Chelsea (band)
| Chelsea | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Punk rock |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | Generation X |
| Website | chelseapunkband |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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Chelsea are an English punk rock band, formed in London in 1976. Three of the four original band members went on to found Generation X.
More than two decades after its release, "Right to Work", Chelsea's debut single, was included in Mojo magazine's list of the best punk rock singles of all time.
The original lineup featured frontman Gene October, William Broad (later and better known as Billy Idol) (guitar), Tony James (bass) and John Towe (drums, who had come from London SS along with James). After a few gigs, the other three left October to form Generation X. 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 (who also later joined Generation X). This rapid turnover of band members (Simon Cade Williams, aka Simon Vitesse, joined the band as bassist in 1977 for UK tour and the second single "High Rise Living") was characteristic throughout Chelsea's existence, with October the only constant presence.
Their first single, "Right to Work" (issued in 1977 by Step-Forward Records), dealing with unemployment, was their most popular song. It was recorded by the October/Fortune/Daze/Stevenson lineup of the band. It also appeared on the soundtrack album (issued in 1978 by Polydor) to the 1977 Derek Jarman film Jubilee, which October had appeared in. On August 25, 1978 the band released another single, "Urban Kids", produced by ex-Who manager Kit Lambert.
After spending 1977–78 touring in the UK and overseas, they released their first album, Chelsea, in 1979. Their second album, Alternative Hits, was released in 1980; it was also issued in the U.S. by I.R.S. Records, retitled No Escape. After a split, October put together a new lineup, including guitarist Nic Austin, which recorded the critically acclaimed album Evacuate (1982).
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