Chakk

Chakk were an industrial funk band from Sheffield, who existed from 1981 until 1987. Members were Alan Cross, Mark Brydon, Dee Boyle, Sim Lister, Jake Harries and Jon Stuart. The band never achieved commercial success, but have been noted for their wide influence on later British dance music, particularly via Fon Studios. Their first single, "Out Of The Flesh", produced by Richard H. Kirk, on Cabaret Voltaire's Doublevision label, reached number 3 on the independent charts in 1984. The band recorded a John Peel session on 17 October 1984. Their second single "You", released in 1985, was also an indie hit, reaching No. 14. They then signed an album deal with MCA Records, who released 10 Days In An Elevator. The initial version of the album was rejected and a rerecorded version was finally released in 1986; it did not sell well and the band was dropped later that year. They released a few more singles and split in 1987. Non-MCA recordings from "You" onwards were released on their own Fon Records label, which was started by the band with their manager, Amrik Rai. Rai also ran a record shop of the same name for a time.