Early 21st-century rock often featured bands trimming their lineups, giving rise to numerous self-contained duos such as the British heavies Winnebago Deal. Formed in Oxford as a quartet during 1999, the outfit delivered a style reminiscent of classic Sub Pop acts and Queens of the Stone Age featuring Nick Oliveri on vocals. Shortly after, two founding members departed, leaving Ben Perrier on vocals and guitar alongside Ben Thomas on drums to continue as a pair. They cultivated an audience through relentless van tours, minimal compensation, and widespread distribution of demo recordings, which secured a support slot for Fugazi at London’s Forum and drew interest from the head of independent label Fierce Panda Records. That connection yielded the March 2003 release of their debut EP Plata O Plomo, earning a nomination for Best British Newcomer at that year’s Kerrang Awards. The Bens maintained a demanding schedule throughout 2003, completing more than one hundred performances that included appearances at the Reading and Leeds festivals plus shows with Burning Brides and Nebula. Additional material surfaced in late 2003 and early 2004 via the single Manhunt, a split 7-inch with Nebula, and the George Dickel EP, while the duo recorded one XFM session and two Radio One sessions. A subsequent deal with Double Dragon Music paired them with noted Sub Pop producer Jack Endino, whose earlier credits included work with Nirvana and Soundgarden. Their first full-length album Dead Gone emerged in September 2004, preceded by several dates supporting Mondo Generator. One month after the album’s arrival, an expanded edition of Plata O Plomo reached stores in Australia.
