Ben Saunders (singer)
Dutch singer and tattoo artist (1983–2026)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ben Saunders (9 July 1983 – 15 September 2026) was a Dutch singer and tattoo artist.[1][2] Born in London to English parents, he grew up in Hoorn and won the first season of the Dutch television talent show The Voice of Holland in January 2011.[2][3] His debut album, You Thought You Knew Me By Now (2011), reached number one in the Netherlands, and his single "Kill for a Broken Heart" topped the Single Top 100.[1] He was found dead near Arnhem on 15 September 2026, aged 43.[4][5]
Ben Saunders | |
|---|---|
Saunders in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | "Tattoo Ben" |
| Born | 9 July 1983 London, England |
| Died | 15 September 2026 (aged 43) Arnhem, Netherlands |
| Occupations | Singer, tattoo artist |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1998–2026 |
| Label | 8ball Music |
Early life
Career
2000–2003: Follow That Dream and the Nationaal Songfestival
In 2000 Saunders and his brother Dean took part in the RTL 4 talent programme Alles voor de band: Follow that dream, from which the pop band Follow That Dream was formed.[7] Signed to Dino Music, the group had a hit with its self-titled debut single, "Follow That Dream", which reached number 25 on the Dutch Top 40 in 2000.[1][7] The band broke up in 2001.[7]
In 2003 the brothers competed in the Dutch Nationaal Songfestival under the name The Brothers, the national selection for that year's Eurovision Song Contest in Riga, and finished seventh with the song "Stand As One"; the selection was won by Esther Hart.[8][1]
2010–2011: The Voice of Holland
In 2010 Saunders entered the first season of the RTL 4 talent show The Voice of Holland.[9] His blind audition, a performance of Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody", impressed all of the coaches, and he went on to reach the final.[9] His cover of "If You Don't Know Me by Now" reached number 11 on the Dutch Top 40 during the run of the show.[1]
The final was broadcast on 21 January 2011.[9] Saunders won with 59 per cent of the vote, defeating runner-up Pearl Jozefzoon (Leonie Meijer and Kim de Boer were the other finalists).[3] His winning single, "Kill for a Broken Heart", reached number 4 on the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 on the Single Top 100.[1][10]
2011–2026: Later career
Saunders's debut album, You Thought You Knew Me By Now, was released in April 2011 and entered the Album Top 100 at number one.[10] A second album, Heart & Soul, followed in 2012 and peaked at number 7, and the singles "Dry Your Eyes" and "No Cure" reached numbers 17 and 33 on the Dutch Top 40 respectively.[10][1] In 2011 he also won three TMF Awards and the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Dutch Act, and he was nominated for three Edison Awards, including best newcomer.[1][9][11][12]
After 2013 his chart success waned; in 2014 he appeared on the television series De Beste Zangers.[1] Meanwhile, he worked as a tattoo artist, running a tattoo shop in Arnhem, and continued to perform.[5][2]
Personal life
Saunders lived in Hoorn before moving to Arnhem, where he opened a tattoo shop.[5][3] He had several tattoos on his head and neck.[2]
In 2014 he became a member of the Satudarah motorcycle club.[1] During the Bevrijdingsfestival in Hoorn in May 2015 he assaulted a traffic warden who had stopped his father, and he was arrested at the scene.[13] In February 2016 the court in Alkmaar sentenced him to 180 hours of community service and about €2,000 in compensation, holding that he had shown remorse; the prosecution had sought five months in prison.[13][6] His brother Jamie and his father were also convicted over the incident.[6] The Public Prosecution Service decided not to appeal.[14]
Death
Saunders was reported missing on the morning of 15 September 2026, and police began a search of the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen, a recreational lake area south of Arnhem. A body was recovered there at about 13:20 that afternoon and identified as Saunders.[4][5] The police said they had ruled out foul play and did not give a cause of death.[2][4] He was 43.[4]
Discography
Albums
| Title | Year | Peak position (NL) [10][failed verification] |
Artist credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Album | 2000 | — | Follow That Dream |
| You Thought You Knew Me By Now | 2011 | 1 | Ben Saunders |
| Heart & Soul | 2012 | 7 | Ben Saunders |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Artist credit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL 40 [1][failed verification] |
NL 100 [10][failed verification] | |||
| "Follow That Dream" | 2000 | 25 | 13 | Follow That Dream |
| "One Night in Shanghai" | 2001 | — | — | Follow That Dream |
| "Stand As One" | 2003 | — | — | The Brothers |
| "I'm in Love with a Girl" | 2010 | — | 19 | Ben Saunders |
| "If You Don't Know Me by Now" | 2010 | 11 | 1 | |
| "Dancing in the Street" (Alain Clark featuring Ben Saunders) |
2010 | — | 28 | |
| "When a Man Loves a Woman" | 2010 | — | 1 | |
| "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" | 2011 | — | 6 | |
| "Kill for a Broken Heart" | 2011 | 4 | 1 | |
| "Dry Your Eyes" | 2011 | 17 | 8 | |
| "All Over" | 2011 | — | 72 | |
| "Heart Strings (This Is Love)" | 2011 | — | 30 | |
| "Heart Strings" (international version) |
2012 | — | 97 | Ben Saunders |
| "No Cure" | 2012 | 33 | 9 | |
| "What You Do" (featuring Glowinthedark) |
2014 | — | — | |