, 2020|website=[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]]}}</ref>

Gibbard had a minor role in the [[John Krasinski]] film ''[[Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (film)|Brief Interviews with Hideous Men]]'' based on the [[David Foster Wallace]] short story collection of the same title.<ref name="movie">{{Cite web|title=Benjamin Gibbard|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1989219/|access-date=April 29, 2016|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> He completed a solo tour through the US in the spring of 2007 that featured [[David Bazan]] of [[Pedro the Lion]] and singer-songwriter [[Johnathan Rice]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ben Gibbard Gives Solo Concert|url=https://www.npr.org/2007/05/10/9935188/ben-gibbard-gives-solo-concert|access-date=April 25, 2020|website=[[NPR]] |date=May 10, 2007 }}</ref>

In November 2014, Gibbard appeared as a guest on [[Foo Fighters]]' eighth studio album ''[[Sonic Highways]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Reed|first=Ryan|date=November 29, 2014|title=Q&A: Ben Gibbard Talks 'Sonic Highways,' Grunge, Cobain|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ben-gibbard-talks-sonic-highways-appearance-grunge-and-kurt-cobain-66023/|access-date=March 20, 2020|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref>

[[File:Ben Gibbard and Julien Baker.jpg|thumb|left|Gibbard (''left'') performing alongside Julien Baker]]

== Personal life ==
Gibbard became engaged to actress and musician [[Zooey Deschanel]] in 2008 and they married in September 2009 near [[Seattle]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 20, 2009|title=Zooey Deschanel Gets Married|url=https://people.com/celebrity/zooey-deschanel-gets-married-2/|access-date=May 4, 2020|website=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> They announced their separation on November 1, 2011,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ravitz|first=Justin|date=November 1, 2011|title=Zooey Deschanel, Husband Ben Gibbard Separate|work=[[Us Weekly]]|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/zooey-deschanel-husband-ben-gibbard-split-2011111|access-date=November 1, 2011}}</ref> with Deschanel filing for divorce on December 27, citing irreconcilable differences.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shira|first=Dhavi|date=January 4, 2012|title=Zooey Deschanel Files for Divorce from Ben Gibbard|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20558783,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109002051/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20558783,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 9, 2012|access-date=January 4, 2012|website=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> The divorce was finalized on December 12, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 17, 2012|title=Zooey Deschanel Officially Divorced|url=https://www.tmz.com/2012/12/17/zooey-deschanel-ben-gibbard-divorced/|access-date=December 23, 2012|website=[[TMZ]]}}</ref> Gibbard later married photographer and tour manager Rachel Demy on October 21, 2016, in Seattle.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-18|title=Death Cab for Cutie blurs the line between truth and fiction on "Thank You For Today"|url=https://www.salon.com/2018/08/18/death-cab-for-cutie-blurs-the-line-between-truth-and-fiction-on-thank-you-for-today/|access-date=2020-12-06|website=Salon|language=en}}</ref> The couple separated in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last=Demy |first=Rachel |date=February 27, 2025 |title=Rachel Demy, “Revocable Living” |url=https://www.spectrumfineart.com/show/spectrum-fine-art-rachel-demy-revocable-living |website=Spectrum Fine Art |location= |publisher= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315130450/https://www.spectrumfineart.com/show/spectrum-fine-art-rachel-demy-revocable-living |archive-date=March 15, 2025 |access-date=October 7, 2025}}</ref>

In a 2003 interview, Gibbard stated that while he had previously been a [[Veganism|vegan]], he had recently become a [[Pescetarianism|pescetarian]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Death Cab For Cutie|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/436/436818p1.html|last1=Agrella|first1=Will|last2=Smith|first2=Marty|date=September 4, 2003|website=[[IGN]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318025843/http://music.ign.com/articles/436/436818p1.html|archive-date=March 18, 2012|access-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref> He reportedly gave up alcohol in 2008 and began running marathons.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 11, 2011|title=How Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard Got Sober|url=https://www.spin.com/2011/05/how-death-cab-cuties-ben-gibbard-got-sober/|access-date=August 6, 2011|website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627164207/https://www.spin.com/2011/05/how-death-cab-cuties-ben-gibbard-got-sober/|archive-date=27 June 2015}}</ref> He ran his first trail [[ultramarathon]] in 2013 and has since completed several each year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Benjamin Gibbard M39|url=https://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=Benjamin&lname=Gibbard&age=39|website=Ultrasignup.com|access-date=April 29, 2016}}</ref> On June 2, 2025, he completed the 100-mile [[Western States Endurance Run]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-29 |title=Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard Finishes the Western States 100-Miler: 'I Was Seeing Double' |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a65243251/ben-gibbard-western-states-2025/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=Runner's World |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-30 |title=Ben Gibbard Completes Prestigious 100-Mile Ultramarathon |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2313609/ben-gibbard-completes-prestigious-100-mile-ultramarathon/news/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref>

Gibbard is a lapsed Catholic who now identifies as [[Agnosticism|agnostic]]:<ref>{{Cite web|last=Davidson|first=Chris K.|date=November 16, 2018|title=The End: Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie|url=http://undertheradarmag.com/interviews/the_end_ben_gibbard_of_death_cab_for_cutie|access-date=May 4, 2020|website=[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]]|language=en}}</ref> "I don't want to falsely believe in something solely so I can jump to the front of the line for whatever this awesome place is we go after we die. [...] The vastness of that idea is so beyond my comprehension that I feel like if there was a God, then that God would accept me saying I'm not able to believe because it's so outside of my ability to understand it. I understand that's where faith comes into play."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Studarus|first=Laura|date=September 13, 2011|title=Death Cab for Cutie|url=http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/music/features/26737-death-cab-for-cutie|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620034642/http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/music/features/26737-death-cab-for-cutie|archive-date=June 20, 2012|access-date=October 15, 2012|website=[[Relevant (magazine)|Relevant]]}}</ref>

Gibbard has been a fan of the [[Major League Baseball|MLB]]'s [[Seattle Mariners]] since the age of five<ref>{{Cite web|last=Handel|first=Sarah|date=July 27, 2012|title=Thanks For The Mariners Memories: Ben Gibbard's 'Ichiro's Theme'|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/07/26/157435827/thanks-for-the-mariners-memories-ben-gibbards-ichiros-theme|access-date=May 4, 2020|website=[[NPR]]|language=en}}</ref> and has thrown the first pitch at two Mariners games.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Eugenie|date=July 22, 2016|title=Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard pitched for the Seattle Mariners. Again|url=https://diymag.com/2016/07/22/death-cab-for-cuties-ben-gibbard-pitched-for-the-seattle-mariners-again|access-date=May 4, 2020|website=[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]]}}</ref> When the Mariners traded [[Ichiro Suzuki]] to the [[New York Yankees]] in 2012, Gibbard honored him by writing and releasing the song "Ichiro's Theme".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-24 |title=Ben Gibbard – "Ichiro's Theme" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1101411/ben-gibbard-ichiros-theme/news/ |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref> Gibbard's handwritten lyrics for the song are currently in the archive of the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]] in [[Cooperstown, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-12 |title=We've Got A File On You: Ben Gibbard |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2199216/ben-gibbard-death-cab-for-cutie-asphalt-meadows/interviews/weve-got-a-file-on-you/ |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref> In 2024, Gibbard performed the national anthem at the Mariners' [[Opening Day]] game at [[T-Mobile Park]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=2024-03-29 |title=Ben Gibbard Sings the National Anthem at Seattle Mariners Home Opener |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ben-gibbard-sings-national-anthem-seattle-mariners-home-opener-1234996732/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Politics ==
[[File:Ben Gibbard 03.jpg|thumb|left|Gibbard in 2024, discussing Seattle's one-time [[Teen Dance Ordinance]] and its effect on him in his teens.]]
Gibbard is an activist for LGBTQ+ rights and wrote an article in ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' explaining why the issue is important to him. He stated that when his lesbian sister got married, it was "the most beautiful thing" he ever saw. In the article, he voiced his support for [[Washington Referendum 74]] and discussed raising money for the issue. He stated, "I would just feel so much pride for my state if we could pass it by a popular vote and show the rest of the country that this is the direction we are going in."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gibbard |first=Ben |date=October 31, 2012 |title=Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie On Why He Supports Gay Marriage |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/31/ben-gibbard-of-death-cab-for-cutie-on-why-he-supports-gay-marriage.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505083732/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/31/ben-gibbard-of-death-cab-for-cutie-on-why-he-supports-gay-marriage |archive-date=May 5, 2017 |access-date=July 18, 2020 |website=[[The Daily Beast]]}}</ref>

Gibbard has been open about his political views, expressing his support of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2012 |title=Ben Gibbard on Gay Marriage |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/10/ben-gibbard-gay-marriage-election-2012/ |access-date=May 4, 2020 |website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Adam |date=October 17, 2012 |title=Ben Gibbard - Why You'd Want To Live Here? |url=https://www.huckmag.com/art-and-culture/music-2/ben-gibbard/ |access-date=May 4, 2020 |website=[[Huck (magazine)|Huck]]}}</ref> On October 10, 2016, Death Cab for Cutie released "Million Dollar Loan", the first song in the [[Dave Eggers]] project, [[1,000 Days, 1,000 Songs|30 Days, 50 Songs]]. The song targets Donald Trump as it satirizes the fact he asked his father for a million dollar loan. Gibbard said of the song: "Lyrically, 'Million Dollar Loan' deals with a particularly tone deaf moment in Donald Trump's ascent to the Republican nomination. While campaigning in New Hampshire last year, he attempted to cast himself as a self-made man by claiming he built his fortune with just a 'small loan of a million dollars' from his father. Not only has this statement been proven to be wildly untrue, he was so flippant about it. It truly disgusted me."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowsher |first=Allison |date=October 11, 2016 |title=Death Cab For Cutie Come For Donald Trump With 'Million Dollar Loan' |url=https://www.much.com/death-cab-for-cutie-donald-trump-million-dollar-loan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022203235/https://www.much.com/death-cab-for-cutie-donald-trump-million-dollar-loan/ |archive-date=22 October 2019 |access-date=October 22, 2019 |website=[[Much (TV channel)|Much]]}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Gibbard [[Live streaming|live streamed]] daily concerts from his home after canceling shows due to the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Martoccio |first=Angie |date=March 17, 2020 |title=Ben Gibbard Announces Daily Livestream Shows From His Home Studio |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ben-gibbard-death-cab-for-cutie-coronavirus-livestream-968340/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> Gibbard played songs by his bands [[Death Cab for Cutie]] and [[The Postal Service]] and other artists such as [[The Decemberists]], [[Radiohead]], [[New Order (band)|New Order]], [[Depeche Mode]] and [[The Beatles]] while promoting local Washington non-profit organizations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossignol |first=Derrick |date=March 19, 2020 |title=Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard Covers New Order During A Livestream Performance |url=https://uproxx.com/indie/ben-gibbard-new-order-livestream-death-cab/ |access-date=March 20, 2020 |website=[[Uproxx]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Droke |first=Carolyn |date=March 18, 2020 |title=Ben Gibbard Covers Radiohead's 'Fake Plastic Trees' During A Quarantine Live Session |url=https://uproxx.com/indie/ben-gibbard-radiohead-fake-plastic-trees/ |access-date=March 20, 2020 |website=[[Uproxx]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2020 |title=Ben Gibbard Covers The Decemberists' 'Grace Cathedral Hill' in Latest Livestream Session |url=https://www.spin.com/2020/03/ben-gibbard-covers-the-decemberists-grace-cathedral-hill-in-latest-livestream-session/ |access-date=March 25, 2020 |website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Rhian |date=May 1, 2020 |title=Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard covers Depeche Mode during lockdown live-stream |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/death-cab-for-cuties-ben-gibbard-covers-depeche-mode-during-latest-lockdown-live-stream-2658243 |access-date=May 4, 2020 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaye |first=Ben |date=May 8, 2020 |title=Ben Gibbard Performs All-Beatles Covers Livestream |url=https://consequence.net/2020/05/ben-gibbard-beatles-livestream-watch/ |access-date=July 18, 2020 |website=[[Consequence of Sound]]}}</ref>

==Musical equipment ==
 [[File:Ben Gibbard.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Gibbard performing with Death Cab for Cutie in 2005]]
As of May 2015, Gibbard tours with four modified 1970s [[Fender Mustang]] guitars. Additionally, he uses two custom-built Acme Silvertone amplifier heads. For acoustic songs, he relies on two 2008 [[Gibson J-45]] Acoustic Guitars with B-Band pickup systems. Since 2016, Gibbard has begun using [[Supro]] amplifiers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bean|first=Perry|date=May 27, 2015|title=Rig Rundown: Death Cab for Cutie|url=http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/22622-rig-rundown-death-cab-for-cutie/|access-date=April 29, 2016|website=[[Premier Guitar]]}}</ref> In the past, Gibbard played 1980s Japanese-built Squier Bullets through a Sears Silvertone amp, which he immortalized in the lyrics to the song "No Joy In Mudville".<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 6, 2020|title=Death Cab For Cutie – No Joy In Mudville Lyrics|url=https://genius.com/Death-cab-for-cutie-no-joy-in-mudville-lyrics|access-date=August 6, 2020|website=[[Genius (website)|Genius]]}}</ref> He also used [[Fender Telecaster]]s and [[G&L Musical Instruments|G&L]] ASAT guitars.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 14, 2010|title=13 unsung Telecaster legends|url=http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/guitars/13-unsung-telecaster-legends-243636/7/|access-date=April 29, 2016|website=[[MusicRadar]]|archive-date=July 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702111417/http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/guitars/13-unsung-telecaster-legends-243636/7|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2021, [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]] announced the Ben Gibbard Mustang as part of their Artist Signature series,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-12|title=Fender announces signature models for Ben Gibbard, Chrissie Hynde, Mike McCready, Joe Strummer, Dhani Harrison and Jason Isbell|url=https://guitar.com/news/gear-news/fender-new-artist-signature-models-2021/|access-date=2021-07-18|website=Guitar.com {{!}} All Things Guitar|language=en-GB}}</ref> designed to Ben's specifications and inspired by the 1970s Mustangs he uses on tour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roche |first=Sam |date=March 2, 2021 |title=Fender expands its Artist Signature Series with new Ben Gibbard Mustang |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/fender-expands-its-artist-signature-series-with-new-ben-gibbard-mustang |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102171012/https://www.guitarworld.com/news/fender-expands-its-artist-signature-series-with-new-ben-gibbard-mustang |archive-date=January 2, 2025 |access-date=July 18, 2021 |website=[[Guitar World]] |language=en}}</ref> The guitar boasts several unique features including a chambered ash body, custom Ben Gibbard Mustang pickups, and simplified electronics.

==In popular culture==
Gibbard is the subject of the song "Ben's My Friend" by [[indie folk]] act [[Sun Kil Moon]]. The track appears on the project's sixth studio album, ''[[Benji (album)|Benji]]'' (2014).<ref name="pitchforkben">{{Cite web|last=Cohen|first=Ian|title=Sun Kil Moon: "Ben's My Friend"|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/16504-sun-kil-moon-bens-my-friend/|access-date=January 10, 2014|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> On Sun Kil Moon's follow-up album, ''[[Universal Themes]]'' (2015), primary recording artist [[Mark Kozelek]] again refers to his friendship with Gibbard on its closing track, "This Is My First Day and I'm Indian and I Work at a Gas Station". Gibbard previously made a guest appearance on the band's third studio album, ''[[April (Sun Kil Moon album)|April]]'' (2008).

Gibbard is also referenced in "The Cones of Dunshire", an episode from the sixth season of ''[[Parks and Recreation]]''. In the episode, April ([[Aubrey Plaza]]) attempts to promote a forest cabin to [[Hipster (contemporary subculture)|hipsters]] by claiming that "Ben Gibbard and [[Neko Case]] made out here once."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ozzi|first=Dan|date=August 9, 2018|title=Ben Gibbard Ranks Death Cab for Cutie's Eight Albums|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/rank-your-records-death-cab-for-cutie-ben-gibbard/|access-date=July 18, 2020|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Death Cab for Cutie===
{{Main|Death Cab for Cutie discography}}
*''[[You Can Play These Songs with Chords]]'' (1997)
*''[[Something About Airplanes]]'' (1998)
*''[[We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes]]'' (2000)
*''[[The Photo Album]]'' (2001)
*''[[Transatlanticism]]'' (2003)
*''[[Plans (album)|Plans]]'' (2005)
*''[[Narrow Stairs]]'' (2008)
*''[[Codes and Keys]]'' (2011)
*''[[Kintsugi (album)|Kintsugi]]'' (2015)
*''[[Thank You for Today]]'' (2018)
*''[[Asphalt Meadows]]'' (2022)

===Ben Gibbard===
*''[[Home Volume V]]'' (split LP with [[Andrew Kenny]], 2003)
*"Couches In Alleys" (featured on [[Styrofoam (musician)|Styrofoam]]'s album ''Nothing's Lost'', 2004'')''
*Kurt Cobain About a Son: Original Score (with [[Steve Fisk]], 2008)
*''[[Former Lives]]'' (2012)
*''Bandwagonesque'' (cover of [[Teenage Fanclub]]'s album ''[[Bandwagonesque]]'', 2017)
*"Do You Remember" (featured on [[Chance the Rapper]]'s album ''[[The Big Day (album)|The Big Day]]'', 2019)
*"Me & Magdalena" (written by Gibbard for [[the Monkees]]' album ''[[Good Times!]], 2016'')
*"Provider" (featured on the Chong the Nomad's EP ''A Long Walk'', 2020)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Uitti |first=Jacob |date=2020-08-13 |title=Chong the Nomad Pairs With Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie on "Provider" |url=https://americansongwriter.com/provider-song-by-chong-the-nomad-ben-gibbard-death-cab/ |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}}</ref>
*"Every Beginning Ends" (featured on [[Noah Cyrus]]' album [[The Hardest Part (Noah Cyrus album)|''The Hardest Part'']], 2022)<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=August 26, 2022 |title=Nothing Lasts Forever on Noah Cyrus And Ben Gibbard's Country Ballad 'Every Beginning Ends' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/noah-cyrus-ben-gibbard-every-beginning-ends-1234581494/ |access-date=September 30, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

===The Postal Service===
{{Main|The Postal Service discography}}
*''[[Give Up]]'' (2003)

===¡All-Time Quarterback!===
*''[[¡All-Time Quarterback! (EP)|¡All-Time Quarterback!]]'' (EP, 1999)
*''[[The Envelope Sessions]]'' (1999)
*''[[¡All-Time Quarterback! (album)|¡All-Time Quarterback!]]'' (album, 1999)

===Kind of Like Spitting===
*''[[Bridges Worth Burning]]'' (drums, vocals, 2002)

===American Analog Set===
*''New Equation / All I Want For Christmas'' (7", backing vocals, 2001)

===With Jay Farrar===
*''[[One Fast Move or I'm Gone]]'' (2009)

===Pinwheel===
*''Pinwheel'' (1996)

== See also ==
*[[Jason McGerr]]
*[[Nick Harmer]]
*[[Chris Walla]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://benjamingibbard.net/ Official website]

{{Death Cab}}
{{The Postal Service}}
{{Kind of Like Spitting}}
{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Main Title Theme – TV Show/Limited Series}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibbard, Ben}}
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