Chefs

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 RB 13
23 April 1981 (BFBS): 24 Hours (7") Attrix RB 13
28 April 1981: 24 Hours (7") Attrix RB 13
04 June 1981 (BFBS): 24 Hours (7") Attrix RB 13
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)

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