Ben Kweller Opens Up About Son's Death for the First Time 2 Years After Teen Died in 'Fluke' Car Accident

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2 days ago

While speaking with Vulture about his upcoming album, Ben Kweller opened up about his son Dorian's death two years ago
The singer-songwriter shared with the outlet the details of the "fluke" car accident that killed the 16-year-old
Kweller is also a father to son Judah, whom he shares with his wife Liz Smith KwellerBen Kweller is opening up for the first time about his son's death.
During an interview with Vulture, the singer-songwriter, 43, talked about the "fluke" car accident that took his son Dorian's life in February 2023. For the first time, the musician shared the details of the incident and the emotions he went through following the loss of his 16-year-old son.
Kweller explained that Dorian was driving home from a friend's house when he swerved off the shoulder of the road to avoid a truck. A branch then broke through his car windshield, hitting Dorian in the head and killing him.
'The car was fine,' Kweller told the outlet, recalling Dorian's car accident. 'It's like, 'What the f---, man?' It's fluke s---. It's just a f------ branch.'
"The hole was this big," he said, making a hole with his fist roughly the size of a tangerine. 'When I'm talking to other parents about it, I almost want to tell them, 'Don't worry,' you know? 'I was able to take it off the table. It's not going to happen to you.' That's weird. Is that weird?'
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Before the accident, there was a period in Kweller's life when he didn't have a connection to music. He told the outlet that during that time, when there was also a traumatic carbon-monoxide poisoning incident that almost ended his entire family's lives, he only did "the bare minimum to pay my mortgage and support my family."
"It's really weird,' he said. 'Dorian dying should have been the moment that disconnected me the most. It shattered me, but it's also somehow the thing that's helping me with all the other stuff.'
On Friday, May 30, Kweller released Cover the Mirrors, his first album since losing his son. After the incident, he threw himself into one of his earliest passions. While the 12-track project features more upbeat tempos, the "Oh Dorian" singer considers it "very dark," despite the joy that returning to music has brought him.
'I don't know if that just comes back to my natural personality,' he said. 'But is there an expectation that I make a certain kind of album after a tragedy like this?'
Along with Dorian, Kweller is also dad to son Judah, 12, with wife Lizzy.
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The musician announced in 2023 that his son Dorian died on Monday night. Though he did not give details as to the circumstances surrounding Dorian's death at the time, his record label The Noise Company said the teen died "in a tragic event."
"There's no way that I can be typing this but I am…. Our son, Dorian Zev Kweller, was killed last night. He was only 16 and he was a true legend," Kweller wrote on Instagram. "Kindest, gentle soul, a friend to all. If you knew him, you know. We'll never get over him as long as we're here on earth."
Kweller — who has toured with stars like Ed Sheeran and Death Cab for Cutie — said Dorian was an aspiring musician under the stage name Zev, and that he was scheduled to play his first show at SXSW in Austin in March. He encouraged his followers to keep his son's "spirit alive with your memories and the music he made," and linked to Dorian's Instagram page.
"Dorian Zev wrote and recorded songs every day. A true poet from the day he started speaking," he wrote. "Only a few of his recordings were released but he was on a path and excited about his journey. He had so many plans!!! His first gig was in two weeks, at SXSW."
The "Starz" singer said that the final text messages he exchanged with his son were about merch that Dorian wanted to create, and wrote that his "baby boy was at the starting line with so much life ahead of him."
"I have no idea why things like this happen. We're in complete shock and don't know what the future holds," he wrote. "Lizzy, Judah, and I have no idea how to deal with this disaster. Thank you for your prayers and support and we apologize if we are slow to respond to messages. 💔."
Read the original article on People