Ben Massarella

# Ben Massarella

Ben Massarella is an American percussionist and drummer whose work spans indie rock and experimental music. As a founding member of Califone alongside Tim Rutili, Massarella has been instrumental in shaping the band's distinctive sound—blending organic percussion with electronic textures and field recordings. He also contributes to Modest Mouse's dynamic arrangements and previously played with Red Red Meat, helping establish Chicago's experimental music scene in the 1990s.

Beyond performance, Massarella co-founded Perishable Records in 1993 with Rutili, a label dedicated to releasing avant-garde and experimental music. His approach to percussion—treating drums and percussion instruments as textural elements rather than purely rhythmic devices—has influenced the intersection of acoustic and electronic production in contemporary indie and experimental music.