Helen McCookerybook was bass player with punk band Joby and the Hooligans in 1977 before forming The Chefs in 1979, who had an indie hit with '24 Hours' and who were loved by the late John Peel. He also loved her next band, Helen and the Horns who recorded 3 sessions for his show. After a 20 year break, she is back as a solo artist, with three solo CDs (Suburban Pastoral,Poetry and Rhyme and the latest, Take One) and a co-release with Martin Stephenson (Hamilton Square) all available from voiceprint.co.uk. She wrote the Lost Women of Rock Music under the name of Helen Reddington, about the women who played instruments in punk bands in the late 1970s. A revised version of this will be coming out in paperback later this year with new interviews.
Also look out for 'Records and Tea: the Best of The Chefs' release dat 23rd April on Damaged Goods (www.damagedgoods.co.uk) and 'The Cafe of Tiny Kindnesses' out now on Barbaraville (through www.voiceprint.co.uk)