Chameleons

The Chameleons (known as The Chameleons UK in the U.S.) are an English post-punk band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester in 1981. The band originally consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding and drummer John Lever (replacing original drummer Brian Schofield). The core quartet were sometimes augmented live by keyboardists Alistair Lewthwaite and Andy Clegg in the 1980s, and percussionist-vocalist Kwasi Asante during their reunion period (ex-Magazine drummer Martin Jackson also briefly replaced Lever during 1982–83 while the latter was on sabbatical). The band are currently active under the name Chameleons Vox (or Chameleons V).

Links To Peel
According to Sheila Ravenscroft (Peel's wife) on Peel's biography, Margrave Of The Marshes (p388), David Fielding of the Chameleons loitered outside Broadcasting House in order to give his band's demo tape to Peel:


 * "For some, like Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine or David Fielding of The Chameleons, that meant loitering outside Broadcasting House in order to press their tape directly into John’s paw. In the case of The Chameleons, John thought he was the victim of a practical joke after listening to their demo: the recording was so accomplished that he suspected he had been given a cassette of an established band...." 

However Mark Burgess, the singer of the band, stated on a blog that he was with David Fielding when they gave their demo tape to Peel in 1981 and also mentioned the demo tape that was mentioned in the book was from a second demo tape after their first demo sent to Peel did not have drums. Peel recieved their first demo tape, but found the sound muffled and sent a note replying to the band mentioning  :



"Dear Mark Dave Reg,


 * herewith your tape back. Very muffled, but it sounded at though something worthwhile was going on.' 'Forgive brevity but I've over 1,000 cassettes to hear. This is true! If you do another let me hear it.'


 * John Peel"

After their second demo tape was sent, and Peel was surprised about the high quality of the recording, he invited the band for a session in 1981, which ultimately led to more sessions for Peel's show in the early 80's

Festive Fifty Entries

 * 1982 Festive Fifty: In Shreds #42
 * 1983 Festive Fifty: Second Skin #31

Sessions
1. Recorded: 1981-06-08. Broadcast: 17 June 1981. Repeated: 2. Recorded: 1983-06-08. Broadcast: 14 June 1983. Repeated: 27 December 1983, 29 January 1985, Peel January 1985
 * All three sessions are found available on the John Peel Sessions(Strange Fruit, 1990)
 * The Fan The Bellows / Here Today / Looking Inwardly / Things I Wish I'd Said

3. Recorded: 1984-05-05. Broadcast: 16 May 1984. Repeated: Peel April May again 1984, 11 June 1984, Karl's Tape June 1984
 * Don't Fall / Nostalgia / Second Skin / Perfumed Garden


 * Dust To Dust ( Return Of The Roughnecks) / One Flesh / Intrigues In Tangiers / P.S. Goodbye

Other Shows Played
(The following list was compiled only from the database of this site and Lorcan's Tracklistings Archive and is certainly incomplete. Please add further details if known.)

1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1994 2004
 * June 1981 (mixtape): The Fan The Bellows (session)
 * 16 December 1982: 'In Shreds (7 inch-double A side with Less Than Human)' (Epic) FF #42
 * 10 May 1983: A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days
 * 20 June 1983: A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days
 * Karl's Tape - June 1983: A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days
 * Karl's Tape 25 - August 1983: Up The Down Escalator (12") Statik
 * Peel Early Dec 1983: Up the Down Escalator (12") Statik
 * Helen And Her Horns: 'Up The Down Escalator (12 inch)' (Statik)
 * 13 December 1983: Up the Down Escalator (12") Statik
 * 22 December 1983: 'Second Skin (LP-Script Of The Bridge)' (Statik) FF #31
 * 29 February 1984: A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days (album - Script Of The Bridge) Statik
 * Peel Late Feb Early Mar 1984: In Shreds (7") Epic
 * Peel 015 (BFBS): 'Monkeyland (12"-Up The Down Escalator)' (Statik)
 * Peel 017 (BFBS): 'Looking Inwardly (LP-What Does Anything Mean? Basically)' (Statik)
 * Early June 1985 (BBC World Service): On The Beach (LP What Does Anything Mean, Basically?) Statik
 * Karl's Tape June 1985: Looking Inwardly (album - What Does Anything Mean? Basically) Statik
 * 04 June 1985: On The Beach (album - What Does Anything Mean? Basically) Static
 * 11 June 1985: Looking Inwardly (album - What Does Anything Mean? Basically) Statik
 * 16 July 1994 (BFBS): Thursday's Child (album - Script Of The Bridge) Statik
 * 09 September 2004: Swamp Thing (single) Geffen
 * 16 December 2004: 'In Shreds (7")' (Epic)