Breaking Benjamin gave fans one of the biggest surprises of the Welcome To Rockville weekend on May 9, 2026, when the band debuted its new song “Something Wicked” live for the first time during its set in Daytona Beach, Florida. Frontman Benjamin Burnley told the crowd he usually does not want to play a new song until it is officially out, but made an exception for the festival crowd, introducing it as the band’s new single.
The performance landed immediately because the song had already been teased online. Breaking Benjamin had launched a pre-save page and a teaser site for “Something Wicked,” and the band’s official website was already driving fans toward the upcoming release. That created a strong sense that the live debut was part of a larger rollout rather than a one-off festival surprise.
The show also introduced a new face behind the kit. Welcome To Rockville marked the first live performance for Brian Medeiros, who has joined the band as drummer. Medeiros, best known for his work with RED and Otherwise, stepped into the role after James Cassells had been filling in for the band over the past several months. Breaking Benjamin publicly thanked Cassells for helping during the transition and welcomed Medeiros to the road going forward.
The change behind the drums comes after another recent lineup shift. Original drummer Shaun Foist had previously stepped away from touring so he could focus on healing from Hashimoto’s disease, which left the band adjusting its live setup before Medeiros entered the picture. That makes the Rockville set more than a new-song debut; it was also the beginning of a new touring chapter for the band’s live lineup.
Setlist details from the festival show that “Something Wicked” was placed right in the middle of a strong career-spanning performance that also included “I Will Not Bow,” “Until the End,” “Crawl,” “Red Cold River,” “Blow Me Away,” “Follow,” “So Cold,” “Dear Agony,” “Polyamorous,” “Breath,” “Awaken,” “Failure,” and “The Diary of Jane.” Setlist.fm also notes that “Blow Me Away” included a guest appearance by Master Chief onstage, while “Dear Agony” featured Lacey Sturm.
The crowd response was immediate, with fan-filmed clips spreading quickly online after the performance. The new song brought a darker, heavier atmosphere to the set, while still sounding like Breaking Benjamin in the ways that matter most: big hooks, emotional weight, and a polished wall of guitars built for festival stages.
For Breaking Benjamin, the Rockville performance did more than tease a song. It suggested the band is moving into a fresh phase with new music, a new drummer, and a renewed sense of momentum. If the live debut of “Something Wicked” is any indication, the band is preparing to make this next era count.
