Straight out of Onslow College, Bonus Donor were a fast punk band with strange dreams of becoming Chandler Bing.
Bonus Donor was a three-piece punk band from Wellington, New Zealand, formed in 2002 by Dan Fraser (guitar, lead vocals), Oliver Parsons, and Ford Brownlie, all former students of Onslow College. Emerging from the vibrant Wellington punk scene, they joined contemporaries like Hung Jury, Carnys, The Minimals, and Tried For Treason. Fraser, previously the drummer for the chaotic Deaf Terrorists, stepped into the frontman role for Bonus Donor.
The band released their debut EP, Strange Dreams of Becoming Chandler Bing, in 2002, featuring five tracks of fast-paced punk recorded at FX Studios with Tim Shan and Matt Barnes. Known for their antagonistic performances, Bonus Donor gained notoriety after a December 2002 gig at Underground Arts, alongside Dunedin’s Ritalin, where Fraser and others were assaulted and arrested by some overzealous riot police. ACAB!
Bonus Donor maintained a playful rivalry with BFF’s Hung Jury during their two-year run, later inspiring the later band’s 2013 EP titled Bonus Donor, Fuck You. After disbanding, Fraser and Ollie reunited years later, playing together in Pop OD from 2020 to 2023 alongside Kitt Verhoff, formerly of Ritalin. Ollie also drummed in The Dilfs from 2012-2015, and Dan has been in numerous other bands including Shortlived, Bonecruncher, Phone Sex Robots and Forced Starvation.
| Origin | Wellington |
| Genre | crate edge crap core |
| Years Active | 2002 – 2003 |
| Associated Acts | Deaf Terrorists Shumway, The Dilfs, Phone Sex Robots, Pop OD |
| Past Members | Dan Fraser (guitar, vocals) Ollie Parsons (drums, b-vocals) Ford Brownlie (bass, vocals) James Murray (guitar, joined Sept 2002) |
Releases
| Title | Date | Label | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strange Dreams Of Becoming Chandler Bing | 2002 | War Robots Records | EP | CD |
Timeline
2002, June 15, Underground Arts
2002, June 7, Karori Youth Centre
The Rod Johnson Experience, Hung Jury, Bonus Donor, The Perpetrators
2002, July 6, Thistle Hall
2002, August, Strange Dreams Of Becoming Chandler Bing
2002, August 9, Thistle Hall
Photos: Jim Gardner/ Skippy
2002, August 17, Underground Arts
Photos: John Lake
2002, September 6, Underground Arts
Brubeck, Dirk Drent, The Minimals, Bonus Donor, Hung Jury
2002, September 8
James Murray joins Bonus Donor on guitar.
2002, October 25-26, Punkfest
2002, November 22, Valve?
Throwdown, Tried For Treason, The Deadline, Evil Priest
2002, November 23, The Fry Pan
Benefit gig for Stu, with Saliva Twist, Bonus Donor, Carnys, Backyard Burial, Disinterring Diana, Shotgun Surgery
2002, December 14, QE2 Centre, Tauranga
2002, December 16, Underground Arts
2003
2003, February 8, Thistle Hall
2003, March 15, Alternative Routes
2003, March 22, Underground Arts
2003, July 19, 205 Hanson St
2003, November 29, 85 Broadway, Palmerston North
