Area was formed in the mid-'80s by Steve Jones, Henry Frayne, and Lynn Canfield. Henry and Lynn had been together in a previous band called Ack!-Ack!, which was a punkish band in Champaign, Illinois.
Area began in 1985 when Steve Jones asked Lynn Canfield and Henry Frayne to participate in a recording project. From there the trio recorded five albums; then went on extended leave in 1990.
Lynn and Henry formed another band, The Moon Seven Times, which recorded three albums for Third Mind Records / Roadrunner; eventually disbanding in 1998.
Lynn then formed Shotgun Wedding (3), with Brendan Gamble (also of Mx7) and others; while Henry recorded under the name Lanterna, and signed with Rykodisc for an album.
Shotgun Wedding disbanded, and Lynn is now writing and touring in Lynn Canfield & Hot Tub Party.
Meantime, Projekt has been reissuing the original Area albums as part of the Projekt: Archive series.
In 1998 "Radio Caroline" and "The Perfect Dream" were reissued, while February of 2000 saw the release of "Between Purple & Pink" and "Fragments of the Morning".
Jones began writing new music for Area in 1996 with Mel Eberle, formerly his bandmate in The Arms of Someone New, and Kris Krasnowski on vocals.