Chelsea are an English punk rock band which formed in 1976.[1] Three of the four original band members went on to found Generation X.
More than two decades after its release, the band's debut single, "Right to Work", was included in the Mojo list of the best punk rock singles of all time.[2]
History
Formation (1976)
The original line-up of the band was assembled in late 1976 by John Krivine and Steph Raynor, the owners of Acme Attractions, a fashion boutique shop in King's Road in Chelsea, London, comprising vocalist Gene October, guitarist William Broad (later and better known as Billy Idol), bassist Tony James and drummer John Towe; James and Towe had previously been in London SS. Raynor went on to establish the 'Boy' fashion label that became an icon of post punk British youth culture. The band made their live debut supporting Throbbing Gristle on 18 October 1976 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London.[3]
After three support gigs playing cover versions of other bands' songs, Idol and James departed in November 1976, taking Towe with them, to form Generation X.[4]
Early singles and Chelsea (1977–1979)
October then recruited Carey Fortune (drums), Martin Stacy (guitar) and Bob Jessie (bass), with the last two soon replaced by Henry Daze (Henry Badowski) and James Stevenson.
Chelsea's first single, "Right to Work", was released in June 1977 by Step-Forward Records.[5] Recorded by the October/Fortune/Daze/Stevenson line-up of the band,[6] it was their most popular song, and also appeared on the soundtrack album (issued in 1978 by Polydor) to the 1977 Derek Jarman film Jubilee (which October had appeared in).[7] The band were featured in the 1977 documentary film Punk In London with both interviews and a live performance.
Simon Cade Williams, aka Simon Vitesse, joined the band as bassist in 1977 for a UK tour and the band's second single, "High Rise Living". This rapid turnover of band members was characteristic throughout Chelsea's existence, with October the only constant presence.[8]
Chelsea in 1979
On 25 August 1978 the band released another single, "Urban Kids", which was co-written by October and Alternative TV[1] and produced by ex-Who manager Kit Lambert.[9]
After spending 1977–78 touring in the UK and overseas, they released their first album, Chelsea, in 1979.
A singles compilation, Alternative Hits, was released in 1980; it was also issued in the U.S. by I.R.S. Records, retitled No Escape. In 1980 Stevenson left to join Generation X
New line-ups, Evacuate and later albums (1982–present)
After a split, October put together a new line-up, including guitarist Nic Austin, which recorded the critically acclaimed second album Evacuate (1982).[10]
October sporadically released albums with various Chelsea line-ups throughout the 1980s, including Original Sinners, Rocks Off and Underwraps' in which the band were joined by Clash drummer Nicky 'Topper' Headon on a cover of The Clash's song "Somebody Got Murdered" '.[11]
In the early 1990s, a line-up featuring the returning Austin and new bassist Mat Sargent released The Alternative (1993) and Traitors Gate (1994) albums. In 1999, the line-up from the first album, including Stevenson, reformed for the Social Chaos Tour across North America. A live album, Metallic F.O.: Live at CBGB's (released 2002), was recorded at CBGB in New York City during this tour. Augmented by Buzzcocks bassist Tony Barber, the band released Faster, Cheaper and Better Looking in 2005.[12]
Austin and Sargent returned in 2011, and this line-up released the album Saturday Night Sunday Morning in 2015. The Mission Impossible album followed in 2017 with Stevenson guesting on both albums. Both albums were recorded at Panther Studios in Surrey and produced by Dick Crippen of Tenpole Tudor, King Kurt and The Weird Things.[13]
May 2021 saw the release of Chelsea’s 12th studio album Meanwhile Gardens on Westworld Records. The long-standing line up of October, Austin and Sargent was joined by drummer Steve Grainger and featured guest performances from past band members Martin Stacey, James Stevenson, Bob Jesse and Rob Miller. The album was recorded at Panther Studios in between the 2020 COVID lockdowns with Dick Crippen producing. 2022 saw the release of Evacuate-Revisited, a rerecording of the 1882 album for its 40th anniversary. The album was to be a live album but because of the Covid restrictions it was recorded live at Panther Studios and included songs from the live set. [14]
