The Collision

The Collision

The Collision is a name used by two rock groups: one based in Warrington, Cheshire, in the UK, and one based in Wooster, Ohio, in the US. The Ohio group is a four-piece experimental rock band. It starts in the early 2000s, when two school-age friends begin making music together. Their first release appears in fifth grade under the name Dreams Aren’t Reality, a mostly instrumental album with grunge and metal elements. On that recording, Nate Head plays guitar, bass and vocals, while Ben Benekos plays drums and keyboards.

In sixth grade, the line-up expands so the band can perform live, with Brian Buehler on bass and Matt Kaufman on guitar joining soon after. The first practice takes place on New Year’s Eve 2005. Matt Kaufman is later replaced by Nathan Harley, and the group develops through playing together over several years. It also plays in the WCS chapel band from sixth to eighth grade, led by Mr. Claes, the band’s middle school music teacher, who becomes a close friend.

In July 2008, Brian Buehler leaves in preparation for boarding school. After that, the band continues without a permanent bass player, using a number of stand-ins for live shows, including Bailey Alexander, Bryson Gentry, Matt Troyer, Nate Ward, Nathan Amstutz and Trenton Troyer. The band says it is made up of freshmen in high school and begins playing live in September 2007. By the time of that account, it has played around 40 shows.