When at home Kellie’s trademark Ludwig kit was stored at a rehearsal studio situated above The Furniture Cave on New Kings Road, Chelsea. The studio was run by a close acquaintance, Manolo Ventura a native of Lima, Peru.. Manno as he was known, called Kellie in one day and said there was someone he wanted him to meet. …he opened the door to one of the larger rooms and we entered.
That is where I had my first meeting with Peter Perrett… At the far end of the dimly lit room was a small group of musicians and a couple of ladies. On rhythm guitar was Perrett with Glen Tilbrook on lead and John Perry on bass. Initially they were all introduced and after a while Kellie was invited back to the house in Blackheath where Perrett and his wife Zena were living.
During the next few hours Kellie remembers being fascinated by these folk. Perry joined them at the house and Peter’s demos were played. Kellie recalls …”I remember well the feeling I had when I first heard Peter’s demos . I knew I wanted to play in a band with him. It was a delight to hear meaningful romantic lyrics with an edge and powerful melodic musical settings. The most immediate song was ‘Out There in The Night’ a beautifully crafted song of lost love and sweet pain. I made up my mind there and then that, whether he liked it or not, I was going to form a band with this guy…
The year was 1976, a very hot summer and Perrett, Perry and now Kellie began rehearsing at Manno’s on a daily basis whilst looking for a bass player to complete the line-up. John Perry was now on guitar as Glenn Tilbrook was occupied with the formation of Squeeze.
At this time Kellie’s marriage had failed and he moved in with the Perretts in Blackheath.
Perrett has since circulated a story of Kellie – living in the shed at the bottom of the garden- which Kellie has always denied…– there WAS a shed and in that hot summer it was used for all sorts of things but ‘Mon Repose’ was NOT one of them…. The routine seems to have been that they would drive in to Chelsea at around lunchtime and rehearse until early evening. Perry was already living in Chelsea…..there was something very naturally creative and surprisingly secure in my new found friendship with Mr & Mrs Perrett.
They made me welcome and seemed to accept completely my decision to move into their life! There is no doubt that I knew Peter was a special talent. His rhythm guitar playing was another point of creative contact, and still is, on the rare occasions that we play together. Rhythm guitar is a very specific talent and there are not many good ones around…
