Chefs

Career Outline

 * The Chefs were a late Seventies / early Eighties band from Brighton, fronted by Helen McCory (aka Helen McCookerybook). Some cite the band as inventing what became known as the 'C86' indiepop sound.
 * After releasing two singles on the independent Attrix label they signed to Graduate Records, then home of UB40.
 * In early 1982 the group changed their name to Skat and recorded another Peel session under that name before splitting in mid-1982 following the release of a single on Graduate Records, a cover of the Velvet Underground's 'Femme Fatale'.
 * Helen McCookerybook later formed Helen And The Horns and recorded a further three sessions for the Peel show in 1983-84.

Links to Peel

 * The Chefs first came to Peel's attention with the track 'Food' that was released on the Attrix LP 'Vaultage 79', a compilation of Brighton bands.
 * The first session the group recorded for the show was a favourite with Peel and the listeners, being broadcast a total of seven times.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * None.

Sessions

 * Two sessions, both released in 2012 on the 'Records And Tea: The Best of The Chefs' (Damaged Goods).

1. Recorded: 1981-05-05. First broadcast: 11 May 1981. Repeated 17 June 1981, 03 August 1981, 26 August 1981, 26 November 1981, 09 December 1981, 19 July 1983. 2. As 'Skat'. Recorded: 1982-03-08. First broadcast: 10 March 1982. Repeated 12 April 1982.
 * One Fine Day / I'll Go Too / Love Is Such A Splendid Thing / Northbound Train / Springtime Reggae
 * Honcho / Sleeping Dogs Lie / Sad Boy Style / Just A Word

Other Shows Played
(The list below was compiled only from the database of this site and may be incomplete. Please add further information if known.)


 * 1980
 * 09 January 1980: Food (LP - Vaultage '79) Attrix
 * 20 March 1980: Food (LP - Vaultage '79) Attrix
 * 13 August 1980: Boasting (7" EP) Attrix
 * 20 August 1980: Records And Tea (7" EP) Attrix
 * 28 August 1980: Boasting (7" EP) Attrix
 * "Mine's bigger than yours. Those are the Chefs and that's called Boasting from their EP on Attrix Records from Brighton and Robin Miller in Sounds has a bit of a dig at me for liking the EP because there's a track on it about the popular disease thrush. I'll remember you Robbie."


 * 23 September 1980: Boasting (7" EP) Attrix
 * 1981
 * 01 April 1981: 24 Hours (7") Attrix
 * 08 April 1981: 24 Hours (7") Attrix
 * 28 April 1981: 24 Hours (7") Attrix
 * 18 November 1981: 24 Hours (7") Attrix
 * 1982
 * 04 May 1982: Femme Fatale (7") Graduate (as Skat)