A Tribe of Toffs
| Company type | Pop group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Sunderland , England |
| Products | Music singles |
A Tribe of Toffs was a novelty pop group originating from Sunderland, England, recognized primarily for their 1988 Top 40 hit, "John Kettley is a Weatherman".
The band was formed in 1986 by four students attending Bede Comprehensive School. Their breakthrough came after they sent a demo tape to TV presenter Andy Crane. Subsequently, Paul Smith, a producer for Children's BBC's But First This, facilitated their recording session at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios in July 1988. The music video was shot in London close to the BBC Television Centre, coinciding with the production of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. They made appearances on programs including Wogan, Daytime Live hosted by Alan Titchmarsh, as well as various Children's BBC and satellite broadcasts. The single peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart in December 1988 and was distinguished by featuring the weatherman John Kettley in its video.
Following what they referred to as "the bloody Kettley record," the group intended to pursue more serious songs but were unable to obtain a new recording deal. In 1989, they released another comedic track titled "Terry Wogan's On TV (Again)," which failed to enter the charts.
The ensemble dissolved in 1990 and subsequently left the music scene.
On 19 July 2022, coinciding with the UK's highest recorded temperature, Radio X DJ Chris Moyles played "John Kettley is a Weather Man," sparking a fan-driven campaign that elevated the song to number 1 on the UK iTunes chart.