Fringe Benefit -

Fringe Benefit was an English art-pop band that released a self-titled album on Capricorn in 1977. Bassist Chris Haines had previously cut singles with the bands Albatross and The Hotshots, the latter falsely credited with the 1973 U.K. novelty hit “Snoopy vs. The Red Baron,” recorded by Clive Crawley and the Cimarons. Drummer Steven Laurie cut three singles with New Wave combo Cosmetics and joined Tom Robinson’s backing band.

Members: John Jones (vocals, guitar), Dave Gray (guitar), Chris Haines (bass), Steven Laurie (drums)

Background

Fringe Benefit formed in 1976 in Dorset when singer-guitarist-keyboardist John “Joe” Jones assembled bassist Chris Haines, drummer Steven Laurie, and guitarist-singer Dave Gray.

Jones began as lead singer of the Bournemouth group the Cavaliers. By 1972, he played guitar and keyboards with Wild Country on the Anglo single “Song of the Lonely Traveller.” Wild Country became Albatross with drummer Malcolm Player and developed a rock repertoire around Jones and guitarist Terry Keyworth. Albatross cut three 1974–75 singles on Mooncrest, followed by the Gull single “Tobacco Road.”

Gray played guitar and sang in an earlier Bournemouth group also called Fringe Benefit from 1968 to 1970, and the new quartet revived the name. Laurie attended Kemp-Welch School and made his first public appearance with Seebeck Special at the 1973 Bournemouth Regatta Beat Contest, where the trio won the group trophy.

Albatross worked three or four South Coast dates each week by 1975 and maintained an arrangement with Clive Crawley and Blue Eyes Productions for studio access. Jones retained Crawley and Blue Eyes Productions for Fringe Benefit. The quartet demoed “All in Vain” at the Haines family home in Corfe Castle, then recorded an album at Morgan Studios in Willesden with producer Crawley. Mike Moran added keyboards and arranged brass and strings for the sessions.

Polydor issued “All in Vain” in July 1976 (b/w “Judas, My Brother”), and Fringe Benefit secured a BBC Radio 1 A-list spot and Radio Luxembourg PowerPlay with the single. Polydor subsequently licensed the completed album to Capricorn for North American release.

Discography: