Ben & Jason
British duo with modest chart success and notable later careers.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Ben & Jason were a London-based singer-songwriter duo made up of Ben Parker and Jason Hazeley. They got together in 1998 and put out three albums through Go! Beat/Universal: *Hello*, *Emoticons*, and *Ten Songs About You*. After being dropped by their major label, they released a final album, *Goodbye*, on the independent Setanta label. As hired songwriters, they worked with Mundy and Martine McCutcheon.
Their track "Air Guitar," taken from *Emoticons*, peaked at number 79 on the UK Singles Chart. AllMusic called *Emoticons* an "impressive collection of elegantly crafted folk pop." More widely known is their work with Kinobe on "Slip into Something..." (from the album *Soundphiles*), which reached number 78 in the UK. The pair split in December 2003, following disappointing sales but strong reviews for their second-to-last album *Ten Songs About You* and its single "The Wild Things."
After the duo ended, Ben Parker formed the band Lux Luther in 2004 with bassist Ollie Russian, drummer Ben Carpenter (later of the Creepy Morons), and guitarist Gavin Slater (later of Ghosts). That band had mixed success on the London live circuit and broke up in May 2006, when Parker went solo. He appeared on Polly Paulusma's 2004 CD *Scissors in My Pocket*, toured the UK with David Berkeley in 2007, and worked with Sophie Solomon on her second solo album. More recently, Parker composed music for the BBC Three sitcom *How Not to Live Your Life*, and served as music tutor, arranger, and producer on the John Lennon biopic *Nowhere Boy*. He now fronts a new band, The Chain (formerly Braxton Hix), formed in 2009 with singer Kate Aumonier, and writes and produces for newer acts like Pearl & the Puppets and Dutch singer Waylon.
Jason Hazeley moved into comedy writing. He is one of the authors of *The Framley Examiner*, *Bollocks to Alton Towers*, *Far from the Sodding Crowd*, and *Viz*. He also co-created the Ladybird Books For Adults series with comedy writer Joel Morris.
- formed
- 1998
- disbanded
- December 2003
- origin
- London, England
- field
- Music (singer-songwriter duo)
- nationality
- British
- known_for
- Albums Hello, Emoticons, Ten Songs About You, Goodbye; single 'Air Guitar'; collaboration with Kinobe
Lore & Background
Ben & Jason formed in 1998 in London. They released their debut album Hello in 1999, followed later that year by Emoticons, which AllMusic described as an 'impressive collection of elegantly crafted folk pop.' The single 'Air Guitar' from that album reached No. 79 in the UK Singles Chart. Their third album, Ten Songs About You (2001), received excellent reviews but disappointing results, particularly for the single 'The Wild Things' (UK No. 81). After being dropped by their major label, they released their final album, Goodbye, on the independent Setanta label in 2003. The duo went their separate ways in December 2003.
As songwriters-for-hire, they collaborated with Mundy and Martine McCutcheon. Their best-known collaboration was with Kinobe on 'Slip into Something...' (from the album Soundphiles), which reached No. 78 in the UK. They also collaborated with Kinobe on 'Unfair Weather' from the album VerseBridgeChorus.
After the split, Ben Parker formed the band Lux Luther in 2004, which split in May 2006. He appeared on Polly Paulusma's 2004 CD Scissors in My Pocket, toured the UK with David Berkeley in 2007, and collaborated with Sophie Solomon. More recently, he composed music for BBC Three sitcom How Not to Live Your Life and worked on the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy as music tutor, arranger, and producer. He formed a new band, The Chain (formerly Braxton Hix), in 2009 with singer Kate Aumonier, and produces and writes for Pearl & the Puppets and Dutch singer Waylon. Jason Hazeley now writes comedy, co-authoring The Framley Examiner, Bollocks to Alton Towers, Far from the Sodding Crowd, and Viz, and co-creating the Ladybird Books For Adults series with Joel Morris.
Reader's Guide
Ben & Jason occupy a modest but notable place in late-1990s/early-2000s British folk-pop. Their commercial impact was limited—their highest-charting single, 'Air Guitar,' reached only No. 79—but their work received critical respect, particularly the album Emoticons. Their legacy is perhaps greater through their collaborations and the subsequent careers of both members. Ben Parker's work on the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy and as composer for BBC Three's How Not to Live Your Life, along with his production for emerging artists, extends his influence beyond the duo. Jason Hazeley's success as a comedy writer, especially the Ladybird Books For Adults series, has reached a wide audience. The duo's story illustrates how artists with modest chart success can have lasting impact through diverse creative paths.
Did You Know?
- Ben & Jason's single 'Air Guitar' reached No. 79 in the UK Singles Chart.
- Their collaboration with Kinobe, 'Slip into Something...', reached No. 78 in the UK.
- Ben Parker worked on the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy as music tutor, arranger, and producer.
- Jason Hazeley is co-creator of the Ladybird Books For Adults series with Joel Morris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ben & Jason?
Ben & Jason was a London-based singer-songwriter duo made up of Ben Parker and Jason Hazeley, active from 1998 until their split in late 2003. They blended folk and pop sensibilities across four studio albums and also earned work as hired songwriters for other artists.
What albums did Ben & Jason release?
The pair put out three records on the Go! Beat/Universal imprint—Hello, Emoticons, and Ten Songs About You—before losing that major-label deal. Their final album, Goodbye, appeared on the smaller independent Setanta label.
Did Ben & Jason ever chart on the UK Singles Chart?
Their single "Air Guitar," taken from the Emoticons record, climbed to number 79 on the UK Singles Chart, marking their highest charting position. Aside from that modest entry, the duo never broke into the upper echelons of the national charts.
How did Ben & Jason's story end?
After being dropped by their major label, the duo recorded Goodbye for the independent Setanta imprint as a swan-song release. They officially called it quits in December 2003, concluding a five-year run together.
What did Ben & Jason do after the band split?
Both Parker and Hazeley kept working in the British music scene, taking on session songwriting credits for acts including Mundy and Martine McCutcheon. Their post-duo careers kept them active well beyond the 2003 breakup.
More in English rock music duos 1-24
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