Billy Talent

Billy Talent began in Mississauga in 1993 under the name Pezz, with singer Ben Kowalewicz, guitarist Ian D'Sa, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk. They changed their name at the end of the decade, taking it from a character in the Canadian punk film Hard Core Logo, and released their self-titled major-label debut in 2003.

The albums that followed, Billy Talent II, Billy Talent III, Dead Silence, Afraid of Heights and Crisis of Faith, kept the same core sound: tightly wound punk songs with D'Sa's guitar parts carrying as much melody as the vocal. The band has won several Juno Awards and remains one of the biggest-selling rock acts in Canada, with a strong following in Germany and across Europe.