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.
Career Outline
- 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.
- One Fine Day / I'll Go Too / Love Is Such A Splendid Thing / Northbound Train / Springtime Reggae
2. As 'Skat'. Recorded: 1982-03-08. First broadcast: 10 March 1982. Repeated 12 April 1982.
- 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
- 23 August 1980 (BFBS): 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
- 06 April 1981: Let's Make Up (7" - 24 Hours) Attrix RB 13
- 08 April 1981: 24 Hours (7") Attrix
- 11 April 1981 (BFBS): Let's Make Up (7" - 24 Hours) Attrix RB 13
- 11 April 1981 (BFBS): 24 Hours (7") Attrix
- 23 April 1981 (BFBS): 24 Hours (7") Attrix
- 28 April 1981: 24 Hours (7") Attrix
- 04 June 1981 (BFBS): 24 Hours (7") Attrix
- 19 October 1981: Locked Out (v/a album - Moonlight Radio) Armageddon MOON 1
- 22 October 1981 (BFBS): Locked Out (v/a album - Moonlight Radio) Armageddon MOON 1
- 18 November 1981: 24 Hours (7") Attrix
- 1982
- 29 March 1982: Femme Fatale (7") Graduate (as Skat)
- 14 April 1982 (BFBS): Femme Fatale (7") Graduate (as Skat)
- 18 April 1982 (BFBS): Femme Fatale (7") Graduate (as Skat)
- 04 May 1982: Femme Fatale (7") Graduate (as Skat)
- 1983
- 23 January 1983 (BFBS): 24 Hours (7") Attrix/Graduate
- 06 April 1983 (BFBS): Boasting (7" - Sweetie / Thrush / Records And Tea / Boasting) Attrix RB 10
- 1984
- 23 January 1984: Femme Fatale (7") Graduate GRAD 14 (as Skat)
