Van Allen Belt was formed in 1994 by Queen's University students Shawn Savoie, Mark Fraser and Jason Joly.[5] The group won a university battle of the bands competition before releasing their self-titled debut album in 1996.[1] They performed in support the album as an opening act for The Tragically Hip at several concerts in both Canada and the United States.[6]
Van Allen Belt followed up in 1997 with The Brown Bomber, a concept album about a faith healer named Bishop Brown who had grown up as the child of circus freaks,[7][8] and performed on the Tragically Hip's Another Roadside Attraction bill that year.[9][5][10]
They were selected by Billboard as a band to watch in 1998,[11] but ultimately broke up before recording another album.[citation needed]
