philosophical phunk

In his late teens, Chas Jankel met Ian Dury and became an intergral part of Dury's first band Kilburn & The High Roads. The group morphed into the Blockheads by the mid-1970's. In 1977 Jankel co-wrote Dury's first hit, Sex & Drugs & Rock N Roll. The 1978 album that followed, "New Boots & Panties," gave them a platinum award. The following year saw their first club success with 1979's "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick", where Jankel once again did the arrangements, keyboards and guitar work on the #1 British hit. The first American Stiff tour launched the Blockheads as well as Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello onto our shores.

By 1980 Jankel was primed for a solo career. A self produced album was released by A&M records and spawned his first solo 12" single hit, "Ai No Corrida." Quincy Jones heard the song and was so impressed with it he included it in his 1981 release "The Dude." In 1981 Jankel did double duty by recording with Ian & the Blockheads on the "Lord Upminster" album that produced the wildly successful "Spasticus Autisticus" single. Returning to the studio for his second album "Questionaire" in 1982 Chas had his biggest hit to date. "Glad To Know You" shot to #1 on the club charts in part to a fabulous remix by Disconet. The other 12" hit from the album was "3,000,000 Synths".

Following the death of his friend Ian Dury in 2000, Jankel led an all-star tribute to record "Brand New Boots & Panties" with Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Conner and others. Also in 2001 he released his first new album in over a decade. Out Of The Blue was an acoustical effort with a quintet, the album marked a whole new direction for Jankel who had become an avid jazz fan in the last decade. In 2002 Jankel reunited with the Blockheads and continues to record and tour with them on a regular basis. In 2003, Chas released his second quartet inspired jazz album entitled Zoom.

Chas Jankel - Glad to Know You
Chas Jankel - 3,000,000 Synths
Chas Jankel - Ai No Corrida