Skip Bifferty

Skip Bifferty was an English psychedelic rock band formed in early 1966. The band featured future members of Ian Dury and The Blockheads. Skip Bifferty were formed when Newcastle upon Tyne band The Chosen Few (featuring Alan Hull, later of Lindisfarne) changed their name and recruited a new singer, Graham Bell, to replace Hull. Managed by Don Arden, father of Sharon Osbourne, the band were given a contract by RCA Records.

For RCA, the group released a number of psychedelic singles, including "Man in Black" (produced by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, both then in the Small Faces), and the 1967 album Skip Bifferty, most recently released with bonus tracks as The Story of Skip Bifferty on Sanctuary Records. Some of their songs were covered by established artists such as Cilla Black, The Tremeloes and The Kingsmen, and they built a following on the "live" circuit, including touring with The Who in October 1968. They also appeared in the 1960s cult film Smashing Time, featuring Rita Tushingham. However, a management dispute with Arden eventually led to the band's demise under that name in November 1968. (Read more at Wikipedia)

Links to Peel
Peel obtained a copy of Skip Bifferty's debut single "On Love" and played it on his Perfumed Garden show on Radio London and on his early Top Gear appearances on Radio 1 in 1967. He continued to support the band until its break-up, having them in session three times and writing the sleevenotes for their only LP. Among their other admirers was Melody Maker journalist Chris Welch, who wrote a couple of articles for the paper lamenting their lack of success and mentioning that Peel was impressed by them.

After they split up, Peel continued to show interest in the work of singer Graham Bell and reviewed a single by him in Sounds in 1973. The DJ also featured the band Arc in session in 1971; it ioncluded former Skip Bifferty keyboard player Mick Gallagher, who was brother-in-law of Peel's producer John Walters. They later became Bell and Arc after the singer rejoined. Gallagher also went on to appear on records by bands Peel liked - the Blockheads, the Clash and the Only Ones.

Sessions

 * Number of sessions? Any commercial release of sessions?

1. Recorded: YYYY-MM-DD. First broadcast: DD Month YYYY. Repeated: DD Month YYY 2. Recorded: YYYY-MM-DD. First broadcast: DD Month YYYY. Repeated: DD Month YYY etc
 * Song title / Song Title / Song Title / Song Title
 * Song title / Song Title / Song Title / Song Title

(Please correct mistakes and add any missing info)

Other Shows Played
(Please add any missing info)
 * DD Month YYYY: Song (single/album) Label