The Gaslamp Killer

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = The Gaslamp Killer

| image =

| caption = The Gaslamp Killer in 2020

| image_size =

| birth_name = William Benjamin Bensussen

| origin = San Diego, California, United States

| instrument = {{hlist|Turntables|drums|sampler|keyboard}}

| genre = {{hlist|Psychedelia|underground hip hop}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Producer|DJ}}

| years_active = 2000–present

| label = {{hlist|Brainfeeder{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/breakthrough/the-gaslamp-killer|title=Breakthrough by The Gaslamp Killer|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=November 7, 2017}}|Cuss Records|Finders Keepers|Gaslamp Killer Music}}

| associated_acts = Amir Yaghmai, Gonjasufi, Flying Lotus, Samiyam, Free the Robots

| website = {{URL|thegaslampkiller.com}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|11|07}}[https://www.facebook.com/gaslampkiller/posts/10152378009566750 The Gastlamp Killer Facebook post]. Facebook. November 7, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2015.

| birth_place =

}}

William Benjamin Bensussen (born November 7, 1982), better known by his stage name The Gaslamp Killer, is an American alternative hip hop producer and DJ based in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-nov-20-la-et-gaslamp-killer-20101120-story.html|title=Gaslamp Killer at the center of the L.A. beat|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Joshua|last=Glazer|date=November 20, 2010}}

Career

He grew up in San Diego, California, where he became a DJ in the Gaslamp district. His sets often ruined the music vibe in the clubs, earning him the nickname "The Gaslamp Killer".{{cite web|url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/feature.aspx?1236|title=The Gaslamp Killer: His troubled mind|work=Resident Advisor|first=Jeff|last=Weiss|date=September 8, 2010}}

After moving to Los Angeles in 2006, he helped found Low End Theory, "L.A.'s monolithic weekly showcase for uncut beat-driven tracks".{{cite web|url=http://www.bayguardian.com/2009/08/12/sound-vertigo|title=Sound of vertigo: Why the Gaslamp Killer leads listeners into a hallucinatory odyssey|last=Krimper|first=Michael|date=August 12, 2009|work=San Francisco Bay Guardian|access-date=July 26, 2010}}

The Gaslamp Killer has played at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival,{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/arts/music/30lotus.html?_r=1|title=Lost, With Laptops, in Psychedelic Space|last=Rubin|first=Mike|date=May 25, 2010|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 26, 2010}} the Austin Psych Fest,{{cite web|url=http://austinist.com/2010/04/12/austin_psych_fest_3_the_gaslamp_kil.php|title=Austin Psych Fest 3: The Gaslamp Killer|last=Dewitt|first=Matthew|date=April 12, 2010|work=Austinist|access-date=July 26, 2010}} the Decibel Festival,{{cite web|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/the-motherfucker-of-invention/Content?oid=3304315|title=The Motherfucker of Invention|last=Segal|first=Dave|date=January 26, 2010|work=The Stranger|access-date=July 26, 2010}} and the Voodoo Fest.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/10-must-see-acts-at-voodoo-fest-20121015/the-gaslamp-killer-19691231|title=10 Must-See Acts at Voodoo Fest: The Gaslamp Killer|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 15, 2012|access-date=April 18, 2012}}

He produced Gonjasufi's debut album, A Sufi and a Killer, with Flying Lotus and Mainframe in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2010/03/tonight_the_gaslamp_killer_and.php|title=Tonight: The Gaslamp Killer and Mainframe at Gonjasufi record release|work=LA Weekly|first=Drew|last=Tewksbury|date=March 15, 2010}}

In August 2012, he released a single, "Flange Face" b/w "Seven Years of Bad Luck for Fun", which was listed by Pitchfork as their "Best New Track" of July 2012.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/13864-flange-face-ft-miguel-atwood-ferguson/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712074738/http://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/13864-flange-face-ft-miguel-atwood-ferguson/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 12, 2012|title=The Gaslamp Killer: "Flange Face" (ft. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson)|work=Pitchfork|first=Ian|last=Cohen|date=July 31, 2012}} His debut album, Breakthrough, was released in September 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/news/the-gaslamp-killer-completes-new-album |title=The Gaslamp Killer Completes New Album 'Breakthrough' due on September 17th|work=Clash|first=Robin|last=Murray|date=July 11, 2012}}

In 2015, he released a live album, The Gaslamp Killer Experience: Live in Los Angeles.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-gaslamp-killer-experiences-trippy-ritual-video-20151005|title=Watch Gaslamp Killer Experience's Trippy 'Ritual' Video|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|date=October 5, 2015|access-date=November 7, 2017}} In 2016, he released a studio album, Instrumentalepathy.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-gaslamp-killer-announces-instrumentalepathy-album-w433870|title=The Gaslamp Killer Announces 'Instrumentalepathy' Album|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Elias|last=Leight|date=August 11, 2016|access-date=November 7, 2017}} In 2020, he released his latest album Heart Math.

In 2023, he released a collaboration with the Heliocentrics entitled Legna. {{cite web|url=https://thegaslampkiller.bandcamp.com/album/the-gaslamp-killer-meets-the-heliocentrics-legna |title=The Gaslamp Killer meets the Heliocentrics - LEGNA, by the Gaslamp Killer & the Heliocentrics }}

Personal life

Bensussen is Jewish, and his ancestry includes Turkish, Syrian, Lebanese, Mexican and Lithuanian.{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2010/10/18/the-gaslamp-killer-a-bright-spark-hits-the-decks-551474/|title=The Gaslamp Killer: A bright spark hits the decks|publisher=Metro|first=John|last=Lewis|date=October 18, 2010}}{{Cite web |title=Run The Jewels live in two cities |url=https://www.ndsmcobserver.com/article/2017/02/run-the-jewels-concerts |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=Run The Jewels live in two cities - The Observer |language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spex.de/2012/08/10/the-gaslamp-killer-jeremiah-jae/|title=The Gaslamp Killer / Jeremiah Jae|publisher=Spex|first=Steven Lee|last=Beeber|date=August 10, 2012}} His great-uncle is activist Herbert Aptheker.

Bensussen was in a scooter accident in 2013, which nearly cost him his life. He lost his spleen and was at one point three hours from death. Due to this outcome, he is no longer able to drink alcohol. {{cite web|url=“https://www.spin.com/2013/07/gaslamp-killer-accident-spleen/}}